71 percent of young people are not aware of the career opportunities available in the food and drink industry.
Nearly three quarters of young people are not aware of the career opportunities available in the food and drink industry, according to new research by MyKindaCrowd.
The survey of 12-25 year olds also found that 75 percent of young people associate the food and drink industry with fast food and nearly half (43 percent) with low pay. The findings revealed that 67 percent would not consider a career in the food and drink industry.
The findings were announced at a high profile event in Westminster to discuss young people’s perceptions on the food and drink industry, and the challenges related to attracting talent. The MyKindaCrowd survey found that business has an important role to play with two thirds of young people saying they would benefit from hands on experience and want to receive career advice from professionals, and only 5 percent want advice from family or friends.
A separate survey carried out among teachers found that 98 percent would welcome close involvement from business to help build the practical skills and knowledge of their students, and 96 percent of teachers would promote the food and drink industry to their students.
Initiatives discussed at the Westminster event included the challenge of an ageing workforce, the challenges related to attracting talent to company graduate and apprenticeship programmes, young people’s perception of the industry, reasons why the skills system doesn't work for the food and drink industry and what the newly announced industry skills partnership is going to do about it, and the importance of soft skills.
The main research findings were:
71 percent of young people are not aware of the career opportunities available in the food and drink industry.
Three quarters (75 percent) associate the food and drink industry with fast food and 43 percent with low pay.
Half (50 percent) associate with big brands and only 11 percent with career progression.
Over two thirds (67 percent) would not consider a career in the food and drink industry.
65 percent would like careers advice with a mix of classroom and the work place.
69 percent would want career advice from a professional, and only 3 percent from their teacher and 5 percent from their family or friends.
98 percent of teachers surveyed would welcome closer involvement from business to help build practical skills and knowledge of students.
96 percent of teachers would promote the food and drink industry to their students.
Over one quarter (28 percent) of teachers associate it with progression.
Speakers at the event included; Tesco’s, UK Personnel Director, Judith Nelson, Premier Foods’s, CEO, Gavin Darby, Food and Drink Federation’s, Director of Employment and Skills, Angela Coleshill, The National Skills Academy for Food and Drink’s, CEO, Justine Fosh, and BIS’s, Deputy Director, Pre-employment and Basic Skills Unit, Eoin Parker.
William Akerman, Managing Director of MyKindaCrowd, said:“It is concerning that 71 percent of young people are not aware of the career opportunities available in the food and drink industry. Business and education need to work together to help raise awareness and promote the industry.
It is encouraging that businesses are proactively looking to help shrink the skills gap, and by forging links with schools and teachers, the industry can take proactive steps to create the future workforce that they need.” Angela Coleshill, Employment and Skills Director at Food and Drink Federation said: “This research echoes our industry’s concerns that we are often perceived as poorly paid, boring and old fashioned. When in reality, we are an exciting, thriving and innovative industry with a wide range of career opportunities available and a chance to work in a highly automated and fast-paced environment that produces some of the country’s best-loved brands.
As the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, it is crucial that our industry secures a robust pipeline of skilled workers to continue to deliver growth and healthier, more sustainable food and drink, which is affordable and accessible to all. Through initiatives such as the UK's first MEng Food Engineering degree and the Government’s “Your Life” campaign, Britain’s food and drink brands are taking action to attract a skilled, future workforce, especially in science and engineering roles where employer demand is highest.”
