SECTOR SPOTLIGHT ON FOOD & DRINK MANUFACTURING
Food and Drink Manufacturing is a hugely diverse industry , offering employment to people with a wide array of skills and talents .
Food & drink facts
• In 2018 , the total sales of manufactured food and drink exceeded £ 74bn
• Manufactured food and drink contributes more than £ 28bn to the economy , 2.3 % more than 2017
• The food supply chain employs 4.3 million people & generates over £ 120 billion of added value for the economy each year
• Premier Foods makes enough mince pies each year at their bakery for every single person in the UK to have 3 each .
• In one of their production lines , Premier Foods uses robots to pack 60,000 individual cakes per hour
• KP Snacks can trace its origins as a business back to the 19th Century . Today they are the UK ’ s second largest snack manufacturers with 7 manufacturing sites around the country .
• At Coca-Cola European Partners , they sell more than four billion bottles and cans every year .
• The food and drink manufacturing sector delivered a reduction in food waste over 30 % on a per capita basis since 2011 .
• Our industry employs over 430,000 people across every region and nation of the UK .
• 96 % of the UK ’ s 7,400 food and drink manufacturing businesses are SMEs . learning and development advisors , finance and payroll clerks , communications staff , IT and digital support staff , and marketing and sales specialists .
Skills
For most skill specific roles ( i . e . engineer or food technologist ) the right qualifications are important . However , businesses in the sector are always looking for candidates who have a passion for food and drink , and who are excited by working in this fast-paced environment in which every day presents new challenges .
Food and drink employers are looking for candidates who are clear communicators , work well in a team , show resilience , have a desire to learn and strive to ensure high standards can be met . Many employers are also looking for career changers , graduates or jobseekers who can be flexible when it comes to job location , as some food and drink manufacturers have multiple sites that can be spread across the UK .
Businesses also offer the opportunity to gain professional qualifications within areas such as team or project management , health and safety , and food safety – allowing you to build the skills you need .
Pathways and Qualifications
While qualifications are important , many companies are looking for someone with the right personality to be a good fit for their company . It is always useful to research the company before an interview to know their priorities and the