Industrial Strategy
The Government's Industrial Strategy sets out a long-term plan to boost the
productivity and
earning power of people throughout the UK. It sets out how to build a Britain
fit for the future –
helping businesses create better, higher-skilled jobs in every part of the UK.
The UK's food and drink manufacturing industry is strategically important to the
UK – both to the
economy and in ensuring the country's future food security. It has an important
role to play in the
Government's Industrial Strategy and offers significant opportunities to secure
world-class status in
productivity and higher-skilled jobs, as long as we secure the right EU Exit
deal and counterbalance
any uncertainty through an ambitious Sector Deal.
FDF's response to the Industrial Strategy Green Paper
In April 2017, FDF responded on behalf of its members to the
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) consultation on
the Industrial
Strategy Green Paper. FDF's submission was endorsed by a further 22 independent
food and drink
sector associations and provides a detailed food and drink industry
perspective,
that will need to be
addressed to support the sustainability and growth potential of the industry in
the long term.
At the heart of FDF's recommendations was our call to create a Food and Drink Sector Council. We were delighted when this was established in
January 2018 with a remit to develop long-term, coherent thinking across
Whitehall to ensure the
UK's £112 billion food chain is fit for the 21st century.
UK Government's Industrial Strategy White Paper
In November 2017, the Government published its White Paper on Industrial
Strategy: building a
Britain fit for the future. The Government set out the following four Grand
Challenges to the UK at
the forefront of future industries:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Data Economy: put the UK at the forefront of
data revolution
- Future of Mobility: become a world leader in the way people, goods and
services move
- Clean Growth: maximise the advantages for UK industry from the global
shift to clean growth
- Ageing Society: harness the power of innovation to help meet the needs
of an ageing society
The food and drink industry has a key role to play in delivering the
Government's Industrial
Strategy's Grand Challenges by investing in innovation, we will:
- Seek out the opportunity of £55.8 billion potential value over the next 10 years
for the food
and drink sector through enhanced engineering and digitalisation, as identified
in the Made Smarter
report.
- Continue to reduce the environmental impacts of the food and drink chain through
optimum
land use, effective energy and water use, intelligent supply and demand & waste
management which
will support the global shift to clean growth.
- Drive the UK to become a world leader in the way goods move, through targeted
export
support for more food and drink manufacturers.
- Become world leading at addressing the health and wellbeing needs of an ageing
society –
our sector has a proven track record of using innovation to support positive
change regarding the
impact of diet on health.
Food and Drink Sector Council
Food and Drink Manufacturing Sector Deal
For more information about this work, please contact caroline.keohane@fdf.org.uk