Led by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University, ‘Preparing for a Changing Workforce’ highlights the growing skills shortage across the food chain. It also calls for the need to find highly skilled, well paid and home-grown talent.
The food and drink sector contributes £121 billion to national Gross Value Added and it employs over four million people (14% of the UK workforce). Jobs in the food and drink sector are sometimes perceived as low skilled but this report shows that businesses are seeking to fill roles across all skill levels.
Ian Wright CBE, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation, said: “Ensuring UK food and drink has access to a highly skilled, well-paid and home-grown pool of talent is critical to the industry retaining its reputation as a global leader and will guarantee its long-term potential.
“This is the first time the food chain has come together to deliver such a far reaching, future focused report with a strong set of recommendations for action. This report provides an evidence base and an approach on which to build on, but it’s success can only be guaranteed if the FDSC and the wider food and drink supply chain is able to fully collaborate with government.”
FDSC has identified recommendations to upskill employees and attract future talent through: greater use of apprenticeships, offering T Level work placements across the sector and quality of training provision for food and drink businesses of all sizes throughout the UK.
Dame Fiona Kendrick, food and drink sector council member and chair of the Workforce and Skills Group, added: “We must work with employers, education providers and government to identify what actions we must take together to close the food and drink sector’s skills gap, and deliver productivity growth.
“Access to skills is a growing problem across the sector, and according to the FDSC’s Preparing for a Changing Workforce Report, the majority of companies expect the situation to become more difficult, as we will see a tighter labour market due to the ageing population coupled with lower net migration.
“So, now is the time to act. I appeal to you to join us in this movement, and ensure the UK food and drink businesses lead the way in providing secure and well-paid jobs at all skills levels right across the UK.”
There is expected to be a shortage of labour, caused by Britain leaving the EU, which could threaten future productivity growth across the supply chain.