Burton’s Biscuit Company played host to school students yesterday – so they could get an insight into what it’s like being an engineer in the food and drink industry.

Burton’s, which produces Maryland Cookies, Jammie Dodgers and Wagon Wheels, took the year 12 students from King Edward VII & Queen Mary School on a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the state-of-the-art and high-tech food production facilities.

The visit forms part of food and drink manufacturers’ drive to recruit students onto the industry-backed MEng Food Engineering degree at Sheffield Hallam University – which has been specially designed to deliver food and drink engineers.

The course, designed to create employment-ready engineers, offers real job prospects for its graduates.

Among several other benefits, students starting the MEng Food Engineering degree course in September 2014 and 2015 may be eligible for a Food and Drink Federation bursary of £2,500, guaranteed competitively-paid work placements and have exclusive access to jobs that are only on offer to course graduates (subject to final grades, references and employer recruitment processes).

Jackie Kent, human resources director at Burton’s Biscuit Company, said: “The food and drink sector is often overlooked by young people as a career choice, but the industry presents significant opportunities for those looking to develop a highly skilled career in what is a fast-moving and exciting environment, so we’re delighted to host the students today and support the Sheffield Hallam degree.”

Students interested in the degree can still apply for 2014 intake. For further details on the course and other student benefits, please go to http://bit.ly/foodengineering