Latest news: Thousands of manufacturing jobs

The food and drinks manufacturing industry will need 45,000 new recruits in managerial and professional roles by 2017. 02/12/2011

The industry’s representative organisation, the Food and Drink Federation  is currently running a campaign to attract graduates and school leavers.

News that the government is set to invest £1.7million in developing the skills of the workforce and creating new jobs was welcomed by the FDF.

‘With over a third of the workforce due to retire in the next five years and the current shortage of technicians and engineers, attracting talent and up-skilling our existing workforce will be vital to ensure we have the technicians, managers and leaders of the future,’ said Angela Coleshill, FDF’s director of competitiveness.

With a current shortage of qualified food scientists and technologists, one of FDF’s main drives is to highlight this shortage and the fact that one in five of these vacancies is difficult to fill.

The food and drink sector employs 16% of the UK’s manufacturing workforce. Employers in this area are keen to attract candidates with the skills and attitudes to cope with consumer changes in behaviour and public demand for safe and good quality food.

The chief executive of Improve - Food & Drink Skills Council , Jack Matthews, said the investment from the government was ‘welcome validation of the economic importance of food and drink as the UK’s largest manufacturing industry’.

‘FDF is leading the way in showcasing the food industry as a career destination of choice and in collaboration with industry partners such as the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink, we are undertaking a number of initiatives to improve the image of the sector and increase the number of opportunities available to young people,’ added Angela Coleshill.