The Fresh Careers fair yesterday welcomed hundreds of graduates and students and gave produce firms the chance to pitch to the next generation.
Held yesterday (9 March) at the Kia Oval, central London, for the second year running, the fair once again hosted the ‘produce dragons’, who held masterclass interview sessions where graduates could pitch themselves in the hope of winning an iPad mini.
Produce suppliers, recruiters, foodservice firms and research bodies exhibited at the show to make connections with the next generation of bright talent, with buses of students arriving from the universities of Leeds, Teesside and Newcastle, as well as closer to home from Greenwich, Harper Adams and the Royal Agriculture University.
Ian Waller, commercial director at Total Worldfresh, said many students were enquiring about the possibility of doing industry placements, as part of their degrees. “There’s been a lot of interest, which is quite surprising,” he said. “It’s a great career for anyone. There’s a lot of travel involved, and a very broad skillset.”
Waller said the company benefits from the exposure to university students at the fair, which it wouldn’t usually have access to.
Stands with colourful displays of produce were noticeably more popular with students, including Lincolnshire prepped salad producer Freshtime, which was at the fair with a specific vacancy for a development technologist, as well as generally promoting the company.
Freshtime ethical trade officer Richard Fletcher said: “The main barrier for us to students is Boston as a location. That’s the key hurdle. Most people we’ve met so far are studying in London and want to stay in London.
“We’re looking for people who are coming to the end of their studies. Once people have relocated the opportunities are immense.”
Next door exhibitor Westfalia was also pulling in the crowds with a range of avocado NPD on display, including macaroons, smoothies, oil and several wholehead varieties on display.
NPD manager Matthew Churchill said it’s the first time that the company has exhibited at Fresh Careers. The firm does take on graduates, he said, and chose to exhibit to better gauge the interest among current students.
Meanwhile, recruiter Guy Moreton, director of MorePeople, said the firm was there in place of some of its clients, which were not. “Some of our clients do take graduates, so they like that we are connected with them. I think it’s right to wave the flag for the industry, and we would be here regardless,” he said.
Produce supplier Mack was also exhibiting at the show, and this year was joined by a new recruit on the stand, who joined the business in a QC role following last year's fair and now works as a technical coordinator.
Resourcing business manager Caroline Callan said she has been in recruitment in various industries for 20 years, and “the calibre of this event is great”.
“We’ve had lots of people coming up who don’t know what we do. There are lots of nutrition students who are unsure how their skills could fit into our business, so we can help them find that out,” she added.
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