FMI and ECR Ireland team up to Feed Ireland’s Future

Young people from the Dublin 14 area of South County Dublin have the opportunity to gain the skills they need to get back into work when they visit field management agency, FMI on Monday 2nd March as part of a nationwide campaign to tackle youth unemployment.

Following the success of a pilot project in 2014, the entire food and grocery industry has launched Feeding Ireland’s Future – Skills for Work Week 2015 and is helping youngsters across Dublin to gain the skills they need to get into work.

Feeding Ireland’s Future, is the first initiative of its kind, giving young people access to farms, factories and stores, and firsthand knowledge of the skills needed for a career in the food industry or elsewhere.

As part of the Feeding Ireland’s Future initiative, FMI is delighted to welcome 20 young people to our offices where they will receive valuable work experience during a tailored business workshop to help them develop their skills and improve their chances of getting a job.

Last year 29 businesses participated in 56 locations nationwide. The campaign provided 1,519 training opportunities with 98% of participants saying they felt more confident applying for a job. This year the campaign plans to offer more opportunities for young unemployed people across more locations nationwide.

As well as workshops to improve their soft skills, all participants will have the chance to experience the FMI culture and meet the team to see how the business is run and the wide range of careers available at FMI.

Speaking about the initiative, Nicola de Beer, Chief Operating Officer at FMI said;
“This is a great opportunity for us to give back to the community by sharing our skills and knowledge that can help people’s confidence to find work. Here at FMI we recruit and train constantly so we are well-positioned to offer practical help and advice. What’s more, we are currently recruiting for a number of exciting roles nationwide and hope to meet some potential candidates here.”

The food and grocery industry is one of Ireland’s biggest private sectors employers and there are a huge range of careers on offer. Young people from Dundrum and surrounding areas will get a chance to learn about sales when they visit FMI in March.

Declan Carolan, General Manager, ECR Ireland, said:
“The Irish food and grocery industry is one of Ireland’s biggest private sector employers. With that scale comes responsibility – we have a vital role to play in tackling youth unemployment by sharing our advice and experience.

“Feeding Ireland’s Future is bringing the industry together to share the rules of the game with young people. We hope young people from in and around Dublin 14 will make the most of this opportunity to develop their skills and grow their confidence.”