Raising the Profile of Food and Textiles - A Project Supported by the European Commission's LEONARDO Fund

Abstract

This article outlines one attempt, funded by the European Commission, to raise the profile of the food and textiles industries and address some of the prejudices that currently inhibit the recruitment of suitable employees for roles with technical responsibilities. The project was aimed at school students. By involving young people in a direct experience of manufacturing practices, the potential careers in the industries were highlighted. The article charts the successes and disappointments of the project, lessons learned and future developments.