22 December 2011
A G Barr apprentice wins scholarship
award from the British Soft Drinks Industry Foundation
The British Soft Drinks Industry Foundation
(BSDIF) is delighted to announce that it has awarded its financial
scholarship prize to A G Barr apprentice, Alasdair Shepherd.
BSDIF Trustee Dick Charlton said of the
award:
“It’s fantastic that BSDIF can help
enthusiastic individuals like Alasdair in their careers. BSDIF
hopes this type of scholarship will attract young people to the
industry and encourage them to use their talents so that the soft
drinks industry can continue to innovate and build on its
success.”
Dick Charlton presented the award to Alasdair
at a ceremony on Wednesday 21 December 2011 at Strathmore Water,
Forfar, where Alasdair is undertaking his apprenticeship in
engineering. The prize is a grant of £1,000 per year for the
duration of Alasdair’s four-year apprenticeship.
Bob Watson, Factory Manager at Strathmore
Water, who describes Alasdair as a keen worker and has been
impressed with him so far commented:
"Without investing in the youth of today we
cannot hope to meet the challenges of tomorrow and Alasdair's
recruitment will help us maintain our class leading skills in the
field of engineering within A G Barr.”
The British Soft Drinks Industry Foundation,
previously the Industry’s Benevolent Society, has redefined its
focus in recent years to address the growing shortage of people
entering a career in the food and drink industry.
As Aidan Flynn, Organisational Development
Manager at A G Barr describes:
"Barr Soft Drinks are committed to the
development of young people in the soft drinks industry. Our
two apprentices in Cumbernauld have now finished their
apprenticeships and both have full time roles. We are
delighted to have started Alasdair as an apprentice in our Forfar
factory and are confident he will progress well over his 4
year apprenticeship. We are grateful to the foundation
for the support provided which will be used to enhance Alasdair’s
training and development.”
Ends
For further information please contact
Richard Laming
Media Director
British Soft Drinks Association
Tel: 020 7025 3707 / 07879 654555
Email: rlaming@britishsoftdrinks.com
Website: http://www.britishsoftdrinks.com/
or
Mark Jephcott
PR Manager
A G Barr plc
Tel: 01204 664265/ 0780 373 7043
Email: markjephcott@agbarr.co.uk
Website: http://www.agbarr.co.uk/
Notes for editors:
1 The British Soft Drinks Industry
Foundation (BSDIF) is a registered charity, offering educational
grants to support students taking courses in food science and
technology and to fund apprenticeships for those working within the
soft drinks industry.
2 A G Barr plc is the UK's leading
independent manufacturer of branded soft drinks with an annual
turnover of over £222m. Strathmore Water is a spring water
bottled by A G Barr plc.
3 The British Soft Drinks Association
(BSDA) represents UK producers of soft drinks, including carbonated
drinks, still and dilutable drinks, fruit juices and bottled
waters.
4
Photographs of the event are available on request from Richard
Laming.