Schools and colleges can register students to take part in the IGD Virtual Work Experience Programme and learn more about how sustainability is changing the food and grocery industry with opportunities for young talent.
Teachers – are you interested in helping your students learn about sustainability in the food and grocery industry? IGD Feeding Britains Futures is a free initiative that brings the industry together to develop students’ employability skills and learn about the wide range of roles in the industry.
Student age range: Year 10-13
Dates: 8-12 November
Start time: 10:30 daily
End time: 12:00 daily
Why Should Students Learn About Sustainability?
The food and grocery industry is growing, with jobs to suit everyone. This fast-paced and diverse industry has opportunities for all qualification levels, including in-demand STEM skills within Science, Technology, Engineering and Analytics.
IGD’s virtual work experience programme provides insight into the diverse range of opportunities the food and grocery industry has to offer. It helps participants develop the skills they need through live interactive workshops and hands-on projects.
Why Enrol Your Students In Virtual Work Experience Programmes?
It is increasingly difficult to arrange work placements for students. Taking part in an industry-wide, virtual work experience event provides a safe and accessible option. Students will gain skills and experience throughout the week to add to their CV.
Throughout the week, your students will have the opportunity to:
- Listen – Gain insights from leaders of big brands and retailers
- Engage – Ask professionals their advice and hear their stories
- Create – Take part in projects with feedback from professionals
Please note:
- There are no restrictions on student numbers, so whole year groups take part.
- The Educator Hub also includes free activities, lesson plans and videos of previous webinars, featuring jobs within the industry.
- All teachers within your school are welcome to register for the Hub.
How Does IGD’s Sustainabillity Virtual Work Experience Programme Work?
IGD’s work experience takes place over the course of a week. It is comprised of:
- Daily live masterclasses that take place Monday to Friday, 10.30am to 12 midday
- An optional project task that is completed during the week
Everyone joins the Monday and Friday morning sessions. You can then choose a masterclass that interests you on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. You can also attend all five masterclasses if you want to.
There are three project briefs to choose from:
- Health – Pitch an idea and marketing campaign for a new plant-based snack
- Sustainability – Pitch an idea for a re-usable packaging solution for a well-known product
- Technology – Pitch an idea to apply new or emerging technology to solve an in-store customer challenge
Projects are optional and as a teacher you are not expected to have any previous knowledge or experience.
For everyone
Monday: Industry Insight Masterclass
Hear from senior leaders about future trends and opportunities in this exciting fast-paced industry. Choose a project brief to gain hands on experience of real industry challenges and get advice on how to deliver a winning pitch!
Choose any
Tuesday: Marketing and Sales
Wednesday: Engineering
Thursday: IT & Digital
Q&A with industry professionals to learn about their jobs, career journeys and the skills they use at work. Get the insights you need to create a winning project.
For everyone
Friday: Employability Skills Masterclass
Ask employers your questions about virtual applications. Take part in an interview skills masterclass and reflect on your skills and talent.
Digital safeguarding:
- Daily sessions are delivered via GoTo Webinar and your camera/mic will remain switched off.
- Teachers can submit questions for our professionals (only our facilitator can see these).
- Projects are completed on an individual basis.
Can secondary schools and colleges take part?
Yes. These virtual experience weeks are open to students in Year 10, Year 11 and Sixth-form or Further Education. Teachers and Careers Leaders must register their students to take part in the 08-12 November week:
- Schools and Colleges can go to IGD’s Educator Hub – if you have not visited the Hub before, you will be prompted to register once. It is free.
- Via the Educator Hub, you can then register your interest to participate in all our programmes. We will be in touch to confirm places and provide further details about taking part.
Email igdweweek@everfi.com for further details or click here to find out more.
