Food and Drink Skills Ambassadors Moira Stalker Skills

Food and Drink Skills Ambassadors Moira Stalker – Skills Manager, FDF Scotland

Who are FDF Scotland? The Scottish Division of the Food and Drink Federation An independent trade association representing food and soft drink manufacturers across the UK Not for profit – we raise our money from membership fees, events and training courses

Our members in Scotland…

What lies ahead? • Change and Opportunity? • Dynamic and growing • Scottish food & drink manufacturing growth rate twice the UK average • Central to Scotland’s economy - supporting the whole supply chain from farmers and fishermen to local consumers and visitors. • Increasing importance of local food and Drink • Ambitious for the future • People and skills – key pillar of growth

Skills Investment Plan – Food and Drink agriculture, fishing and aquaculture, food and drinks manufacturing Refreshed and launched in 2017 • Attractiveness of the sector • Image problem • Retain and develop workforce • Leadership and Management excellence • Skills for business improvement • Skills for business growth Must be public and private sector partnership

Food and Drink needs talented people Challenges and opportunities • An ageing workforce • 27, 000 job openings in next 10 years at SCQF Level 7 and above across the food chain • Skills shortages in technical disciplines e. g. food science and technology and engineering • The long-term shift towards occupations requiring higher-level skills and qualifications is set to continue. • Innovation, collaboration, reputation and diversity = dynamic industry with careers • Need to attract the best talent to our industry through a pipeline of employment-ready individuals • Industry consistently mentioning skills as one of their biggest issues • Brexit?

What do I do? • Help students, educators and parents understand what subjects might help them in a career in the industry – its more than cooking! • Make connections between industry and education – let students see what the industry is like and meet real people from industry. • Help to inspire students to make connections between the food on their plates and the food and drink industry • Support and promote progression routes and pathways into and through the industry

A Future in Food How do we do this? • School, industry partnerships • Career Long Professional Development • Careers Campaigns – targeting markets • Resources • Events

Food and Drink Ambassadors promote careers across the food chain DISTRIBUTION & LOGISTICS FOOD PRODUCTION FOOD MANUFACTURE CONSUMER WHOLESALE, RETAIL & HOSPITALITY

a

Food & Drink Skills Ambassadors • Challenging outdated perceptions about the sector • Encouraging young people to explore careers in areas they may never have thought about before • Helping with: • Classroom activities and school clubs • Speed career networking events • Site visits • Teacher CPD • Judging projects and challenges • Large events for school pupils and the general public such as Skills Scotland, Food/Science Festivals, Royal Highland Show 11

Food & Drink Skills Ambassadors • Wide range of roles being recruited: • People who have arrived through all routes: • Apprenticeships, College and University, other sectors or straight from school • All age groups from 18 to retirees • Minimal commitment of 1 activity/year • Linked to the STEM Ambassadors Programme • Ambassadors also benefit from volunteering • Improved understanding of subject area through presenting to young people with a different perspective • Networking with similar people within the Ambassadors network, sharing ideas • Having fun! 12

Contacts Moira Stalker, Skills Manager of FDF Scotland Moira. Stalker@fdfscotland. org. uk 0141 636 5498 www. fdfscotland. org. uk