Why is the food industry, and for that matter food recruitment, not taken seriously?
Why do some candidates favor the automotive, FMCG, retail or pharmaceuticals industries over the food industry?
Certainly we might have some views on recruitment - but come on - the food industry? The biggest manufacturing sector in the UK - a world leader, a centre of excellence and market knowledge. And yet still economic reports and media channels ignore the sector as little more than a small trifling . The same media experts doff their caps, quite rightly, to the mighty retailers, but do not see the connection or relationships and importance of a strong and vibrant supply base. A sector that has increased employment in the last two years; a sector that is growing; a sector that demands our continual attention as consumers as we buy for our three meals a day.
It also seems to have passed many graduates by as well who don't see the tremendous careers on offer in food manufacturing or retail as something to consider with their 2:1 and 1st class degrees. Perhaps they can't get past the sartorial fear of hair nets and wellies...
Maybe our food manufacturing supply base is more highly regarded abroad? Recently we have entered into projects in India and America, where British food manufacturing expertise is greatly in demand and well rewarded.
In recruitment terms it is true that a lot of the food industry sees it as low cost transactional activity. Quite right you might say as would we if you just want CVs off job boards. But (and there is a BIG but here) we recently completed a really key project for a Client - a business that was the "sick child" of their sector who needed true strategic thought and consultative advice from us. A recent news release from them seems to sum up how important truly effective recruitment proved to be.
They say the "business was restructured during 2009 with the creation of a single leadership team and the reinforcement of our management capability through a number of experienced hires to key positions. These changes are starting to show results with sales in the second quarter up. The first half has seen the launch of 87 new products, representing almost one third of our range, compared with 28 in the same period last year. Not only have we launched more products but they have been extremely well received by our customers and by consumers. In many cases the initial demand being more than double our expectation."
So I think its time all those who are serious about the food industry stuck their chests out and helped make people understand how important the retail and manufacturing sectors are to UK plc and how essential outstanding recruitment is to achieve the goals.
Certainly we might have some views on recruitment - but come on - the food industry? The biggest manufacturing sector in the UK - a world leader, a centre of excellence and market knowledge. And yet still economic reports and media channels ignore the sector as little more than a small trifling . The same media experts doff their caps, quite rightly, to the mighty retailers, but do not see the connection or relationships and importance of a strong and vibrant supply base. A sector that has increased employment in the last two years; a sector that is growing; a sector that demands our continual attention as consumers as we buy for our three meals a day.
It also seems to have passed many graduates by as well who don't see the tremendous careers on offer in food manufacturing or retail as something to consider with their 2:1 and 1st class degrees. Perhaps they can't get past the sartorial fear of hair nets and wellies...
Maybe our food manufacturing supply base is more highly regarded abroad? Recently we have entered into projects in India and America, where British food manufacturing expertise is greatly in demand and well rewarded.
In recruitment terms it is true that a lot of the food industry sees it as low cost transactional activity. Quite right you might say as would we if you just want CVs off job boards. But (and there is a BIG but here) we recently completed a really key project for a Client - a business that was the "sick child" of their sector who needed true strategic thought and consultative advice from us. A recent news release from them seems to sum up how important truly effective recruitment proved to be.
They say the "business was restructured during 2009 with the creation of a single leadership team and the reinforcement of our management capability through a number of experienced hires to key positions. These changes are starting to show results with sales in the second quarter up. The first half has seen the launch of 87 new products, representing almost one third of our range, compared with 28 in the same period last year. Not only have we launched more products but they have been extremely well received by our customers and by consumers. In many cases the initial demand being more than double our expectation."
So I think its time all those who are serious about the food industry stuck their chests out and helped make people understand how important the retail and manufacturing sectors are to UK plc and how essential outstanding recruitment is to achieve the goals.
By Ggirl on 13 February 2011 09:34
Im finding the industry very age sensitive - Im not a stuck in my ways overbearing cardigan wearer.
I can take orders or give them from and to people of any age I appreciate that whilst Ive been off doing other things younger people than me have come along and gained experience and qualifications way beyond me and I applaud that.
Im open minded, and most of all dedicated and very keen, with years of experience which can all be used in whatever line of work Im in its just that Ive chosen food!!
So come on all you big retailers and others - you know who you are!! give us more mature types a chance!!! Were here because we want to be and are very unlikely to change career again...
By Kevin Ashton on 13 February 2011 09:34
If we want to be taken seriously as an industry we have to make it more professional and better paid. We can't collectively complain how the media treats us when we often treat our own skilled workers with contempt, paying them badly, expecting them to put up with poor working conditions, giving them very little opportunity to improve through meaningful training. We don't treat senior workers like a valuable resource who could pass many more of their skills on if given the chance and an incentive to do so. Corporate dishonesty has crept into our craft and culinary language, often to squeeze another pound out of the bottom line. This is well intentioned from a business point of view but often leaves the chefs in corporate operations hamstrung (no pun intended) and forced to tow the corporate line that wastes as much money as it saves. Many of our industry's bosses are far too removed from the chef or waiter, or food production worker to have an inkling of what creating good food is all about.
In my lifetime the decision makers took an internationally recognised qualification City and Guilds and turned it into a joke called NQV which when I was lecturing was code for NOT VERY QUALIFIED. Recently there have been moves to go back to City and Guilds but why oh why was this done in the first place? We don't need more management with honours degrees we need managers who know the difference between a balloon whisk and a chinois. Managers who have come through the ranks and truly understand what is takes to be a food professional, values it’s workers and that is the point when the rest of the British economy and law makers will value us too!
By JayT on 13 February 2011 09:34
But is it all the fault of the management? I am not shifting entire blame, but my opinion is that it all surrounds greed (just like the MP expenses scandal and the greedy bankers that 'caused' the credit crunch!). I believe that Directors at the top (at the very top) like their bonuses and big paychecks, just as much as the top bods at the Supermarkets who continue to squeeze suppliers to the point where margins are practically non existent - so how do they have a choice but to pay low wages? I guess they do have a choice - but when choosing either their nice bonus or to pay employees more .........
Maybe i'm misinformed or whatever, but I guess thats just my opinion.
PS. I like the NVQ pun, have heard before on a number of occasions.. i guess it's a phrase that crosses accross many industries ;-)