THE firm behind Kenco and Tassimo coffee will give unemployed youngsters a taste of the workplace.

Banbury-based Mondelez International has teamed up with JobCentre Plus to lay on workshops for 15 jobless youngsters, as part of a national campaign to tackle youth unemployment.

Mondelez, part of a global group which also includes the Cadbury, Jacobs and Oreo brands, will explain what skills are needed to work in the food industry.

The event, on September 12, is part of the Feeding Britain’s Future – Skills for Work Month which offers a chance to spend time at farms, factories and food stores all over the UK.

The half-day workshop includes ice-breaker activities, tastings, one-on-one coaching and an opportunity to quiz existing apprentices.

Other businesses taking part include Oxfordshire branches of the Co-op, Morrisons, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and ASDA.

Amy Penner, senior engineer at Mondelez, said: “The idea is to introduce the notion of coming to work and what sort of jobs are available in the food industry.

“We took part in the scheme last year and employees who volunteered to help found it extremely rewarding.

“A lot of people who live in the Banbury area can smell that we make coffee but have probably never been on site.

“This gives them a chance to get an overview of all the different types of jobs we do here.

“It’s about giving them information about how their career can start and continue, especially if they choose not to go to university.

“They hopefully find out that coming to apply for an apprenticeship here is not too scary.

“It’s all about giving unemployed young people more confidence because sometimes they just need a leg-up.”

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