Skills Ambassador testimonials
Careers in the food and drink industry: A personal perspective
"I am delighted to be involved as an Ambassador for the Scottish Food
&
Drink Federation's Skills Ambassador Network programme. A business such as ours
is entirely dependant upon being able to attract high calibre and ambitious
individuals to contribute to its future growth and success.My own background
was
Finance before General Management and so I hope I can explain to others that a
career in the Food and Drink industry does not necessarily require a specific
degree
qualification in food science."
Alan J S Kilpatrick, Regional Business Director, Devro plc
“We are delighted to be supporting this initiative and encouraging young people
to consider the food and drink industry as a career. Since 2001, we have an
Education Centre at our East Kilbride Operations site and offer curriculum
based
visits to Secondary Schools. The Ambassador Network is a great initiative for
our
staff to be involved in and will show young people the varied and rewarding
careers on offer.”
Alan Halliday, Coca-Cola Enterprises Director for Scotland
“Scotland's Colleges are committed to supporting the key industries of Scotland.
Food and Drink are of critical strategic importance to the economy of Scotland
and Colleges across Scotland deliver skills and development to the Food and
Drink
Industry.
The careers within the industry are varied and the skills that are needed for
future success for learners and for employers are being made ever more relevant
to
the dynamic environment in which the industry operates.
We believe that the Food and Drink Industry provides fantastic career
opportunities for all kinds of disciplines and the Colleges of Scotland are
committed to
promoting and supporting these opportunities. We are very pleased to be
associated with this exciting initiative and we wish the Scottish Food and
Drink
Federation every success in the venture.”
Jim Crooks, Lead Principal for Food and Drink in Scotland's Colleges &
Principal of Elmwood College
"I am delighted to be involved as an Ambassador for the Scottish Food &
Drink Federation's Skills Ambassador Network programme. A business such as ours
is entirely dependant upon being able to attract high calibre and ambitious
individuals to contribute to its future growth and success. My own background
was
Finance before General Management and so I hope I can explain to others that a
career in the Food and Drink industry does not necessarily require a specific
degree qualification in food science."
Alan J S Kilpatrick, Regional Business Director, Devro plc
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 skills ambassadors will be inspirational
role
models who will promote the industry as a career destination of choice.
Damien Yeates, Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland (SDS)
“For the food and drink industry, being able to attract high quality people with
the right skills and knowledge to drive growth in the industry is critical to
its future success. Food and drink is often a less obvious choice for young
people. But by building a national network of inspirational role models across
the
food and drink supply chain we will help to engage young people in and
interactive
and informative way. This can only benefit both industry and Scotland's young people”.
Willie Fergusson, National Director Scotland, LANTRA
“The Scottish Panel of the Council of Awards of the Royal Agricultural Societies
(CARAS) has been planning a mentoring scheme to give guidance to young people
starting out in a career in agriculture using the significant expertise of its
Fellows and Associates in Scotland (there are around 250 in total with over 30 wishing to participate in
the first
phase). We saw the Food and Drink Skills Ambassadors scheme as an ideal vehicle
and have agreed to support it and we are in the process of identifying
ambassadors”.
The Scottish Panel of the Council of Awards of the Royal Agricultural Societies
(CARAS)
“Image has always been a big negative for the food and drink industry and the
perception that it's all white coats and wellington boots is one we must all
strive to shake off. We're getting there but it remains a real challenge for
us. The
new Food and Drink Skills Ambassador Network gives food and drink businesses an
excellent opportunity to join forces and showcase the variety of rewarding and
challenging careers our industry can offer to young people.”
Gillian Burnett, Head of Human Resources, Macphie
Get involved
To get involved, please complete our online registration form on the STEMNET website and ensure that you select the food and drink
ambassador's dropdown as well as tick the data protection box for 'Professional
Institution'. This ensures we know that you would prefer to work in food and
drink and can
contact you with the appropriate opportunities to promote the industry.
More information
Last reviewed: 17 Jan 2012