Competitiveness

Food and drink manufacturing plays a vital role in underpinning the UK economy.

As well as creating wealth for the nation, manufacturers will have a key strategic role to play in ensuring the nation's future food security against the combined effects of climate change, higher global demand and increasing pressure on finite resources.

FDF members want a public commitment from Government that it will support a thriving and sustainable food sector in the UK as a top priority in its own right, by driving clear, coherent and consistent policies in all areas which contribute to this.

This means putting in place a competitive and regulatory framework which promotes efficiency of resource use, stimulates innovation and attracts the skills and investment which will be needed.

20/20 Vision for Growth

Our shared vision with BIS and Defra for the UK food and drink industry is to deliver sustainable growth of 20% by 2020.

Our vision sets out what the industry needs to achieve this growth, highlights action already being taken by government, and the barriers to growth.

Find out more about the 20/20 Vision for Growth


Graduate Excellence

In partnership with the National Skills Academy (NSA) for food and drink and Sheffield Hallam University (SHU), is working to develop a new engineering degree course to equip graduates with the technical skills and knowledge that the food and drink manufacturing industry requires.

Find out more about Graduate Excellence



Apprenticeship Pledge

FDF is pledging to double the number of apprenticeships available in the food and drink manufacturing sector in England and Scotland by the end of 2012.

We are calling on food and drink manufacturers to sign up to our pledge and contribute in anyway they can – whether it is offering 10 or 100 apprenticeships – which will collectively help us reach our goal.

Find out more about the apprenticeship pledge


Delivering sustainable growth through exports

With domestic markets growing more steadily, manufacturing companies have been working hard to develop new opportunities.

These have arisen through taking established British products into new export destinations and also building on the overseas interest in our innovation in sectors such as health and wellbeing.

Find out more about exports


Careers: Taste Success – A Future in Food

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'.

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%).

Find out more about Taste Success


Food and Drink Business Confidence survey

The FDF food and drink business confidence survey has been providing intelligence to FDF and key stakeholders since 2010, at what has been a difficult and unpredictable time for all businesses across the UK.

Find out more about the Business Confidence survey




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