Food firms launch new skills ambassadors' network

The Food and Drink Skills Ambassadors' Network, set up by the Scottish Food and Drink Federation (SFDF), aims to highlight the range of careers on offer to youngsters. It is being backed by the Scottish government and Skills Development Scotland (SDS).

The SFDF said the ambassadors will act as the “face​” of the industry to promote the range of potential careers on offer for students of all levels.

Desirable option​

Richard Lochhead, rural affairs secretary, said: “I am delighted to launch the Food and Drink Skills Ambassadors' Network to help promote a career in the food and drink industry as a desirable option to young people, using inspirational role models from successful food and drink companies across Scotland and beyond.​

“By investing in future generations and attracting young people to work in the industry, we can help support the growth of the food and drink sector to reach £12.5bn by 2017​.”

Food and drink firms have traditionally struggled to attract talent to the industry at grass roots level and have faced stiff competition from the finance and energy industries, according to the SFDF.

As a result, the industry has suffered a skills shortage, particularly in key areas such as food science and engineering.

Many young people were also unaware of the relatively high average pay, opportunities for career progression and the range of diverse career opportunities available in food and drink firms, the SFDF revealed.

Key sectors​

Damien Yeates, chief executive of SDS, said: “The food and drink industry offers a diverse range of rewarding career opportunities from fish farming to food technologists. SDS acts as a catalyst to support Scotland's key sectors. ​

“The network of food and drink skills ambassadors will be inspirational role models who will promote the industry as a career destination of choice​.”

Commitment to attracting young people to the sector from food and drink firms was “essential​”, according to Flora McLean, director of the SFDF.

She added: “This network will help make this possible. Using existing employees to inspire the next generation brings the industry to life for young people, for teachers, lecturers and career guidance advisers in a way that would not otherwise be possible.”​

This latest move from food firm’s comes after the government pledged to invest £1.7M ​in the UK food and drink manufacturing sector to fund strategic skills projects designed to support competitiveness, growth and jobs.

The new skills framework was announced in November last year and is being backed by the Institute of Food Science & Technology, food and drink sector skills council Improve, the Food and Drink Federation and William Reed Business Media publisher of FoodManufacture.co.uk and sister title Food Manufacture​.