Food scientist shortage addressed
Food and drink industry specialists are to come together to address the shortage of food scientists and other key occupations through the government’s Trailblazer initiative, that sees employers in the driving seat of new standards for apprenticeship routes into food manufacturing for young people.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has confirmed food science as one of seven areas to benefit from the development of new Trailblazer standards by a group of food manufacturing businesses following a collective industry submission to undertake the work supported by the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink.
Skills minister, Nick Bowles, says, “I congratulate food and drink manufacturing’s Trailblazer Employer Group members and the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink for the key role they are playing in developing new top quality apprenticeships.
“Through the Trailblazers initiative, companies like these, in collaborations with their industry partners, will give people the skills they need to thrive and our businesses need to compete.”
The new food science Trailblazer follows in the wake of the apprenticeship in food and drink engineering maintenance currently being developed by food businesses under the leadership of Arla Foods’ head of engineering, SØren Vonsild.
Welcoming the latest Trailblazers, Justine Fosh, CEO of the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink, comments, “We are delighted that the government has approved this critical development for the industry. One by one, the major areas of skills shortage across our sector are being addressed through strong employer collaboration. We have started with engineering and now have the go-ahead to develop brand new routes for apprentices to study food science at all levels of the industry.
“With a third of all food science full-time educational provision unsustainable it is even more important that we have alternative routes developed for young people to develop careers in quality, product development and technical teams.”
