As a nation renowned for our love of the scran, it should come as no Eureka moment to learn the Scottish food and drink manufacturing sector is a big, big cheese in the nation’s economy.
In fact, is now the country’s largest manufacturing industry and employs 43,800 people, generating up to £10.4 billion per year to the Scottish economy.
The Scottish Government has described the industry as a “priority sector”. In recognition of this, they are now working in conjunction with the nation’s leading colleges, universities and industry training firms in a new Network of Excellence, entirely dedicated to delivering world-class education and vocational training in a sector that continues to grow in importance like a hyperactive soufflé.
When we were told about the Scottish Food and Drink Skills Academy, we thought it was somewhere to learn how to make krispie cakes and stop poached eggs mixing into the water. It turns out the Academy is much, much more; based at Abertay University in Dundee, it will be the organisation controlling the new Network.
Through the Academy, businesses big and small can benefit from a single point of access that groups the many strands of Scotland’s Food and Drink industry together.
This new skills school will aim to provide industry leading workforce training and programmes to increase productivity, profitability and cutting-edge innovation.
The institutions accepted into the Academy’s new network have displayed high-level food and drink industry expertise, and the Government are excited in the capabilities of the institutions in offering skills training, project developing and workforce development across the country.
The Scottish Government have shown their dedication to growing the food and drink sector here. Why? As the sector has shown, there is money to be made. But such is the level of expertise and experience in the country, there is scope to make even more – a recipe for securing Scotland’s position as a major player in global food and drink manufacturing.
Such is this dedication; the Government have designated 2015 to be Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink. They want to maximise the industry’s potential, and this new network of institutions providing leading education in the field symbolises that. Several bodies, one centre, one focus: to grow Scotland’s food and drink economy.
Food and drink here is big business, and with it comes jobs, opportunities and a benefit to our economy. By 2017, the Scottish Government are hoping the food and drink trade grows to be worth £16.7 billion. This new Network of Excellence is a big step in achieving that.
And, by the way, if anyone does know how to make a proper poached egg, please write in.
The Scottish Food and Drink Skills Academy upskills the workforce one bowl at a time.