York-based potato producer Cockerill has welcomed three young people to its staff.
Each securing six month work experience placements, Emma Kelcher and Victoria Lee are graduate trainees from Managerial Development Services (MDS) and both recently completed placements with Pepsico-owned Walkers Crisps.
While the company says it hopes to go on to recruit third work experience employee Richard Wilson, who has a degree in agricultural resource management from Hull University, in a full time position sourcing potatoes at the firm's pack house.
Cockerill owner Martin Cockerill said: 'Attracting new entrants into the fresh produce industry can be a real challenge.
'MDS offers graduates a two year programme during which they receiveformal training and six month placements with four different companies sothat they can gain commercial experience without commitment; we are delighted to be one of those companies.'
Employment minister MarkHoban recently urged the fresh produce and wholesale sectors to up their level of work experience placements. He believes that placements provide young people with the encouragement to secure full-time employment.
The government estimates that over 950,000 young people, between the age of 16-24, are currently unemployed.
