Coca-Cola Enterprises Invests £750,000 At Sidcup Factory With Launch Of New Education Centre

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

05 July 2011 - Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has today underlined its continued commitment to youth development with the launch of a brand new £750,000 Education Centre at its Sidcup site, Kent. The new centre is the fourth of its kind in Great Britain, with similar facilities in Wakefield, Edmonton and East Kilbride in Scotland.

As part of CCE's national education programme, the latest investment will support the company's drive to introduce young people to the world of business, enterprise and engineering. The new centre aims to host over 200 visits per year, reaching over 4,000 students from local secondary schools, colleges and universities.

The launch was marked with an on-site open day, allowing a range of VIPs including local councillors, national business associations, education groups and teachers from several of the region's schools to get a first look at the centre. Pupils from Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar and Erith School also attended the event, the latter of which taking part in an interactive classroom session to demonstrate the centre in action.

Simon Baldry, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) comments: "We are committed to playing a positive role in the communities in which we operate, and one of the best ways to achieve this is by opening up our factory doors to support the work of educators.

"Our Education Centres offer students valuable insight into the world of business, allowing them to make connections between what they learn in the classroom and real-life modern manufacturing practices. Modules taught at the centre link directly to the national curriculum, and we have built excellent relationships with schools across the country."

CCE's fourth national Education Centre has been developed as part its 'Olympic Games legacy' programme, located at the Sidcup site which will play a pivotal role in supplying soft drinks to the Olympic park in Stratford for the London 2012 Olympics.

Nick Fuller, Head of Education at the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) comments:

"The Sidcup Education Centre is a fantastic educational facility that will offer students a unique insight into manufacturing. It will help teach the importance of sustainability and support the teaching of a broad range of subjects. It's good to see that delivering an outstanding community education programme is part of Coca-Cola's ambition for their London 2012 Olympic legacy."

Business Minister Mark Prisk said: "Our manufacturing industries are known around the world for high-tech, high-quality products. To secure long-term growth in the UK we must make sure the next generation has both the skills to succeed and the aspiration to unlock their own potential.

"This new Education Centre will make an invaluable contribution to our work to attract the brightest and the best to pursue a career in manufacturing."

Melanie Leech, Director General of Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said: "The Food and Drink Federation is working to attract pupils and graduates into our industry by highlighting the exciting range of careers on offer. I'm delighted that Coca Cola Enterprises has launched this new resource centre to link into the curriculum and bring to life the range of business and enterprise opportunities that are available in food and drink. I'm sure that it will inspire the science, engineering and product innovators of the future."

James Brokenshire, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup: "Coca-Cola Enterprises' Sidcup facility plays a significant role in our community; investing in this cutting edge education centre further demonstrates their commitment to both the area, and also to the manufacturing industry. The education centre will provide students from local schools and colleges with an insight into how industry operates, and the potential career opportunities manufacturing offers."

CCE's Education Centres are fully equipped with interactive classrooms and purpose built to deliver a subject related insight into the production process alongside a tour of the factory floor. Each centre is run by a General Teaching Council registered teacher employed directly by CCE, and looks to support the teaching of a variety of subjects, including Business Studies, Science, ICT, Engineering, Design & Technology.

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