FWD launches Future Leaders Index to promote careers in wholesale

Food & Drink Wholesale UK, better known as FWD, has launched a Future Leaders Index to promote careers in wholesale.

The FWD Future Leaders Index gives under-35s working across the wholesale sector a platform to shape the industry’s future.

According to a new report launched by FWD, the wholesale sector can play a key role in tackling youth unemployment by providing meaningful career opportunities for the nearly one million young people in the UK who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

The report was launched at FWD’s Wholesale Star Awards at the House of Commons earlier this month, attended by more than 150 MPs, peers and representatives from across the wholesale sector.

The report reveals that while awareness of wholesale careers remains low (80% of respondents identified this as a barrier), every young professional surveyed (100%) said they would recommend a career in the sector. Respondents also highlighted on-the-job experience (68%) and clear progression routes (58%) as two of wholesale’s greatest strengths in attracting and developing talent. Once they are working in wholesale, respondents identify the support of managers (86%) and mentors (70%) key to their career development.

Commenting on the report, Lyndsey Cambridge-Wilson, head of external affairs at FWD, said: “Eight in 10 respondents told us there is a lack of awareness about the career opportunities available in the food and drink wholesale channel. Nearly as many said people don’t understand the career paths available. That tells me we have a job to do as a collective. We need to champion the breadth of careers our sector offers – whether that’s in logistics, technology, finance, operations, sales, marketing, HR or leadership.

“We need to be in more schools, colleges and universities promoting the opportunities we have for the taking. We want to ensure that the next generation of talent not only know about the opportunities in our sector, but they make a conscious choice to choose our sector.”

Baroness Warsi, who gave a keynote speech at the awards, said: “Having spent much of my career in business, I know successful organisations are built by their people. It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many outstanding young professionals who are helping to shape the future of the wholesale sector and the wider food supply chain.

“The UK faces a significant challenge in supporting young people who are not in education, employment or training into work. As the Future Leaders Index demonstrates, wholesale offers a genuine opportunity for young people to build successful and fulfilling careers.”

This year’s winners of the Wholesale Star Awards were:

Rising Star Awards:

• Ross McMullan, Warehouse Team Leader at Henderson Foodservice.

• Cathryn Peake, Key Account Specialist at Savona Foodservice.

• Evie Roddy, Depot Service Manager at Bidfood.

• Eleanor May Redfern, Project Co-Ordinator at Bestway Wholesale.

• Megan Denise Laidler, Contracts Manager at Bestway Wholesale.

• Saif Ali, Graduate Trainee at Bestway Wholesale.

• Chloe Megan, Deputy Store Manager at Bestway Retail.

• Beth Macdonald, Finance Graduate at Sysco.

• Alfie Goodman, Factory Operative at Bidfresh.

• Ben Tomlinson, National Account Manager at Carlsberg Britvic.

Emerging Leader Award:

• Lauren Bryce, National Account Manager at Red Bull.

• Nic Mynott, Commercial Lead at Lumina Intelligence.

• Zara Heathcote, Commercial Team Lead at DCS Group.

• Gemma Smith, National Account Executive at Lakeland Dairies.

• Eleanor Pugh, Caterforce.

Leadership Impact Award:

• Justine McGreevey, People Development and Academy Manager at Henderson Wholesale.

• Lucy Goddard, People Director at Pricecheck.

• Lucy Roberts, Talent and Engagement Advisor at Pricecheck.

• Gill Parks, Head of HR at Savona.

• Kelly Williams, Managing Director at Savona.