Sweet success is just a step away

IF YOU’VE ever thought of making a new chocolate bar or drink, then the food industry is for you. Emma McLeod is research principal for Mondelez International at the chocolate centre of excellence in Bournville, Birmingham.

Emma, 49, says: ‘I work out how to manufacture snacks efficiently and on a large scale. It’s not easy separating dried fruit so it is not in one big lump — and we do that at the scale of a tonne an hour when we make fruit and nut chocolate bars.’

Emma first studied engineering at Birmingham University and then joined the Cadbury graduate training scheme.

She says: ‘ Seeing someone enjoying the product you’ve worked on for months is hugely rewarding. There are endless career opportunities in the industry, so research the career and talk to people who work in it.’

Sarah-Jane Hawkes, Engineering skills: Emma McLeod human resources director at Mondelez Northern Europe, says: ‘We value creativity, curiosity and passion and always aim to attract candidates who have a positive and proactive attitude.’ Mondelez offers apprenticeships, internships and graduate training schemes.

Ian Wright, director general of the Food and Drinks Federation, says: ‘This industry sector needs another 140,000 people by 2024.’

The UK is predicted to need 186,000 more engineers by 2024 according to the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).