Weetabix champions early career opportunities with an expanded apprenticeship scheme across four key fields: manufacturing, engineering, IT and HR. This includes an upskilling programme for manufacturing employees with the company, supporting further growth and development across the team.
The early careers initiative, which previously only included apprenticeships in manufacturing and engineering, has now grown to offer even higher levels of qualifications, as well as the new additions of IT and HR qualifications for industry newcomers.
This includes:
• Manufacturing – Level 3 Team Leader Supervisor Apprenticeship • Engineering – Level 3 Engineering Technician Apprenticeship • IT – Level 4 Cyber Security Technologist Apprenticeship • HR – Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship – including Level 3 CIPD in People Practice
Since its inception, 14 apprentices have secured roles within Weetabix – one of which is now close to celebrating their ninth year with the company.
Manufacturing teams can also benefit from an array of upskilling qualifications, including the Manufacturing Excellence Programme (MEP), as well as a Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship for production operators and a Level 3 Team leader/Supervisor Apprenticeship for shift managers and lead engineers.
The programme, sponsored by Weetabix senior leaders, encourages team-based learning that boosts talent and gives employees the opportunity to develop and progress new skills with the company. Close to 400 applications have now been received for the new Weetabix apprenticeships, offered at its headquarters in Burton Latimer.
“Nurturing new talent through our early careers and upskilling initiatives is such an important focus for us at Weetabix," said Christine Bryanton, Senior Early Careers Advisor.
“We’re proud to support young people entering into the industry, building a positive culture of learning, trust and loyalty, as well as helping our teams develop even further within the company.
“That includes encouraging more women into engineering roles with our annual Women In Engineering day, which gives year-10 students hands-on experience of what working as a Weetabix engineer is all about!”
The Weetabix Women in Engineering Day forms part of the company’s longer-term strategy to boost interest in engineering and manufacturing fields. While there may not be an immediate increase in applications, the goal of the event is to inspire and encourage more female students to consider engineering as a future career option. Its second annual event was held this October 11 and was attended by eight students from local schools.
Entrepreneur and businessperson Stanley Morrice, an influential figure in the retail and wholesale sectors, received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Stirling at Stirling’s winter graduation held today (22).
Stanley, from Fraserburgh, is being recognised for his services to Scottish food, drink and agriculture. He entered the sector as a school leaver. In 1993, he joined Aberdeen-based convenience stores Aberness Foods, which traded as Mace. He rose to become Sales Director, boosting income by 50 per cent and tripling profits, and went on to be Managing Director, successfully leading the business through a strategic sale to supermarket group Somerfield.
Throughout a stellar business career, Stanley has set up, led, managed and sold more than 100 companies, from retail, wholesale and property to coaching and mentoring firms, in the UK and internationally.
An MBA graduate in retailing and wholesaling from the University of Stirling and Chair of the University of Stirling Management School’s International Advisory Board, Stanley was recognised with an MBE in 2022 for his work to support sustainable food and drink production in north-east Scotland.
Collecting his degree along with more than 300 other graduates at Friday morning’s ceremony, Stanley said, “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the University of Stirling, where I completed my MBA in 1998. The University has played a pivotal role in shaping my career, and it has been a privilege to serve as Chair of the International Advisory Board at Stirling Management School since early 2020.
“This honorary degree reflects the University's commitment to cultivating industry partnerships and its dedication to preparing students for success in the business world. I was grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Stirling's mission of fostering innovation and developing future leaders.”
Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: “We are delighted to be awarding an Honorary Doctorate to Stanley Morrice, who has been an influential and exemplary figure in business and entrepreneurship, and in his advisory role at the University of Stirling. We know Stanley’s accomplishments, impact and leadership will be an inspiration to those graduating alongside him this week.”
In total, more than 1,000 students will graduate from the University of Stirling this week. Three ceremonies are being held across two days (21 – 22 November) as students celebrate their academic achievements alongside their families, friends and University staff.
British consumers have turned less pessimistic following the government's first budget and the US presidential election and they are showing more appetite for spending in the run-up to Christmas, according to a new survey.
The GfK Consumer Confidence Index, the longest-running measure of British consumer sentiment, rose to -18 in November, its highest since August and up from -21 in October which was its lowest since March.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected a deterioration in the confidence indicator to -22. Neil Bellamy, GfK's consumer insights director, said consumers seemed to have moved past their nervousness in the run-up to the 30 October budget and the 4 November US elections.
Finance minister Rachel Reeves announced a big increase in taxes on 30 October but the burden fell mostly on businesses rather than individuals.
Bellamy said it was too soon to say a corner had been turned. "As recent data shows, inflation has yet to be tamed, people are still feeling acute cost-of-living pressures, and it will take time for the UK's new government to deliver on its promise of 'change'," he said.
All five of the five components of the GfK's survey rose this month, led by a gauge of shoppers' willingness to make expensive purchases which rose five point to -16.
The survey was conducted between 30 October and 15 November and was based on the responses of 2,001 people.
GfK’s survey reported modest improvements in consumer measures of their personal finances and the general economic situation over the next 12 months. The figures clash with a separate survey of 1,500 households which showed growing pessimism over job security, according to S&P Intelligence.
“Consumer confidence continues to be variable but ability to spend depends on household circumstance,” Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer and retail at KPMG, said. “Inflation and interest rates having not yet sufficiently fallen and a toughening labour market are all weighing on the minds of many people.”
The government announced a £20 billion rise in employer national insurance contributions at the budget, as part of its promise not to hit “working people” with extra levies. Labour has also cut back on winter fuel payments for all pensioners, and said it will boost pay for public sector workers this year.
British retail sales fell by much more than expected in October, according to official data that added to other signs of a loss of momentum in the economy in the run-up to the first budget of prime minister Keir Starmer's new government.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales volumes have fallen by 0.7 per cent in October. A Reuters poll of economists had forecast a monthly fall of 0.3 per cent in sales volumes from September.
The drop was the sharpest since June when sales fell by 1.0 per cent from May. A monthly rise in sales in September was also revised down to 0.1 per cent from a previous estimate of a 0.3 per cent gain.
The ONS said retailers across the board reported that consumers held back on spending ahead of the new government's first tax and spending budget on 30 October.
It also said a possible contributor to the weakness in sales were the school half-term holidays for England and Wales which typically fall within the October data reporting period but did not this year.
Sales of clothing were particularly weak in October, something reflected in previously released figures for the month from the British Retail Consortium, representing the industry, which linked the fall to weather that was warmer than usual.
The ONS said during the 12 months to October, sales volumes rose by 2.4 per cent, slowing from September's 3.2 per cent rise and weaker than the median forecast in the Reuters poll for a 3.4 per cent increase.
Slow start to Golden Quarter
Jacqui Baker, head of retail at RSM UK and chair of ICAEW’s Retail Group, described the figures as a “concerning start to the Golden Quarter” - the busiest period for retailers.
“With half-term falling later this year and relatively mild weather, consumers have put off buying their winter coats and boots. This has made it difficult for retailers to shift stock,” she said. Many shoppers appear to be holding out for Black Friday deals, which Baker predicts will lift sales throughout November.
Baker noted that despite a challenging October, there is hope for a recovery in the months ahead.
“The Budget didn’t deal a huge blow to consumers in the form of tax rises, plus interest rates continue to come down, and the American election is now out of the way, which should help with confidence and create a clear runway for Christmas spending,” she said.
Thomas Pugh, an economist at RSM UK, echoed these concerns, pointing to the timing of the school half-term as a significant factor in October's sales slump. However, he expressed optimism about the longer-term outlook, predicting that retail sales would grow through 2025 as “higher consumer incomes and rising consumer confidence … feed through into higher spending volumes.”
He added: “While headline inflation jumped from 1.7 per cent in September to 2.2 per cent in October, retail prices fell at an accelerated rate. Indeed, retail inflation dropped from -1.3 per cent to -1.6 per cent, meaning lower prices will help a rise in spending feed through into bigger increases in sales volumes.”
Silvia Rindone, EY UK&I Retail Lead, highlighted consumer caution as another key factor behind the October decline.
“The decline in sales volumes can be attributed to a decrease in consumer confidence, influenced by several factors including uncertainty surrounding the Autumn Statement, rising energy bills, and the impending costs of Christmas,” she commented.
EY’s latest Holiday Shopping survey revealed that nearly half of consumers began their festive shopping before November, aiming to spread out holiday expenses.
Rindone warned that retailers face a challenging period ahead, with upcoming labour cost increases, including changes to National Insurance and a minimum wage hike set for April 2025.
“The next few months are critical… Retailers will need to ensure they drive margin this Golden Quarter so that investments can be made in their proposition,” she said.
“As our survey found, shoppers are willing to spend if the price is right and the proposition is strong. Continuing to operate as efficiently as possible while steadily improving the experience for customers will be key. Much like the last few years, the market is getting tougher, and only those able to continually evolve will thrive.”
Shareholders in food and drink giants such as PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and Mondelez are among a group of investors calling on the sector to be more transparent about the healthiness of its sales as a first step towards taking accountability for its significant impact on public health, in a move coordinated by responsible investment NGO ShareAction, the NGO stated.
The investors include Legal & General Investment Management, Pictet Asset Management, Nest, and CCLA, who collectively manage £2.34trn in assets. In a letter delivered today (21) to the chief executives of PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Mondelēz, Kraft Heinz, Kellanova, and General Mills, investors have called on the companies to follow the likes of Unilever and Danone in adopting internationally-accepted nutrition standards for publicly reporting the healthiness of their sales.
The investors have raised concerns that an over-reliance on sales of less healthy products leads to poor diets and sicker societies, which they claim harms economic productivity and threatens long-term business success and financial returns. The investors added that a lack of transparency hinders their ability to fully assess risks and opportunities.
“We believe that health is a systemic risk that affects the whole economy,” said Tom Sanders, Senior ESG Analyst at Nest. “The increased consumption of unhealthy products harms public health and could reduce worker productivity, creating externalities that can impact our long-term investment returns as a globally diversified investor. Food and drink companies must take responsibility in helping manage these risks by being more transparent, using internationally recognised nutrition standards as an important first step.”
The move comes amid an increasing focus by governments and consumers on the food and drink sector’s reliance on sales of foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar. Around one in eight people globally are living with obesity, including millions of children, which is projected to cost the global economy more than £3.34trn a year by 2035.
Thomas Abrams, Co-Head of Health at ShareAction, said: “It’s really encouraging to see the momentum building among the investment community to hold the food and drink sector to account for its impact on public health. By adopting a responsible investment approach to public health investors can not only manage financial risks but also help more people to enjoy healthier lives for longer.”
ShareAction and the investors are asking the food and drink companies to commit to adopting one or more of the internationally accepted Nutrient Profiling Models used to define healthy food, rather than their own in-house versions.
Freight-related crime cost the UK economy an estimated £680-700 million in 2023, when accounting for lost revenues, VAT, and insurance costs, revealed a recent report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Freight and Logistics.
The study, funded by the Road Haulage Association (RHA), documented 5,370 reported incidents of HGV and cargo crime across the UK last year, a 5 per cent increase on the previous year. Experts suggest that the actual figures could be significantly higher due to under-reporting. The direct value of stolen goods reached £68.3 million.
According to data from the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), major crime hotspots include Stafford with 138 offences, Thurrock with 103, and Warwick Services with 87. The East of England, Yorkshire and Humber, and South East regions experienced the highest concentration of incidents, with the West Midlands seeing incidents double in 2023 and Yorkshire/Humber recording a 65% increase since 2021.
Analysis reveals distinct seasonal patterns, with fourth-quarter criminal activities increasing by 56 per cent in 2022 and 26 per cent in 2023, coinciding with the Christmas retail period.
The report highlights significant infrastructure challenges, noting a national shortage of approximately 11,000 lorry parking spaces. Current facilities are operating at 83 per cent capacity nationwide, with utilisation exceeding 90 per cent in the South East, East Midlands, and East of England. The A14 Cambridge-Felixstowe route, serving Britain’s busiest port, has reached 100 per cent capacity for overnight parking.
Three-quarters of recorded freight crimes occurred in independent road parking areas or unsecured motorway service stations, with incidents at motorway services increasing by 59 per cent in 2023.
The APPG’s research indicates that rather than being opportunistic, these crimes are largely conducted by organised groups targeting high-volume routes near major ports. Small and medium-sized enterprises, which comprise 90 per cent of the sector, are particularly vulnerable to losses.
The impact on Britain’s supply chains is substantial, considering that road freight moves 89 per cent of all goods and 98 per cent of agricultural and food products. The cross-party group has proposed several measures, including the establishment of national secure parking standards, enhanced law enforcement resources, and reforms to planning frameworks to increase secure parking facilities.
The report forms part of a broader examination of supply chain security and follows the government’s allocation of £32.5 million in November 2022 for truck stop improvements, supplementing £20 million provided by National Highways earlier that year.