Recognising the importance of developing the next generation of industry leaders, the City Food Lecture has for many years supported and accommodated a selected number of students from the leading agri-food universities. We organise a specific student programme during the day before the students and their lecturers join in the main evening event. This programme has given students the opportunity to meet senior representatives from many of the major food-sector business to experience their operations from an insider’s perspective as well as ask future thinking questions . . 

The students come from a number of higher and further education institutions and whether studying for a degree in food, or related studies, at an undergraduate or post- graduate level, or working as apprentices or graduate trainees in food businesses, each one has been selected to attend based on their interest in the future of food.

In 2022 , we were pleased to welcome postgraduate students from IFSTAL, the Innovative Food Systems Teaching and Learning co-ordinating body. Hosted in the prestigious Guildhall, before the main lecture, both those in virtual and physical attendance joined an action packed session led by principal contributor and Gold Plus Sponsor, ABP, who explored the diversity of career opportunities in food and how they tackle the challenges of today.Several of their graduates and apprentices spoke of their career paths to date providing a diverse The attendees also joined  a Q&A session with the three panellists involved in the evening lecture as well as  Ash Amirahmadi, the keynote speaker – a unique opportunitiy to engage with these industry experts.

The FGF is seen as an important part of the City Food Lecture’s role in supporting the experiences of individuals who will themselves be forging careers in the UK food and drink industries.

Our participating institutions, groups and businesses:
Reading University, Newcastle University, Kent University Business School, City University of London, London South Bank University, Royal Agricultural University Cirencester, Harper Adams University, Oxford University, Writtle University College, SOAS University of London, IFSTAL, McDonalds Progressive Young Farmers, Worshipful Company of Butchers Young Butchers, ABP graduate trainees and apprentices.

We thank ABP for their sponsorship of the Future Generation Forum.

The Future Generation Forum is supported by ABP to provide students with an understanding of world class production and marketing of quality British meat products.

Sarah Jane Fulton, ABP UK’s HR Director said, “As a business that is committed to developing and nurturing the next generation, we are delighted  to sponsor the Future Generation Forum at the City Food Lecture. We are passionate about what we do, and we believe that the Forum is a great place to engage with young people and share with them, the innovation, science and vast range of other opportunities that are available to them in our sector and the wider food industry. ABP are 5,000 strong in the UK alone and the range of opportunities and skills required in a business like ABP is huge and ever changing. Early career pathways are important to meet our future skills needs and we are pleased to be able to showcase these at the City Food Lecture.”

ABP is one of the UK’s leading food companies, specialising in the supply and development of award-winning British beef and lamb products for retail, foodservice and wholesale.

Whether it’s agricultural best practice, new supply chain technologies or market-changing product development, ABP has been at the forefront of industry innovation for over 60 years and with an abundance of talent across the business has successfully grown by investing in people.

We are also looking to the future and are proud to be working with world renowned research institutions on game changing environmental innovations to further improve the already strong global sustainability credentials of British red meat production.

ABP employs 12,400 colleagues across nine countries and works with over 45,000 farm families.  ABP products can be found on the shelves of leading UK retailers and on the menu in over 200 Michelin starred restaurants across the world.

More information to follow on the 2023 FGF Programme