Ever wondered how a Spanish orange ends up in your fruit bowl or how food manufacturers manage to make every pizza taste as good as the last? Here we provide information and advice on jobs, apprenticeships and degree courses for school leavers in the food and drink manufacturing industry.

BY EMILY FROST

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and the Government aim to have increased employment by 20 per cent in the sustainable food and drink industry, by 2020. The influx of new employees required to meet this target will benefit the FDF and the Government as well as employers. Even during the recent economic downturn, the food and drink industry has continued to grow and supports approximately 400,000 people across the UK.

So how can you become involved? The FDF employs people at all levels, from school leavers with GCSEs to postgraduate students. This September, Sheffield Hallam University are starting a MEng Food Engineering degree in association with the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink and the FDF – it will be the UK’s first accredited engineering degree which is solely focused on the needs of the food and drink manufacturing industry.

There are many other universities aside from Sheffield Hallam which offer degrees in subjects such as Food Science and Food Technology. The entry requirements for these courses can range from 200 UCAS tariff points upwards, depending on the specific course, the university and whether it’s a three or four year degree.

Apprenticeships in the food and drink sector are undergoing significant changes as well – in 2013 it was confirmed that food and drink manufacturing was one of eight sectors to lead apprenticeship reform by developing new training standards for food and drink manufacturing engineers. Apprenticeships can range from specialising in bakery and confectionery to food logistics. By the end of the apprenticeship you will have gained NVQ qualifications and had practical experience in a working environment, in turn preparing you for a career in the food and drink industry.

So what will these qualifications do for you in the long run? If you’re doing an apprenticeship then it is likely you’ll be earning while you learn – an apprentice can be earning anywhere from approximately £170 to £230 a week depending on the course and company you’re working with. But looking to the future, both qualifications will allow you to enter careers in the food and drink industry, including being a food scientist or technologist, a retail butcher, marketing manager or technical brewer.To find out more about jobs in the food and drink industry, click here