​“The partnership with Vickerstock will enable students leaving Loughry, not only to work in food, but also in pharmaceutical, packaging, engineering…and not only in Northern Ireland, but also in the south of Ireland, UK, Europe and even further abroad”

We take a look back at our recent visit to CAFRE, Northern Ireland’s College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise.

Ron Gardiner, Senior Packaging Technologist at CAFRE gives Paul Muir, Vickerstock’s Specialist Recruiter in the FMCG/Agri-Food sector a tour of CAFRE’s top class packaging technology facilities within their Loughry Campus. We were really impressed at the level of detailing and the types of technology used to create sustainable and high quality packaging.

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Partnership Update

Vickerstock will sponsor four students in their certificate in packaging materials as part of their Diploma in Packaging Technology.

Demand for packaging technologists is increasing in preparation for April 2022, when the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) comes into effect in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Plastic Packaging Tax applies to plastic packaging produced in, or imported into, the UK, but will not apply to any plastic packaging which contains at least 30% recycled plastic, or any packaging which is not predominantly plastic by waste. This means large packaging manufacturers are looking for more sustainable alternatives in their production.

Recognising the growing demand for skilled packaging technologists, Vickerstock Recruitment is keen to invest in the future experts of this area, sponsoring four students towards their Diploma in Packaging Technology.

CAFRE, Northern Irelands College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, is the only college on the island of Ireland that offers the Diploma in Packaging Technology. It is internationally recognised as the premier qualification for packaging professionals and provides young professionals with the knowledge and skills required in a very large, diverse, and important industry.

Interviews have already taken place and we look forward to announcing which students Vickerstock sponsored towards their certificate in packaging materials.