Associate feature: Attracting new recruits into food and drink

The Scottish food and drink industry is a dynamic and exciting place to work. It continues to grow, provides opportunities for careers in many disciplines and is known around the world for its high quality products. 

Scottish food and drink manufacturers need 19,000 new recruits by 2024 to meet their skills needs. More talented engineers and food scientists, in particular, are needed to ensure continued growth and innovation. To meet this demand we need to attract more people with higher level Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills.

That’s why the number one pillar of growth in the Food and Drink Industry Strategy is people and skills. FDF Scotland and other partners in the Scotland Food & Drink Skills Partnership Group are working together to address the skills gaps and shortages, through our industry skills programme A Future in Food.

Students can now study a range of food and drink qualifications that lead from school directly into industry, like apprenticeships, or that take them to further and higher education.

The Foundation Apprenticeship in Food and Drink Technologies is available to senior school pupils, enabling them to gain valuable work experience. In return, industry can identify and support great talent in the early stages of their careers. 

A series of events across Scotland are planned to target potential recruits, career influencers, educators and parents, with partners including: Skills Development Scotland and Developing Young Workforce. Food and drink industry ambassadors are supporting these events.

Professional development opportunities for educators and career influencers are available to enable them to use food and drink to bring their lessons to life. These are delivered in collaboration with partners from food education and further and higher education.

Our ultimate aim is to make the food and drink industry THE career destination of choice. Get in touch to find out how you can help us!

Moira Stalker is Skills Manager at Food and Drink Federation Scotland 

Twitter: @FDFScotland Email: info@fdfscotland.org.uk Telephone: 0131 229 9415

This piece was sponsored by FDFScotland