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13/10/2010 08:17:23
Councils warn MPs of threat to food security
Three Sector Skills Councils have joined forces today in the Houses of Parliament to alert politicians and civil servants to gaps in the training and qualifications needed to maintain long-term food security.
The event was staged after the three Sector Skills Councils, Lantra, Improve Limited and Skillsmart Retail, all reported worrying skills gaps impacting upon the UK’s ability to feed itself. As a result they have formed The Food Supply Network.
Peter Martin, Chief Executive of Lantra said, "The contribution of our three sectors to the UK’s economy and food supply is much greater than often recognised.
"If our workforce is not trained and able to meet the challenges of climate change, an expanding population and decreasing resources, as well as the pace of technological change, then this will cause real problems in the future."
Food manufacturing is the largest element of UK manufacturing at 15% Gross Value Added (GVA). In fact the total GVA for the UK food and drink manufacturing industry is £22.6 billion, and the industry’s GVA has shown an increasing trend since 1998 (a growth of 14%).
The industries of the Food Supply Network are worth £79.5 billion (GVA) annually to the UK economy and employ 3.6 million people across the food production, manufacturing and retail sectors, which is one in seven of the entire workforce.
The event attracted key speakers including the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Jim Paice; Justin King, Group Chief Executive Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd and President of the IGD; Ross Warburton MBE, Executive Director of Warburtons and President of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF); David Linton, Managing Director of Fylde Fresh and Fabulous; and Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, The Black Farmer.
Lantra - the Sector Skills Council for the land-based and agricultural industries – says 43 percent of all vacancies in its sector are hard to fill, with twice the national average of skills shortage vacancies.
Improve Limited - the Sector Skills Council for food and drink manufacturing and processing (FDMP) - reports the need for 137,000 new recruits 2007 - 2017, with demand particularly high amongst managers and senior officials, and professional occupations. Improve has identified worrying skills gaps especially at managerial level including leadership and strategic management, operational people management and IT skills.
For Skillsmart Retail - the Sector Skills Council for retailing - a key issue is expansion of the sector as 214,000 retail jobs are expected to be created over the next few years.
Peter Martin added: "We would like MPs, ministers and civil servants to understand how important skills in the sector are. Food security can only be guaranteed if those working in the food supply industries have the right skills."
The event was staged after the three Sector Skills Councils, Lantra, Improve Limited and Skillsmart Retail, all reported worrying skills gaps impacting upon the UK’s ability to feed itself. As a result they have formed The Food Supply Network.
Peter Martin, Chief Executive of Lantra said, "The contribution of our three sectors to the UK’s economy and food supply is much greater than often recognised.
"If our workforce is not trained and able to meet the challenges of climate change, an expanding population and decreasing resources, as well as the pace of technological change, then this will cause real problems in the future."
Food manufacturing is the largest element of UK manufacturing at 15% Gross Value Added (GVA). In fact the total GVA for the UK food and drink manufacturing industry is £22.6 billion, and the industry’s GVA has shown an increasing trend since 1998 (a growth of 14%).
The industries of the Food Supply Network are worth £79.5 billion (GVA) annually to the UK economy and employ 3.6 million people across the food production, manufacturing and retail sectors, which is one in seven of the entire workforce.
The event attracted key speakers including the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Jim Paice; Justin King, Group Chief Executive Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd and President of the IGD; Ross Warburton MBE, Executive Director of Warburtons and President of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF); David Linton, Managing Director of Fylde Fresh and Fabulous; and Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, The Black Farmer.
Lantra - the Sector Skills Council for the land-based and agricultural industries – says 43 percent of all vacancies in its sector are hard to fill, with twice the national average of skills shortage vacancies.
Improve Limited - the Sector Skills Council for food and drink manufacturing and processing (FDMP) - reports the need for 137,000 new recruits 2007 - 2017, with demand particularly high amongst managers and senior officials, and professional occupations. Improve has identified worrying skills gaps especially at managerial level including leadership and strategic management, operational people management and IT skills.
For Skillsmart Retail - the Sector Skills Council for retailing - a key issue is expansion of the sector as 214,000 retail jobs are expected to be created over the next few years.
Peter Martin added: "We would like MPs, ministers and civil servants to understand how important skills in the sector are. Food security can only be guaranteed if those working in the food supply industries have the right skills."
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