Creating more diverse organisations will be key to success in manufacturing - Vanessa Smith

While there may be a perception among some that manufacturing is solely a heavy-duty, and physically demanding sector, the reality is that today many roles are grounded in innovation, problem-solving and teamwork.

We’re encouraging women and others who might not have considered a career in manufacturing previously to take advantage of this shift. Although women represent almost half of the labour force in the UK, they account for only 26 per cent of all workers in the manufacturing sector. So, there’s a lot more businesses need to be doing to ensure women and people from all backgrounds consider the industry as an opportunity to shape a rewarding career.

Clearly, businesses can also benefit from the diversity of perspectives, ideas and experiences that help organisations drive forward many of the innovations we’re seeing today.

At Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), we recognise the role different skill sets and insights can bring to a business like ours, and we’re putting a lot of effort into promoting the breadth of opportunities available. It’s why we’re opening up multiple vacancies at our site in Wakefield for those who might not have previous experience working in manufacturing as part of our efforts to welcome people into the sector.

Our apprenticeship programme has also evolved over recent years, targeting all ages and skill levels to open up pathways for those looking to step into the world of work, or change career direction.

To attract new recruits, it’s crucial we help to paint a more accurate picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Thanks to progress in automation, as well as a growing focus on collaboration, testing and learning, plus a shift towards flexible working means manufacturing is becoming a more inclusive place. But not everyone is aware of these benefits, so it’s up to businesses like us to showcase what the sector has to offer.

Recruitment processes inevitably play a big part in helping to open the door to more people. Just as the sector has evolved, the way we bring people into our business needs to reflect this progress and evolved thinking.

We’re making sure we hire people based on their potential, not just their academic achievements, because we believe it’s important to focus on what an individual can contribute based on their skills and their attitude. We can help fill in the rest with on-the job training and mentoring.

We’re also anonymising CVs from the screening process, to remove any unconscious biases, and we can share interview questions for neurodiverse people in advance, so that they have the opportunity to prepare and are not at a disadvantage on the day of their interview.

And to make sure we retain people and allow them to have a career that works alongside their own commitments and responsibilities, we’re also offering more flexible working options to better suit a range of lifestyles.

But it’s not just about what we’re doing for our colleagues; businesses need to think about what they’re doing in the community too, to give as many people as possible the opportunity to consider a career in manufacturing.

It’s why we have joined with a range of organisations to reach groups of people who have traditionally faced barriers in trying to get into good jobs. We’re working with Whizz Kidz, a charity that supports young wheelchair users, and have a long-standing relationship with leading youth charity UK Youth, both of whom are doing incredible work in this space.

We’re also getting behind social enterprise Community Shop, which sells surplus goods and household products from major retailers at deeply discounted prices. As well as donating our soft drinks products, we’re helping Community Shop in its efforts to support those at risk of food poverty by offering free training courses, ranging from cookery clubs to interview skills and business programmes.

I’m pleased we’re making progress, but we’ve still got a way to go at CCEP - I’d urge my peers in manufacturing to think about what they’re doing to open up opportunities for all.

Vanessa Smith is operations director at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) in Wakefield.