How FDF can help
Building awareness of the wide range of career opportunities available within our sector is a key step to ensure a strong pipeline of workers for years to come.
Many of our members engage with a number of different careers-focused initiatives nationally or in their local area.
If you are looking to start engaging in this area, or expand the work you are doing, the FDF can help guide you through the process.
Tools and support
Food and Drink Careers Passport
The Food and Drink Careers Passport from the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink is your passport to all the essential knowledge you need for working in UK food and drink manufacturing.
Developed in partnership with the Food and Drink Federation and major food and drink manufacturing businesses, the Food and Drink Careers Passport is an employability tool which provides jobseekers in England and Wales the opportunity to gain pre-entry training and accreditation in four essential food safety and compliance courses, all endorsed by Food Safety and HACCP.
Early careers support
- Love Food Science teaching resources
- Project Inspire Careers maps for technical food roles
- School partnerships
- Volunteering opportunities
- Support for students, parents and teachers to educate on careers in food and drink
- Developed Employer Standards to help employer focus their work with school and colleges
Continuing Professional Development
- Free courses for industry professionals to build their skills.
IFST Continuing Professional Development
- Offers CPD standards and learning activities.
- Support for professional recognition and improvement across a range of career development pathways.
Employee recognition and career fairs
Employee recognition
Do you have exceptional employees that you wish to recognise? There are many opportunities for you to celebrate the amazing people working in our sector:
FDF Awards 2025 – View all our award categories and enter for free before 28 February 2025, for your chance to win. You can enter as many categories as you like and nominate multiple projects/colleagues.
National Apprenticeship Week – "Skills for Life" (10-16 February 2025)
Career fairs
The Big Bang Fair (17-19 June 2025)
New Scientist Live (18-19 October 2025)
For more details on the above, please contact Tanya.
Career campaigns
Why Work in the Scottish Food and Drink Industry?
Download FDF Scotland's toolkit, where you can find facts and figures about working in the Scottish food and drink industry, along with case studies, a skills route map and more!
Working in Food and Drink: a job for everyone
View this exciting video to learn more about developing a career in the Scottish Food and Drink Industry.
Mmmake Your Mark
The 'Mmmake Your Mark' campaign was developed by IGD and partners as part of the Food and Drink Sector Council. It unites the UK's food and drink industry to showcase why it’s such a vibrant place to work. Download the MYM toolkit to find out more and get involved.
