Careers: Taste Success – A Future in Food
FDF's Careers Campaign aim to show that the UK food and drink manufacturing sector is a 'career of first choice'.
FDF 'tasty' Careers Campaign
Have you ever considered a career in the food and drink manufacturing industry?
Well it's definitely worth thinking about if you want a career that is
stimulating, innovative and fast-moving - and FDF's new Careers Campaign aims
to point
you in the right direction.
'Taste Success – A Future in Food' is FDF's Careers
Campaign and it aims to show potential entrants that the UK food and drink
manufacturing
sector is a 'career of first choice'.
The food and drink sector is the UK's largest manufacturing sector, accounting
for 16% of the UK's total manufacturing sector, employing 400,000 people
directly
in the UK, and as many as 1.2 million in related food services.
Despite the food and drink sector being the biggest manufacturing sector in the
UK, and one of the largest food and drink manufacturing industry in the world,
the sector is certainly not complacent. Consumers are more concerned than ever
about healthy eating, therefore the industry needs to attract the right people
into the sector, now and in the future, who have the appropriate skills and
attitude to cope with the growing demands of the public, both at home and
globally, to
produce food that is safe and of good quality.
Key objectives of the campaign will be to:
- promote the food and drink manufacturing sector as a viable career of first
choice for school leavers and graduates;
- dispel the myth that the food and drink sector is outdated by showing young
people that the sector is leading the way in regards to scientific and
technological
innovation, research and development;
- show young people that by obtaining internationally recognised, accredited
qualifications and training opportunities there is a wealth of long-term career
opportunities available to them in the sector;
- address the current skills gaps in the food and drink manufacturing sector that
will need to be filled if the UK food and drink industry is to compete, not
only
at a national level but on a global scale, particularly in the areas of food
science and technology.
Current figures show that by 2017 the sector will require 137,000 new recruits, 45,000 will be for
managerial roles and professional occupations (33%). Therefore a key aim of the campaign will be to inform young people, careers
advisors and parents that a career in our sector is a good long-term career
option.
A key focus of the Careers Campaign will be to highlight the current shortage of
qualified food scientists and technologists. According to figures, one in five food scientist and food technologist
vacancies in the UK are hard to fill.
Our campaign will aspire to engage young people and show them that by becoming
the food scientists and food technologists of the future, they can enjoy a
rewarding career with lots of exciting opportunities, as well as play a pivotal
role
in ensuring that there is a skilled and suitably qualified workforce in the
ever
competitive and highly developed UK food sector.
The food and drink manufacturing sector is certainly one to be proud of, and
this campaign aims to prove that. The 'Taste Success – A Future in Food'
campaign will champion the sector and highlight to stakeholders, including
business,
government and the media, the positive contribution that the food and drink
industry makes to society.
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Last reviewed: 01 Aug 2011