Written Question · S5W-12392 · Session 5
Whether it will provide a breakdown of the entry routes that are in place to encourage new entrants into the food and drink sector.
The question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the entry routes that are in place to encourage new entrants into the food and drink sector.
The answer
Skills development is a key strand of the new Ambition 2030 food and drink industry strategy with the sector forecast to create 27,000 new opportunities over the next 10 years.
A key theme within the industry's new Skills Investment Plan, which is led by Skills Development Scotland (SDS), is exploring how to raise the profile of the sector and attract new entrants. As part of this, a range of actions are in place to highlight the importance of the food and drink sector to Scotland, and also the diverse range of career opportunities. These include:
The national schools programme A Future in Food, designed to create partnerships between schools and businesses and highlight careers in the sector.
A Food & Drink Skills Ambassadors Network, who are inspirational role models who work in the industry and engage with pupils, parents, teachers and career influencers to highlight jobs in the sector.
My World of Work bespoke Food and Drink industry web pages and video case studies of individuals working in the sector
SDS sponsors the Lantra Learner of the Year Awards; this unique event celebrates the success of young people who are following non-traditional careers in the rural sector e.g. farming, agriculture and aquaculture
SDS sponsored a Food & Drink Careers Expo in September 2017 organised by College Development Network. A range of stakeholders, partners and industry representatives took part to highlight careers in the sector.
There has also been a consistent uptake of our Modern Apprenticeship (MA) programme by the food and drink sector with over 1000 starts in each of the last 5 years. The Scottish Government has set an ambitious target to increase the number of new starts to 30,000 across all sectors by 2020 – many of which will be in the food and drink sector.
We are actively working with employers and industry partners to encourage greater participation on the MA programme, in recognition that bringing new entrants into the sector is vitally important. There are MA frameworks within the food and drink sector for:
Agriculture
Aquaculture
Food and Drink Operations
Game & Wildlife Management
In response to industry demand a new MA framework is also currently in development to support the Craft Brewing sector.
A new Foundation Apprenticeship in Food & Drink Operations has been developed and will be available to senior pupils in 2018 and discussions are also taking place with industry regarding the development of a new Graduate Level Apprenticeship in Food Science.
In addition, there are a number of Further and Higher Education courses at different institutions in Scotland than can lead to a career in the food and drink sector, with the most relevant being:
Food & Consumer Sciences BSc, Abertay University
Food Nutrition & Health BSc, Abertay University
Brewing and Distilling BSc & MSc, Heriot Watt University
Food Science & Technology HNC, Perth College/West Lothian College
Nutrition and Food Science BSc & MSc, Queen Margaret University
The Skills Investment Plan for Scotland's food and drink sector can be accessed via the following link: http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/40095/3093-sds-food-and-drink-sip-digital-v3-11.pdf
A key theme within the industry's new Skills Investment Plan, which is led by Skills Development Scotland (SDS), is exploring how to raise the profile of the sector and attract new entrants. As part of this, a range of actions are in place to highlight the importance of the food and drink sector to Scotland, and also the diverse range of career opportunities. These include:
The national schools programme A Future in Food, designed to create partnerships between schools and businesses and highlight careers in the sector.
A Food & Drink Skills Ambassadors Network, who are inspirational role models who work in the industry and engage with pupils, parents, teachers and career influencers to highlight jobs in the sector.
My World of Work bespoke Food and Drink industry web pages and video case studies of individuals working in the sector
SDS sponsors the Lantra Learner of the Year Awards; this unique event celebrates the success of young people who are following non-traditional careers in the rural sector e.g. farming, agriculture and aquaculture
SDS sponsored a Food & Drink Careers Expo in September 2017 organised by College Development Network. A range of stakeholders, partners and industry representatives took part to highlight careers in the sector.
There has also been a consistent uptake of our Modern Apprenticeship (MA) programme by the food and drink sector with over 1000 starts in each of the last 5 years. The Scottish Government has set an ambitious target to increase the number of new starts to 30,000 across all sectors by 2020 – many of which will be in the food and drink sector.
We are actively working with employers and industry partners to encourage greater participation on the MA programme, in recognition that bringing new entrants into the sector is vitally important. There are MA frameworks within the food and drink sector for:
Agriculture
Aquaculture
Food and Drink Operations
Game & Wildlife Management
In response to industry demand a new MA framework is also currently in development to support the Craft Brewing sector.
A new Foundation Apprenticeship in Food & Drink Operations has been developed and will be available to senior pupils in 2018 and discussions are also taking place with industry regarding the development of a new Graduate Level Apprenticeship in Food Science.
In addition, there are a number of Further and Higher Education courses at different institutions in Scotland than can lead to a career in the food and drink sector, with the most relevant being:
Food & Consumer Sciences BSc, Abertay University
Food Nutrition & Health BSc, Abertay University
Brewing and Distilling BSc & MSc, Heriot Watt University
Food Science & Technology HNC, Perth College/West Lothian College
Nutrition and Food Science BSc & MSc, Queen Margaret University
The Skills Investment Plan for Scotland's food and drink sector can be accessed via the following link: http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/40095/3093-sds-food-and-drink-sip-digital-v3-11.pdf
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S5W-12392 by reference.