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<p> </p><p>This visit was planned as a follow up to National Apprenticeship Week.
The Secretary of State wanted to meet young people beginning careers in the food production
chain. In Birmingham he walked the production line on the factory floor with Mondelez
apprentices, discussing with them and the Director of Manufacturing how a recent injection
of £75 million is turning Bourneville into a world class manufacturing site. Mondelez
is taking part in the Strategic Relationship Management (SRM) initiative, which is
a government commitment to help companies overcome barriers to growth and investment.</p><p>Defra
leads on the relationship with Mondelez, which has been chosen for SRM because it
makes a significant contribution to the economy. The visit timing also coincided with
the Big Bang Science and Technology Fair; the Secretary of State visited the Food
and Drink Federation's stand and discussed how the food and drink industry, the largest
manufacturing sector in the UK, is inspiring youngsters to seek careers in the sector.
The Secretary of State concluded the day with a speech to the Harper Adams Forum,
a student run body at Harper Adams University. His speech highlighted the opportunities
in the agriculture sector, including agri-technology following the launch of ‘UK Strategy
for Agricultural Technologies'.</p><p> </p>
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