Examples of some of the many career opportunities with food companies in development and research, science and safety as well as marketing, HR and finance.

"The job is so varied there isn't a typical day"
Clare Dodd - Senior Development Technologist, Müller Dairy

Careers: Taste Success – A Future in Food

'Taste Success – A Future in Food' is our industry-led campaign to attract new talent to UK food and drink manufacturing.

Taste Success logo

What is Taste Success - A Future in Food?

'Taste Success – A Future in Food' is our industry-led campaign to attract new talent to UK food and drink manufacturing.

The campaign engages with young people via various channels including online, to bust the myths about food and drink manufacturing and raise awareness of the good career prospects in the sector has to offer.

The campaign also engages with a number of stakeholder groups including teachers, parents and careers advisors to make them aware of the opportunities in the sector.

Key objectives of the campaign are:

  • Engaging the 13-19 year old age group in the potential of the industry as a career of first choice
  • Changing the image of the food sector from being outdated to a sector that is identified as being at the cutting edge of science and technology
  • Seizing the opportunity to raise the profile of the food and drink manufacturing industry through public relations campaigns, event participation and speaking engagements
  • Working in collaboration with key stakeholders such as Improve, IFST and the Manufacturing Institute.

Visit the Taste Success website

Why are we doing this?

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.

However, current figures show that the industry suffers from a number of skills gaps, namely in science and technology-related roles and that by 2017 we will need 137,000 new recruits to meet growing demand. More than 45,000 of these roles will be in managerial positions and other professional occupations (33%).

Our industry needs talented and bright people that will not only nurture our industry's heritage but will be responsible for driving innovation and future successes.

Taste Success – A Future in Food aspires to engage with young people and show them that food and drink manufacturing can offer 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.

Taste Success digital campaign

The online phase of the Taste Success campaign, targets 16-18 year olds who have an choose science subjects for A level.

Our online output aims to inspire young people to consider careers in the food and drink sector, an industry with many opportunities.

Have a look at what we have put together:

  • Watch our fun fictional 'Mad about Food' videos themed around food science and engineering – available on FDFTasteSuccess YouTube channel.
  • Visit our Facebook page and try out our 'sexy food' app. Vote for the sexiest food, nominate foods for your friends and learn about the science behind the food.
  • Twitter - Tweet us @FDFTasteSuccess and tell us what you think. You can also follow our tweets using the #hashtag #tastesuccess

Other activities

  • www.notgoingtouni.co.uk – Taste Success has a profile on this leading UK website dedicated to helping school and college leavers make informed decisions about their future by showing the opportunities that exist outside of traditional university such as apprenticeships, sponsored degrees, distance learning and jobs. Our profile includes real-life case studies from across the food and drink sector and information on career prospects and opportunities.
  • The b-live Foundation – a partnership between schools and employers that supports a community of over 230,000 young people (aged from 11 to 19) to help manage and maximise their personal and career development.

Get involved

If you'd like further information about how to get involved with Taste Success – A Future in Food, then do please get in touch:

Email: tastesuccess@fdf.org.uk
Tel: 020 7420 7140

Taste Success on Twitter: @FDFTasteSuccess.

More Information


Last reviewed: 03 Apr 2013