A report warns that the UK food industry is facing a “ticking timebomb of a shortage of workers and skills”.
The Institute of Grocery Distribution’s (IGD’s) warning coincides with the launch of an industry-wide initiative called ‘Mmmake Your Mark,’ which aims to attract talent by raising awareness of all the career options available.
The IGD warned that the UK population would grow from 69.9 to 73.4 millions in the next decade, meaning more food and drinks will be required.
It said that some of the food and drinks will come from overseas, but realistically, UK capacity in this area will need to be increased to meet population demand.
The IGD stated that “with existing workforce challenges set for worsening, it is critical that businesses think about tomorrow’s workforce now, by recruiting the people they require now.”
It added that “a key part of this process is to attract young talent in the food industry at the beginning of their career, and also to highlight that the variety and flexibility of roles within the industry is an excellent option for those who are currently struggling with accessing work.”
It said that in Britain, around 4.2 million people were employed in the food and beverage supply chain last year. This represents 13% of the total employment or more than one out of eight jobs.
IGD reported that 55 businesses joined forces to reach more than 7 million people via social media during the Mmmake your Mark campaign last year.
This year the Institute is encouraging more businesses to participate to make a greater impact.
It will encourage all companies in the food industry to share their posts on social media using #mmmakeyourmark and tag @mmmakeyourmark.
Sarah Bradbury is the CEO of IGD. She said, “We simply cannot ignore this workforce timebomb as an industry.” If we do not take collective action it will have a negative impact on businesses and also affect the UK food security, which can lead to inflation, food accessibility, and food prices.
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