Competitiveness

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By

Josh Gustav

Last Updated: 3, June 2024





Food and drink manufacturing plays a vital role in underpinning the UK economy.

As well as creating wealth for the nation, manufacturers will have a key
strategic role to play in ensuring the nation’s future food security against
the
combined effects of climate change, higher global demand and increasing
pressure on
finite resources.

FDF members want a public commitment from Government that it will support a
thriving and sustainable food sector in the UK as a top priority in its own
right,
by driving clear, coherent and consistent policies in all areas which
contribute
to this.

This means putting in place a competitive and regulatory framework
which promotes efficiency of resource use, stimulates innovation and attracts
the
skills and investment which will be needed.


20/20 Vision for Growth

Our shared vision with BIS and Defra for the UK food and drink industry is to
deliver sustainable
growth of 20% by 2020.

Our vision sets out what the industry needs to achieve this growth, highlights
action already being taken by government, and the barriers to growth.

Find out more about the 20/20 Vision for Growth



Graduate Excellence

In partnership with the National Skills Academy (NSA) for food and drink and
Sheffield Hallam University (SHU), FDF is working to develop a new engineering
degree
course
to equip graduates with the technical skills and knowledge that the food and
drink manufacturing industry requires.

Find out more about Graduate Excellence




Women into STEM pledge

In May 2014, the government set out national ambitions for greater
participation in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) especially
amongst
women.
FDF and our members supported the new campaign called ‘Your Life’ by creating
our own pledge to attract women into STEM careers in our industry.

Find out more about the Women into STEM pledge




Apprenticeship Pledge

FDF smashed its pledge to double the number of apprenticeships available in the
food
and drink manufacturing sector in England and Scotland by the end of 2012 by
more than quadrupling the number offered across the sector between August 2011
and
December 2012.

We are now working to develop the next phase of our ambition focused on the
standard and quality of Apprenticeships by working with the Department for
Business,
Innovation and Skills through the Apprenticeship Trailblazers initiative.

Find out more about the apprenticeship pledge


Delivering sustainable growth through exports

With domestic markets growing more steadily, manufacturing companies have been
working hard to develop new opportunities.

These have arisen through taking
established British products into new export destinations and also building on
the
overseas interest in our innovation in sectors such as health and wellbeing.

Find out more about exports


Careers: Taste Success – A Future in Food

FDF’s Careers Campaign and it aims to show potential entrants that the UK food
and drink manufacturing sector is a ‘career of first choice’.

Current figures show that by 2020 the sector will require 170,300 new recruits,
45,000 will be for managerial roles and professional occupations (33%).

Find out more about Taste Success


Food and Drink Business Confidence Snapshot

The FDF food and drink business confidence monitor has been providing
intelligence to FDF and key stakeholders since 2010, at what has been a
difficult and
unpredictable time for all businesses across the UK.

Find out more about the Business Confidence Snapshot




Celebrating Our People

As we look back on 100 years of FDF and the progress that food and drink
manufacturers have made throughout the last century we are taking the
opportunity to
celebrate the most vital ingredient in our recipe for success.

Find out more about Celebrating Our People





Delivering sustainable growth through innovationDelivering sustainable growth through Innovation

FDF sets out its vision for an innovative, resilient, resource-efficient and
safe food and drink manufacturing supply chain that delivers affordable,
nutritious
and safe food for 21st century populations. The vision includes ten long term
priority areas for innovation.

Find out more about Delivering sustainable growth through Innovation





Occupational Health and Safety Pledge

The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Pledge provides a platform to allow
businesses to formalise this commitment and offers a forum for best practice
sharing.

Find out more about the FDF Occupational Health and Safety Pledge




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