Migrant worker availability is top industry concern
“I am convinced that set free from the constraints of Brussels, the UK food chain can innovate and lead the world with a progressive approach to food production from farm to plate,” said Paul Wilkinson, chairman of the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD).
“Of course, this requires a political will and vision, but it is up to all of us to ensure our case is argued well, putting the consumer and environment at the centre of all we aspire to.
“Let us be in no doubt that success will be dependent on two key issues that flow from government policy in relation to the agri-sector.
“The first is the role of foreign workers and immigration policy as it impacts on the supply of labour to our sector. The second is a well-designed and successful implementation of the Apprenticeship Levy made fit for our purpose.”
‘Supply of labour’
Wilkinson, who is also an arable farmer and chairman of farmer co-operative Fengrain, was speaking at a seminar on policy priorities for the UK food, drink and farming industry, organised by the Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum in London last month.
He reported that 36% of those working in food manufacturing were not UK nationals. Without access to EU workers “we could potentially face a crisis in labour supply, which would seriously damage productivity”, he warned.
“So the development of an appropriate immigration strategy to meet the needs of our sector is vital, because it is unlikely that we can rely on domestic labour alone. And this is not just about high skills.
“One of the features of food manufacturing is the wide range of jobs – from high technology to simple basic tasks, where automation has proved impossible to match the skill of the human hand.”
Wilkinson offered government the services of the NSAFD to quantify the labour demand from the sector and identify a mechanism to manage the supply.
‘Policy based on facts’
“The food industry needs to come together to prepare the case and demonstrate the need,” he argued. “We can undertake the modelling of supply and demand and thus help form a policy based on facts, not fiction or emotion.”
He also argued that the Apprenticeship Levy, coming into force in April 2017, could be used as a vehicle to develop home-grown talent for the sector.
“But, the devil is in the detail and bureaucracy runs the risk of undermining the [levy’s] implementation,” he warned. “Brexit provides a real opportunity and the Apprenticeship Levy can help transform skills if handled properly.
“Our industry is capable of competing globally. The maintenance of profitability in a period of recent deflation and intense retail competition bears testament to the strength of our employers. The challenge now is to maintain that lead.”
For the latest career opportunities in UK food and drink manufacturing, visit FoodManJobs.
The NSAFD boss will be chairing the Food Manufacture Group’s Business Leaders’ Forum in central London on Tuesday January 24. For more information about this annual, invitation-only event for food and drink business leaders, staged at the offices of host sponsor DWF, contact Mike Stones.
Meanwhile, last week environment secretary Andrea Leadsom tried to offer reassurance to food industry employers’ about their continued access to permanent and seasonal migrant labour.
