How you can help us
We believe that a prosperous, sustainable and innovative food and drink industry is a vital part of the future ambitions for our country.
Our industry is setting out a number of recommendations that
will help policymakers better understand the industry and the
things Government can do that will make a big difference both
to our industry and to Scotland.
How you can help us:
Enhance our competitiveness
Deliver skills for the future of our industry
Invest in innovation
Deliver infrastructure to support a growing industry
Help us to make our contribution to a healthier Scotland
Create a sustainable Scotland
Make it easier to do business in Scotland
Enhance our competitiveness
We are calling for:
- Business and economic growth to be a top priority.
We are calling for Government to provide the industry with
a framework to succeed. Our ambitions for future growth
must support areas where we have a comparative
advantage such as food and drink manufacturing.
- Support for the food and drink industry to continue.
Food and drink manufacturing holds the key to adding
value and the priority status the industry currently enjoys
reflects our role as a lynch-pin between others in the food
chain. Priority status has been beneficial for the success
of the industry and Government support must continue.
- Targeted support for developing companies to export.
Many small and medium sized businesses have the
export potential but not the legal, technical or linguistic
knowledge to break into overseas markets.
- Dealings between manufacturers and retailers to be
made fairer. The industry is calling for the speedy
implementation of a Grocery Code Adjudicator (GCA) to
oversee the UK wide Grocery Supply Code of Practice.
- Action on high costs. Any increase in costs that Government
control whether in Westminster or Holyrood such as fuel
duty or business rates makes our industry uncompetitive.
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Deliver skills for the future of our industry
We are calling for:
Action on skills gaps and shortages. Investment in
core skills and funding for specialist subjects such as food
science, engineering and marketing will secure our
industry's future prosperity.
Investment in training. The industry invests significant
amounts in training but receives vital support from
Government. Initiatives that invest in our people from
modern apprenticeships to work based training must
continue if we are to effectively recover from recession.
Help us to change the perception of our industry.
The manufacturing industry has a poor image amongst
young people. Help us to tell people what our industry is
really about by supporting programmes such as 'A Future
in Food', an ambassador network and open door days.
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Invest in innovation
We are calling for:
Improved access to research. Scottish universities
produce world-class research. The food and drink industry
want to tap into that research to make the industry thrive
and be ready to meet the challenges of the future.
Simplified funding streams for innovation. Many businesses
find the current regime complex and time-consuming.
An innovation network. Create an innovation network that
will bring together academia and the research institutes
with the main purpose of increasing the rate of R&D
undertaken by industry.
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Deliver infrastructure to support a growing
industry
We are calling for:
Investment in an energy network that is fit for purpose.
This is essential to support growing businesses.
Strategic plan of our transport network.
Scotland needs
an integrated transport network that meets the needs of a
country with significant growth ambitions. A resilient road
and rail network is an essential part of this.
Investment in rail and ports.
If industry is to move freight
from road onto other forms of transport there has to be a
cost-effective and efficient way of doing so.
Investment in broadband speed and coverage.
For any forward looking business, access to a fast and
reliable broadband service is essential.
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Help us to make our contribution to a healthier Scotland
We are calling for:
- Working in partnership to tackle obesity. The industry
recognises we have a role in helping consumers make the
right choices. However the only way to effectively tackle
this issue is by working in partnership on shared objectives.
-
Technical support for industry to reformulate. In order for
small and medium sized enterprises to continue to reduce
the levels of salt, sugar and fat in their products.
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Create a sustainable Scotland
We are calling for:
- Creation of affordable recycling facilities. Our industry has
set itself ambitious targets. Government can help us meet
these by ensuring the provision of recycling facilities that
meet the needs of our industry.
- Recognition that sustainability should not damage our
competitiveness, it should enhance it. Industry has an
important role in contributing to a sustainable Scotland,
however, it is important to strike the right balance between
sustainability and economic and business growth.
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Make it easier to do business in Scotland
We are calling for:
-
A moratorium on employment regulations. We recognise
employment law is necessary however, increasing amounts
of often complex employment regulations make it over
complicated.
-
Country of origin labelling should be straightforward.
There should be no requirement to provide origin labeling
for single ingredients (other than meat, poultry or fish) or
for the ingredients of composite products. For products
with multiple ingredients often the most important aspect is
not the origin of the ingredients but the expertise and
knowledge that has gone into producing it.
-
Up front information about business premises.
This will help businesses locate in areas that are flexible
and can accommodate business expansion.
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More information
Download PDF: Manifesto: Supporting our Industry. Supporting growth. Supporting Scotland.