Retailer wants to encourage children to engage with sustainability issues, while demonstrating career opportunities in food and drink
Asda is trialling a new three-tiered school engagement programme to help children develop skills for a career in the food and drink sector.
According to the retailer, each of the three programmes will be trialled in 10 schools and colleges in West Yorkshire.
The initiative will build children’s employability skills and encourage community engagement across primary, secondary, and college year groups.
Running for the duration of the academic year, each programme will align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and specific ESG-related content such as food waste, a circular economy, and inclusivity.
The programmes targeting secondary and college students will also help to build employability skills, while showcasing the breadth of careers Asda has to offer.
Participants will be encouraged to hone their public speaking and problem-solving skills.
The three programmes are as follows:
- Asda Heroes: primary school children will learn about sustainability issues such as food waste and hunger, working with their local Asda Community Champions to understand how this impacts their community. They will then plan a project that could improve their local community.
- Asda Futures: secondary school students will be tasked with a “concept to shelf” project that will see them discover hidden careers that a retailer like Asda has to offer, with a particular focus on developing a sustainable vegan product. Participating students will develop key employability skills including confidence, teamwork, critical thinking, and public speaking. Students will have the opportunity to come into Asda’s head office and learn about areas such as product development, merchandising, technology and distribution.
- Asda Leaders: college students will be asked to solve a real-life business problem relating to an industry-wide EDI and sustainability issue as part of a “Dragons Den” style presentation. During the year, students will be mentored by Asda colleagues and attend Asda-led events to gain insight into different business functions, participate in mock assessments, and enjoy employability experiences. Successful students will be given the opportunity to win a golden ticket to an Asda employability experience.
Chief people and corporate affairs officer at Asda, Hayley Tatum MBE, said: “Through this programme, we hope to encourage students to take a keen interest in the important issues facing our planet, while demonstrating the breadth of careers on offer at both Asda and within the wider food and drink industry.”
The programme is the latest initiative from the food and drink sector to attract new talent, following the recent launch of the #MMMakeYourMark campaign from IGD. It showcases the food and drink sector as a dynamic and vibrant place to work.
