TREGROES Waffles have signed up to a newly-launched initiative aimed at boosting local skills within the food and drink industry.

Food and drink manufacturing currently employs over 20,000 people in Wales and wages have grown 13 per cent since 2012.

With the sector undergoing continued growth, the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board launched a skills strategy to promote some of the many exciting careers within it.

As part of the strategy Tregroes Waffles signed a Welsh Skills Pledge committing them to working with local schools, unemployed people and the wider community to highlight some of the job opportunities available in the food supply chain.

Others who have signed up to the scheme include Horeb-based Food Centre Wales.

Activities will include training a ‘Tasty Careers Ambassador’ to visit local schools, and also inviting pupils to their manufacturing site to see for themselves the variety of roles required to produce the food that ends up on our plates.

Other announcements as part of the skills plan include a commitment to increase the availability and provision of apprenticeships within the industry.

Meanwhile, the Welsh Government also unveiled a £3m funding package for ‘Food Skills Cymru’, which will provide technical and staff development training for food and drink companies based in Wales.

Speaking at the launch, Kees Huysmans, of Tregroes Waffles, said: “We’re proud to be able to offer employment opportunities to people living in the local area and were more than happy to sign the pledge and play our part in inspiring the next generation.”

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