DAWN FOODS PARTNERS WITH UCB ON NEW STUDENT INTERNSHIP

Dawn Foods UK and Ireland has launched a new UK student internship programme in partnership with University College Birmingham (UCB), designed to give bakery and patisserie students practical experience in a commercial bakery environment.

Alessia Ferreira Kilicaslan, studying for a BSc (Hons) in Bakery & Patisserie Technology at UCB will join Dawn for 48 weeks – covering the third year of her four-year degree programme - from mid-July 2026.

The new internship, which is optional for students, has been launched following the enhancement of UCB’s bakery degree course and following from Dawn’s successful Student Ambassador Programme. The UCB Internship has been developed to offer students studying on its Bakery & Patisserie degree course real life industry experience across commercial bakery product development and operations.

Alessia will work alongside Dawn Foods' Application Chefs, supporting new product development with recipe creation, product trials and testing. She will also assist with customer demonstrations and gain practical insight into how new products and concepts are brought to market.

The internship programme will offer broad exposure across the Dawn business, with rotations within quality assurance, operations and commercial teams, to give students a comprehensive understanding of the bakery supply chain and product development process.

Towards the end of the internship, Alessia will complete a cross-functional project, drawing on the experience gained throughout her time at Dawn Foods.

Tim Clarkson, Managing Director Dawn Foods UK and Ireland said:

"Dawn has worked closely with UCB over many years and so we are delighted to have developed this new internship opportunity to support the next generation of young bakers studying on UCB’s flagship bakery degree course.

“Ensuring the young people have the opportunities to learn and thrive is essential for the future of the UK bakery sector and Dawn is committed to giving students the ‘real life’ skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in this exciting industry.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Alessia as the first participant in the internship and continuing our partnership with UCB.”

Jo Lyons, Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead in Higher Education – Bakery at University College Birmingham said:

"It is fantastic to partner with Dawn Foods to provide Alessia with the opportunity to gain work experience within the baking industry. She will really benefit from working alongside experienced industry professionals and working within such a well-established, high-profile company. 

“I am sure that this experience with Dawn Foods will really benefit and inspire her future career".

For more information about Dawn Foods visit www.dawnfoods.com/uk