People and employment

CEC Report on Employers Standards

The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) has launched a new publication ‘From Outreach to Intake – Employer Standards for Careers Education’. This report also coincides with the formal release of the CEC Employer Standards framework, a new tool that will help raise the quality of business outreach with education. Over 360 employers have already evaluated themselves against the Employer Standards, and the report is based on these initial findings.

The report highlighted three insights into education outreach:

1. High quality employer outreach works. It boosts recruitment and improves outcomes for young people.
2. Some employers and industries are benefitting more. Outgoing and connected programmes are increasing student interest in sectors with shortages.
3. The Standards are highlighting common challenges around support of the interview and application process and the engagement of parents/carers.

Higher and Degree Apprenticeships Recruitment Fair at Sheffield Hallam University

If you are considering recruiting an apprentice, join Sheffield Hallam University on Wednesday 29 November for their Higher and Degree Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair. 4:00pm - 6:30pm / Owen Building, S1 2LX.

Learn about over 30 apprenticeship programmes offered in various sectors. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet talented individuals looking to undertake a higher or degree apprenticeship and be given support from the SHU free recruitment service.

Below are some updates of activity from over the summer and a request for feedback:

Skills Levy – Request for Feedback (by 14^th September)

Preparations for the Chancellor’s next fiscal event – the Autumn Statement on 22 November – are gearing up, and we are looking for insights into how our members would spend their Apprenticeship Levy funds if reforms were made to allow for more flexible spending e.g. a Skills Challenge Fund.   We’re asking members to consider the following questions and send any thoughts to Tanya by EOD Thursday 14^th September.

• Are there particular modular or accredited training courses that you would wish to access with these funds if available? 
• Would there be specific types of roles that would benefit most from these additional flexibility (i.e. process operators, engineers)?
• How much of your levy funds do you estimate you would spend on training other than apprenticeships?

Employment and Skills Forum meeting

We will be convening the Employment and Skills Forum on Thursday 5^th October, 14:00-16:00.  The discussion will focus on the recommendations of the Independent Review into Labour Shortages developing policy positions for the upcoming FDF Manifesto.  We will share papers in advance for members to review and will ask that you share the meeting details with colleagues who may be interested in policies relating to skills (apprenticeship levy reform, T levels, recognition of prior learning and SME support) and employment (immigration reform – skilled worker visa and graduate visas, future skills, productivity).

The draft agenda and meeting details will be circulated in the coming days.  If you would like more information about who should attend please contact Tanya.

MAC Shortage Occupation List update

Last week FDF joined a call with the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to discuss the Shortage Occupation List.  The MAC’s report will be published on Tuesday 3^rd October, and the Government response isn’t expected until late Q1 2024. 

Additionally, the MAC will be publishing their Annual Report at the end of this year.  The report will be focusing on three key areas, looking at the related policies and effects of those policies on each:

• Net Migration
• International Students
• Health & Social Care

FDF Q2 State of Industry Report

Last month FDF published our Q2 State of Industry Report.  The analysis includes evidence that in the last year, from July 2022, labour shortages have cost the industry an estimated £1.4bn, due to loss of output.  It also had found that 57 per cent of food manufacturers have vacancy rates of up to 5 per cent.  You can read the full report here.

Celebrating careers in our sector

FDF posted about the career opportunities available in our sector on LinkedIn to celebrate A Level and T Level results day.  We plan to share more case studies showing the diversity of roles and career progression available in our sector over the coming weeks – if you have stories you would like us to share please contact Tanya.

The Defra-led independent review into labour shortages in the food supply chain, chaired by John Shropshire OBE, published its report on last Friday. The full report calls for greater collaboration between government, industry and the education sector to tackle labour shortages in our industry. It sets out ten, well-considered recommendations focused on recruiting and retaining talent, developing skills and adopting automation and new technology. The UK Government is expected to respond to the review this autumn.  Read more here.  

Last month we met Shadow Skills Minister Toby Perkins MP at a manufacturing roundtable where he set out the Labour Party’s approach to skills. Perkins confirmed that Labour is committed to UK manufacturing’s future. He highlighted Labour’s key priorities:

• Create a Skills and Growth Levy (up to 50% of Levy funds could be spent on non-apprenticeship training)
• Support SMEs to engage with skills and apprenticeships and gave the Kickstart example where training providers act on behalf of a group of SMEs
• Improve training provision through increased investment and a more flexible approach to meet employers’ needs – we highlighted examples in our industry.
• More innovative approaches needed to attract more tutors into further education such as tax benefits for industry experts to be seconded into colleges.
• Support T Levels but other Level 3 qualifications should be maintained
• Improve careers advice on vocational routes

We will invite Toby Perkins to meet food and drink manufacturers at a FDF roundtable in the autumn – date to be confirmed.  In the meantime, we will be developing our sector positions further (e.g. how could a Skills Levy work in practice and benefit our sector) and will be seeking member input. For more details, please contact Caroline.

The FDF has partnered with Odgers Berndtson and Grant Thornton to create the Accelerate mentoring programme. The Accelerate mentoring programme is designed to promote and improve the gender balance at board level across the food and drink industry by supporting the accelerated development of female and non-binary talent. Now in its second year, applications are open for mentors and mentees until 28 July 2023. To apply, or for more details, contact accelerate@odgersberndtson.com.

The second National Manufacturing Day (NMD) will take place on Thursday 28 September 2023. The initiative is being led by the industry trade body Make UK, and the whole manufacturing sector is invited to participate. It will be a national celebration of UK manufacturing and a chance for manufacturers up and down the country to open their doors to showcase the amazing employment opportunities on offer across this vibrant sector.

FDF is working closely with Make UK and DEFRA to raise awareness of the NMD to encourage food and drink manufacturers to participate.  If you’re interested, all you need to do is contact tanya.barringer@fdf.org.uk to express your interest.  There are plenty of resources and ideas on the dedicated microsite www.nationalmanufacturingday.org, including a little video on ideas for putting on a day from Yunex Traffic and the RNLI who took part last year.

We have responded to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) consultation on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL).  You can find our full response here, but our messaging included:

• Food and drink manufacturers have worked hard to fill skills shortages and recruit and retain staff – from offering higher wages, investing in Apprenticeships, introducing more flexible shift patterns and introducing new training programmes such as the Food and Drink Careers Passport.
• Food, drink and tobacco operatives and Process / Production Technicians should be included on the SOL.  Key roles no longer eligible for the SOL including engineering roles, food technologists and food scientists are still in shortage.
• A regular 6-month review of the SOL is required to meet business needs
• Call for a review of the costs of visas to make them globally competitive and ensure more businesses (particularly SMEs) can benefit from the points-based system.

The MAC will report its findings and recommendations to the Home Office in the autumn and we expect UK Government to set out changes to the SOL by the end of the year.