Nestlé acts to improve European youth unemployment

Nestlé has launched a youth employment initiative in Europe which will offer jobs and create thousands of apprenticeships and traineeships by 2016. As part of the ‘Nestlé in Europe’ Youth Employment Initiative, the company will also encourage its European suppliers to offer a job, apprenticeship or traineeship to young people.

“Governments alone cannot resolve the problem of youth unemployment in Europe - companies must play their part,” said Laurent Freixe, Nestlé Executive Vice-President and Zone Director for Europe.

“We are committed to offering a substantial number of young people the opportunity to learn and develop within our company. These new opportunities are the direct result of our continued growth and investment in Europe.”

The roles offered as part of the initiative will span the company’s different business areas and will be at all levels within the company, from operators on the factory floor to sales assistants and business management.

New employees will be offered training and career advice as well as coaching and mentoring by Nestlé colleagues to enable them to be better prepared to enter the future job market.

“We want these jobs and apprenticeships to be the first step on a job ladder in a company that has always recognised the energy, talent and determination of the younger generation,” said Freixe.