Nestle launches graduate academy

Food and drink giant Nestle is launching a graduate academy as part of a £110 million investment in its Tutbury site in Derbyshire.

The expansion will see the company add 12 high-speed production lines to its existing coffee manufacturing facility, creating a total of 300 new jobs.

Some of these new recruits will form the first intake for the Nestle Academy, which is being launched to support a commitment to double the number of graduate places, internships and apprenticeships on offer at the business.

Over the past five years, Nestle has invested over £100 million in the Tutbury factory. Since 2006, the number of employees at the site has increased from 160 to 500 and it is expected to hit 800 by 2013.

Nestle UK & Ireland chairman and chief executive, Paul Grimwood, said: “This investment in Tutbury will extend our best-in-class facility, trebling our production capacity to export to over 38 countries across the globe. In order to grow we need to innovate and we are committed to the continued modernisation of our UK manufacturing capability.

“Recruiting the best people for our business is the key to our continued success. Through the Nestle Academy we will double our number of apprentices, graduates and internships, supporting the economy through the training of skilled workers. We will also provide on-the-job training, which will open academic study to those who otherwise might not feel this is a route open to them.”

Nestle UK & Ireland currently employs around 7,000 people across 19 sites. Its brands include KitKat, Nescafe, Quality Street and Shredded Wheat.