IFST and ProFSET host food engineering careers event for students at Mondelēz Bournville site

The Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST), in collaboration with the Professional Food Science, Engineering, and Technology Group (ProFSET) and Mondelēz International, hosted the “Food Engineer Student Launchpad” at the Cadbury factory in Bournville, Birmingham, on 11 October 2024.

The event aimed to inspire over 80 engineering students from six UK universities to consider careers in the food and drinks industry—a sector that employs more than 456,000 people and contributes £25 billion in exports annually.

The “Food Engineer Student Launchpad” sought to bridge the awareness gap for students around the engineering opportunities within the food and drink industry.

Martyn Robinson, Senior Food Scientist at Mondelēz and organiser of the event, coordinated efforts with IFST, ProFSET, PepsiCo, the Food and Drink Federation, and six prominent universities to give students a rare behind-the-scenes look at the processes behind producing beloved chocolate products.

The participating universities were Loughborough University, University of Lincoln, University of Nottingham, University of Birmingham, University of Warwick, and Aston University.

The students enjoyed an extensive factory tour highlighting the intricate engineering processes involved in chocolate production. This included demonstrations of cocoa roasting, chocolate refining, and packaging mechatronics, as well as an exploration of R&D innovations propelling the industry forward.

The tour showcased the breadth of engineering skills needed to maintain the quality and efficiency of food production on a global scale.

In addition to the factory tour, the event featured an employability session with industry leaders. Tom Bullock, Process Development Engineer at PepsiCo, and Kate Bailey, Early Careers Lead at Mondelēz, provided practical advice on entering the food engineering sector and highlighted the variety of roles available in the industry.

Building stronger academic and food industry partnerships

While students toured the factory, a roundtable discussion was held, bringing together representatives from the attending universities, Mondelēz International, PepsiCo, IFST, and the Food and Drink Federation. The discussion focused on how to better promote engineering careers within the food industry to STEM students, exploring ways to build stronger academic and industry partnerships.

Dr Ian Noble, Vice President of R&D Global Research & Productivity at Mondelēz, opened the event with a welcome address underscoring the company’s commitment to inspiring emerging talent. “At Mondelēz International, we are deeply passionate about nurturing fresh talent and guiding them towards long, rewarding careers within the food system,” he said.

“The food industry is one of the most dynamic and exciting fields to work in, offering endless opportunities to innovate and make a meaningful impact on global well-being. Careers in food are not only essential but also incredibly fulfilling, as they allow individuals to shape the future of nutrition, sustainability, and consumer experiences. We are fully committed to supporting and inspiring the next generation of professionals in food.”

Mondelēz’s Bournville site, which houses its Global Centre of Excellence for Chocolate Research and Development, served as a fitting venue for the event. The site produces Cadbury’s beloved treats, including Dairy Milk, Wispa, and Heroes, showcasing the engineering prowess needed to sustain such a cherished brand.

This event marked the second successful year for the ProFSET Food Engineer Student Launchpad and underscored the growing momentum in encouraging young engineers to enter the dynamic food and drinks sector.