FPA Young & Emerging Professionals initiative
Supporting the next generation of foodservice packaging talent
The future of foodservice packaging will be shaped by the people entering and developing within our sector today.
FPA Young & Emerging Professionals (YEP) has been created to help attract, connect and develop emerging talent across the foodservice packaging industry – while giving the next generation a meaningful voice in the issues shaping its future.
The initiative will bring together young professionals from across FPA member organisations, creating opportunities to broaden their industry knowledge, build professional networks, develop new skills and learn from people working throughout the foodservice packaging supply chain.
Attract
Showcase the breadth of careers available across foodservice packaging,
Connect
Bring emerging professionals together with their peers, industry leaders and people working across different parts of the supply chain.
Develop
Create opportunities to build technical, commercial, digital and professional skills through events, mentoring, site visits and shared learning.
Amplify
Give emerging professionals a platform to contribute their perspectives on the future of the sector – from sustainability and skills to technology, AI and changing workplace expectations.
Why now?
The way people enter and develop within the workplace is changing.
There is growing emphasis on vocational and technical pathways, apprenticeships, meaningful employer experience and closer links between education and industry.
At the same time, foodservice packaging offers an extraordinarily broad range of careers spanning:
- manufacturing and production;
- engineering and automation;
- materials science and product development;
- technical, quality and food safety;
- sustainability and the environment;
- design;
- digital, data and AI;
- logistics and supply chain;
- sales and commercial roles;
- marketing and communications;
- regulation and compliance;
- management and leadership.
Yet many of these opportunities remain largely invisible to people considering where their careers might take them.
FPA YEP aims to help change that.
Working with the wider industry
The FPA does not intend to work in isolation.
We will seek to align YEP with complementary initiatives across the packaging, foodservice, education and skills communities, including Packaging Federation NextGen, STEM and careers programmes and other partner-led schemes.
The aim is to create additional opportunities for FPA members and emerging professionals while avoiding duplication of activity already being delivered successfully elsewhere.
Over time, this could include collaborations around:
- Networking and professional development.
- Mentoring.
- Member site visits.
- STEM and careers outreach.
- Apprenticeships and technical pathways.
- School and college engagement
- Industry challenges and competitions.
- Digital, AI and future-skills development.
The first FPA YEP opportunity
10 complimentary places at the FPA Environment Seminar
We are launching FPA YEP by inviting member organisations to nominate young and emerging professionals for 10 complimentary places at the FPA Environment Seminar on Thursday 05 November 2026 at Stationers' Hall, London.
The 10 selected participants will have the opportunity to:
- Attend the full Environment Seminar programme free of charge.
- Meet other emerging professionals from across the sector.
- Broaden their understanding of the environmental and regulatory issues affecting foodservice packaging.
- Meet senior industry figures and speakers.
- Build connections beyond their own organisation.
- Contribute their own perspectives on the future of the industry.
They will also become the founding cohort of FPA Young & Emerging Professionals, helping us shape how the initiative develops.
Who should members nominate?
We are looking for people who:
- Work within an FPA member organisation.
- Will be under 30 on 05 November 2026.
- Are at an early or developing stage of their career.
- Demonstrate curiosity, commitment and potential.
- Would benefit from greater exposure to the wider foodservice packaging sector.
Apprentices, graduates, trainees and people who have entered the sector through vocational, technical and other career pathways are all encouraged.
Emerging professionals can come from any part of the business – not just traditional packaging roles.
Nominate the future
Who in your organisation should we be watching?
If there is someone in your business with the enthusiasm, potential and curiosity to make their mark on the foodservice packaging sector, we would like to hear about them.
Nominate a FPA Young & Emerging Professional
What comes next?
The Environment Seminar is only the beginning.
Future FPA YEP activity is expected to include a mix of:
- Networking.
- Mentoring.
- Site visits.
- Professional and technical development.
- STEM and careers outreach.
- Digital and AI skills.
- Opportunities to contribute to FPA events and discussions.
- Collaboration with other emerging-professional programmes across the packaging sector.
We will be working with FPA members and YEP participants themselves to determine which activities would deliver the greatest value.
Interested in getting involved?
Whether you are an emerging professional, an employer interested in supporting the programme, a potential mentor or a partner organisation, we would like to hear from you.
Companies participating in the FPA YEP initiative
We can add this section when we have some members who have agreed to get involved
FAQs
What is the FPA YEP initiative?
FPA Young & Emerging Professionals (YEP) is an initiative designed to help attract, connect and develop emerging talent across the foodservice packaging sector.
It will create opportunities for younger and early-career professionals to broaden their industry knowledge, build networks, develop new skills and contribute their views on the future of the sector.
Who is the FPA YPE initiative for?
The initiative is aimed at people in the early or developing stages of their careers within FPA member organisations.
This could include apprentices, graduates, trainees, early-career professionals and people who have entered the sector through vocational, technical or other career pathways.
Is there an age limit?
For the first FPA YEP opportunity – the 10 complimentary places at the Environment Seminar – nominees must be under 30 on 05 November 2026.
The wider YEP programme will continue to develop in consultation with members and participants.
Do nominees need to work in a specific type of role?
No. We want YEP to reflect the breadth of careers available across foodservice packaging.
Nominees may work in manufacturing, engineering, technical and quality, sustainability, design, materials, digital and AI, sales, marketing, supply chain, logistics, regulatory, commercial or other functions.
Do nominees have to work for an FPA member company?
Yes. The initial Environment Seminar opportunity is open exclusively to people working within current FPA member organisations.
What will selected participants receive?
Selected participants will receive a complimentary place at the Environment Seminar, access to the full programme, opportunities to meet other emerging professionals and senior industry figures, and an invitation to become involved in the continuing development of FPA YEP.
Can someone nominate themselves?
For the initial Environment Seminar places, nominations should come from an FPA member organisation.
Emerging professionals who are interested in taking part should speak to their manager or another senior colleague about being nominated.
Can we nominate more than one person?
Yes. Member organisations may nominate more than one individual, although the FPA will seek to create a balanced founding cohort representing different roles, companies and parts of the supply chain.
How will the 10 participants be selected?
The FPA will consider the strength of each nomination, how the individual is likely to benefit, their career stage and role, and the overall balance of the cohort.
We want the group to reflect the breadth of the membership, including different disciplines, company sizes and parts of the supply chain.
This is not an awards competition. The aim is to create a diverse group of emerging professionals who will benefit from the opportunity and bring different perspectives.
What happens if my nominee isn't selected?
YEP will extend beyond the 10 Environment Seminar places.
Subject to their consent, nominees who are not selected will be able to hear about future YEP networking, development, mentoring, site visit and other opportunities.
How will the FPA YEP initiative evolve in the future?
The programme is being developed with members and emerging professionals themselves.
Will YEP work with other organisations?
Yes. The FPA intends to align YEP with complementary initiatives across packaging, foodservice, education and skills.
This could include collaboration with Packaging Federation NextGen, STEM and careers programmes and other partner-led schemes, helping to create additional opportunities without duplicating existing activity.
Can FPA member companies get involved beyond nominating someone?
Yes. We would welcome support from members interested in providing mentors, hosting site visits, sharing career stories, offering work experience, supporting STEM activity, providing speakers or helping shape the future programme.
Who do I contact if I have a question about the YEP initiative?
Please get in touch via emailwith the FPA YEP Committee via the who will be happy to help
