Scotland Food & Drink Skills Academy

Background: The Scotland Food & Drink Skills Academy (SFDSA) has the overarching remit to enable the food and drink industry to increase productivity and profitability through knowledge sharing and skills development. In addition it also has the following key objectives

• To promote the value of training and communicate the bottom line benefits achievable through knowledge sharing and skills development
• To create a network of excellence in training provision across the full range of business critical disciplines from marketing to waste & energy management and covering the food and drink supply chain from farm to fork
• To improve the flow of information between providers and employers by collating in one place information on what is available in terms of knowledge and skills provision and then linking employers with that provision
• To accurately define skills needs and fill any gaps in demand
• To provide a forum for dialogue between leading employers and leading providers

Remit:

Given the current economic climate, this requires more than ever a particular focus on these key areas as they will be critical factors in determining both the success and ultimately, the long term sustainability of the Food and Drink industry in Scotland going forward.

It is consequently essential, if the SFDSA is to deliver the support the industry needs in terms of influencing government policy, developing new initiatives and particularly, ensuring the correct level of expertise is present in our workforce at all levels from primary production and factory shop floor to boardroom, that the industry itself provides; a clear steer on these issues, a sense check on the skills strategy that is being informed by current research and labour market information and a precise focus on the exact requirements of the industry. It is on this basis that the Industry Advisory Group (IAG) has been proposed.

Focus: It is suggested, subject to agreement from the members of the IAG, that their focus be concentrated on the following

• Innovation: in all areas from new product development to supply chain solutions and including the availability and use of new technology in primary production, automation in manufacturing and processing, packaging development and particularly the new and innovative technologies associated with the more efficient use of energy and the reduction of waste that can so dramatically reduce costs.
• Skills Development: including the new skill sets that are required now and identifying those we will need in the future due to these advances in technology. Also skills associated with the need to deliver production efficiencies through the introduction of things like lean manufacturing and the associated tools and techniques that are proven vehicles for making significant improvements to quality and productivity as well as waste and cost reduction.
• Management & Leadership Skills: that will ensure our industry Leaders, Owners and Managers understand developments in all of these areas, are consequently in a position to benefit from them in terms of bottom line profitability and can then aggressively and confidently market their products to the widest possible audience in Scotland and beyond.

Outputs:

1. The precise identification of the knowledge and skills development needs of the industry from both a sub sector and company size perspective.
2. The provision of clear direction from the industry to the SFDSA in respect of what is needed from providers within HEI, FE and the Private Sector to deliver the knowledge and skills required.
3. The opportunity for the group to share best practice, information and advice on the topics above, within the practical constraints of commercial confidentiality.
4. The potential for expert presentation to the group either from members within the group, providers, practitioners or employers in other non food and drink related industries (facilitated by the SFDSA), in order to clearly identify “what good looks like” in terms of industry performance.

Commitment: It is intended that the group will meet formally no more than four times per year with the opportunity for additional activity as required/demanded by the members.