What Work Nottinghamshire for Young People 2015/16 | Page 11

Information and guidance for young people aged 13-19

FOOD AND DRINK

You might not have thought about a career in food and drink but it’s
a large and growing sector with plenty of opportunities – especially
if you have an entrepreneurial streak! From nature to plate someone
needs to grow it, invent the recipe, make it, test it for quality, package
and distribute it. Businesses in the area range from small ‘artisan’
(craftsperson) companies to large producers.

What is happening?

Skills & qualities

• Food and drink sector has over 30 different
industries including bakery, dairy, confectionery,
chilled and frozen products.
• Most opportunities in Notts are in bakery, meat and
processed foods – bakery is the largest sector. Stilton
cheese is made in Rushcliffe.
• Around 170,000 people in the food and drink
industry across the UK are due to retire by 2020.
That means lots of skilled jobs to choose from.

Useful subjects

• Agri-food industry growing – skilled workers in
demand.
• Job titles include quality technician, food
technologist, production planner, category
managers, environmental technologists, chocolatier,
pastry chef, brewer and food scientist. There are new
roles for social responsibility and sustainability.

Local employers

• Shortage of bakers, flour confectioners, cheese
makers, food technologists (especially in
confectionery), machine operatives, managers and
those skilled in quality assurance.

• Warburton’s

• British Sugar

• Pork Farms

• Solway Foods

• Greencore

• Tommy Tucker

• High demand for people with food science degrees
and production engineers. Skilled people are crucial
for development of the industry as UK aims to
become global leader in delivering more sustainable,
healthy and affordable food.

• Laurens
Patisseries

• Whitworth Bros

• Southglade Food Park can support those wanting to
set up their own food and drink business.

What could you earn?*

www.tastesuccess.co.uk
www.improveltd.co.uk
www.foodengineer.com
www.growcareers.info

£26,500

Biological scientist

On the web

Farmer

£38,100

Production engineer

£38,900

Quality assurance technician

£27,200

Packer

£17,100

Butcher

£18,700

Warehouse manager

£28,600

* Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2014. Average full-time (median) salary rounded to the near