Food and drink industry reveals post-Brexit labour fears in new survey
A new survey published today (24 August) has revealed the food and drink industry's post-Brexit labour fears.
Trade bodies from across the UK's £110bn food and drink supply chain have published a landmark survey on their sector, which employs four million people across the UK.
The survey, co-ordinated by the Food & Drink Federation (FDF), casts new light on the 'farm to fork' sector's Brexit priorities from a workforce perspective.
It also lays bare the severity of the situation that the UK food and drink supply chain faces without reassurances regarding the future of EU workers.
EU nationals number two million across the UK economy, with 20% of these workers employed across the food and drink supply chain.
Considering leaving
The findings of the survey reveal almost half (47%) of businesses surveyed said EU nationals were considering leaving the UK due to uncertainty surrounding their future.
Over a third (36%) of businesses surveyed said they would become unviable if they had no access to EU workers.
Almost a third (31%) of businesses surveyed had seen EU nationals leave since the EU referendum.
17% of respondents said they would look to relocate overseas if they had no access to EU nationals.
'Secure rights'
In light of the findings, the FDF survey includes a number of key recommendations to Government.
These include legislating to secure the rights of EEA nationals currently in the UK and recognising the 'strategic importance' of the food and drink supply chain.
In the medium term, the FDF said the Government must build an 'attractive and effective' migration system and ensure no 'cliff-edge' when the UK leaves the EU.
In the long term, the FDF said the Government must investment in skills provision for the food and drink supply chain and support access to hard-to-reach labour market solutions.
'Cannot be solved overnight'
An FDF statement said: "Government has been clear in its desire to reduce net migration, but our sector faces a rapidly approaching workforce shortage and skills gap which cannot be solved overnight.
"Industry cannot afford a 'cliff edge' which impacts on our ability to grow, produce and serve the food we eat. With this in mind the sector welcomed the announcement from the Prime Minister in June 2017 regarding safeguarding the position of EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU.
"An abrupt reduction in the number of workers from the EU able to work in the UK after Brexit would cause significant disruption to the whole food and drink supply chain. It is vital that this change is carefully managed through an orderly transition.
"Our supply chain is aware of the expectation to reduce reliance on EU workers and is focused on upskilling wherever possible locally within the UK, with a strong emphasis on building skills through apprenticeships and investment in technology to support automation.
"However, with record high levels of employment in key geographical locations, it is often a question of local labour availability for the roles we are seeking to fill."
