The company said on Thursday its initiative would offer employment and create “thousands of apprentice positions and traineeships by 2016” for job seekers under the age of 30.

As part of the youth employment initiative, Nestlé said it will also encourage its European suppliers to offer positions to young people.

“Governments alone cannot resolve the problem of youth unemployment in Europe – companies must play their part,” Laurent Freixe, Nestlé executive vice-president and zone director for Europe, said in a statement.

“We are committed to offering a substantial number of young people the opportunity to learn and develop within our company,” Freixe said.


“These new opportunities are the direct result of our continued growth and investment in Europe.”

The company, headquartered in Vevey, in the canton of Vaud, said it will unveil further details of its initiative in September.

Nestlé said it was continuing to expand in Europe despite challenging economic conditions.

It highlighted its biggest-ever investment in Germany last month, a 220 million-euro Nescafé Dolce Gusto factory in Schwerin in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommen.

The plant is expected to create 450 new jobs.

The company is also doubling capacity for the coffee capsule brand in Girona, Spain, among other investments.

Nestlé said it is seeking talented young people with vocational skills and training, as well as graduates seeking their first position after university.