Home > News > February 2005 > 03-Feb-2005

Skills shortages in food production industries could get worse, says SSC chief

Parents, teachers and careers advisers could be mistakenly steering young people away from rewarding careers in food manufacturing because of outdated perceptions. That was the warning given recently by Jack Matthews, Chief Executive of Improve, the Sector Skills Council for the food and drink manufacturing and processing industries.

Matthews was speaking at an event to mark Reaseheath College in Nantwich being awarded the status of Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in Food Chain Technology.

As part of a drive to concentrate investment in specialist training resources to address an acknowledged shortage of skilled workers within food production industries, Improve is setting up a food and drink Sector Skills Academy. The Academy aims to co-ordinate information on skills development for employers, and will work in partnership with CoVEs throughout the country.

"Together our task is to change the current view that - if you don't work hard you'll end up at the chicken factory," said Matthews. "People believe that our industry is low paid, with few career opportunities and with a low skills base. But this is not the case.

"Food and drink is the largest sector within UK manufacturing. It generates £64 billion in turnover, contributes £20 billion a year to the country's gross domestic product, employs 660,000 people directly, and another 1.5 million people in related purchasing and delivery jobs.

"There are vast opportunities for careers throughout the spectrum of skill levels, and in a significant number of roles the sector pays above the national average salaries. A food scientist can join the industry at £23,000 per annum and expect to see that rise up to £65,000 over time.

"And of course there are excellent career opportunities in manufacturing, processing, technology, engineering, information technology, marketing, sales, human resources, and general management.

"The sector is growing, but as it does so the existing shortages in skills are in danger of growing more acute. In particular there is a shortage of technicians, manufacturing engineers, food technologists and scientists.

"That's why I am so pleased that Reaseheath College is keen to promote higher level opportunities and is focused on meeting the needs of employers for higher manufacturing and process management skills."

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