Next Thursday, 10 October 2013, will see leading food industry stakeholders converge at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells to discuss ways to ensure all elements of the Welsh food & drink supply chain, from field to fork, is well skilled for the requirements of the next decade.
The summit will be the first major opportunity since the Ministerial announcement at the end of September for industry leaders to discuss the way ahead for the industry. The Welsh Minister with responsibility over the food, Alun Davies AM, noted in his Oral Statement to Plenary last week the “need for a more integrated food industry. Integrated supply chains, from farmer through to consumer, deliver fairer prices, improve communications, enhance quality, and build trust.”
The Welsh Minister also raised the possibility of creating a new food and drink federation for Wales, following consultation with the industry, to provide a lead on creating effective networks, on issues such as skills, training, entrepreneurship, innovation, and export marketing. As part of the day The Welsh Food & Drink Skills Project will also be launching a campaign called ‘Future Skills… Food for Thought’ which will showcase research highlighting the need for approximately 75,000 additional skilled workers for the industry, leading up to 2020, be this from new entrants or through up-skilling existing employees. It is projected that through plugging these gaps the sector can expand further over the coming decade and consolidate its position as the largest collective employer in Wales.
Together, all of the businesses that make up the food and drink industry in Wales employ around 230,000 people. This represents 18% of the Welsh workforce, making it the largest collective employer in Wales. Generating around £6.5bn of sales revenue annually, the industry is, in fact, now the largest combined industry of employment in Wales. Project partners have developed this call to action due to the vital role the sector plays in underpinning the wider Welsh economy and its future. Commenting on the campaign Sian Roberts Davies, Business Development Manager, Lantra Wales and project lead said “For the food & drink sector in Wales to thrive it needs employees who are enthusiastic, capable and skilled and that starts with ensuring that they have the right skills.
Recent research commissioned by the Welsh Food & Drink Skills Project found that 45% of food businesses reported technical skills gaps which needed filling in their workforce not to mention a range of skills likely to grow in further importance over the coming years. In total the report identified the need for approximately 75,000 additional skilled workers for the industry be this from new entrants or through up-skilling existing employees.
It is for this reason we are launching a campaign calling for Wales’ brightest to consider a future in this key industry along with existing entrants to make regular skills development a way of life.” A leading spokesperson in the industry, Simon Wright of Wrights Food Emporium, said: “Together, all of the businesses that make up the food and drink industry in Wales employ around 230,000 people, which represents 18% of the Welsh workforce, and generating around £6.5bn of sales revenue annually.
“The key to driving the sector forward and underpinning it with solid and sustainable foundations for the future is in finding the right people to take the reins and lead by example. These people need to be highly skilled as well as highly passionate about Welsh food & drink. Hopefully this call to action will encourage those that may never have considered a career in the industry to look again at the wide range of skilled jobs available to them.”
The Welsh Food & Drink Skills Project, represents each Sector Skills Council across the food and drink supply chain, and is supported by the Sector Priorities Fund Pilot (SPFP) programme with funding from the European Social Fund (ESF) through the Welsh Government’.
If you are an employer working across any part of the food and drink supply chain please phone Delyth Davies on 01970 636404 to learn more about attendance on the day.
