Skills in the Food and Drink Sector

Introduction to Skills in the Food and Drink Sector
The Independent: Food Science Careers Supplement

Introduction to Skills in the Food and Drink Sector

Employing staff with the right skills is important for any business, but research suggests there is a skills 'gap', or shortage, in the UK's food and drink industry.

In particular, there is a lack of food scientists and technologists. These are the people who help develop new products and new ways to make our food and drink healthier, tastier and more convenient. They also make sure our food is safe to eat.

FDF supports the work of Improve, the Sector Skills Council for the food manufacturing industry. FDF and Improve's joint work will help companies recruit the right calibre of staff by promoting the industry as an attractive place to work. It will also help companies develop staff through training so that their skills needs can be met. FDF also believes extra funding for skills development announced by the Government is good news for the food industry. The commitment to simplify the skills landscape moving to a demand led provision is particularly welcome.

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The Independent: Food Science Careers Supplement

At the beginning of April, FDF and Improve sponsored an eight page food science supplement in The Independent [1]. It covered many areas of the food and drink industry, including information on food science careers available, the route into the profession, university courses and the type of roles in the industry.

The supplement was distributed at the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) spring conference on 4 April and also to members of FDF involved in this area of work.