Cuisine crusade: opportunities in the food and drink sector

Taste Success, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) campaign, scored a hit with its stand at March’s Big Bang engineering careers exhibition. And redoubling its efforts to reach teenagers, it also launched a YouTube channel and a Facebook page.

One of a number of initiatives that are addressing skills in the food and drink sector, Taste Success is focused on the industry’s image and is trying to reach 13-19 year olds, as well as careers teachers and parents.

‘Our research shows young people don’t see the food and drink industry as an attractive career,’ said Nicki Hunt, Taste Success project manager at the FDF.

She outlines three problems that have been identified. First, perceptions of the industry: people are not coming in, either because they don’t know much about the industry or because the image they do have is a negative one. Second, there is a lack in some areas of qualifications specifically tailored to the industry, so although you can study food science or food technology there is no specific food engineering course. Third, more job opportunities need to be created for non-graduates, and the industry is aiming to double the number of apprentices by the end of 2012.