Improve, in conjunction with IFST and DEFRA, held an event recently to establish what actions needed to be in place to ensure that there is an adequate supply of skilled food science and technologists in the UK. The afternoon session consisted of a series of workshops to identify and discuss how industry stakeholders can work closer and better together to ensure the required supply of food science and technologists in the UK.

Although the workshops identified many issues within the sector, the most common response was that both industry and education must work closer together to identify what is required to address the skills shortages. The objective of this closer working would be to become more proactive and creative about the provision and quality of courses, but to also increase the awareness and perception of the opportunities available in the sector with school children and students at all levels and stages. At the core of this outcome, is the involvement of the careers service and advisors, subject teachers and parents in understanding the opportunities and options available to FST graduates/qualified people.

After identifying the problems, the workshops focussed on possible short, medium and long-term solutions. As well as tackling educational awareness, solutions put forward included raising the profile of the industry through media events and making food factory clothing more stylish and functional. You can read full details of the findings here.

Everyone is in accord that more needs to be done to raise the profile of the food industry, but will the proposed measures be enough? What attracted you to a career in FST and how would you encourage more people to follow in your footsteps?