Food manufacturing sector to focus on training
The majority of food manufacturing firms plan to increase their focus on training and development in the coming decade, new research reveals.
Some 80 per cent of food manufacturers and retailers expect to increase their focus on training and development in the coming ten years, according to a new survey by grocery information and insight group IGD.
Leadership skills is the key area where firms need to develop, with 55 per cent of respondents citing this as their main priority for training progress in the coming years.
One-fifth of the firms questioned expect to grow their training budgets by over 25 per cent during the decade.
IGD Chief Executive Officer Joanne Denney-Finch commented: “Along the [food industry] chain, we employ 3.6 million people - that’s one in seven of the workforce.
“Even in tough times, it's crucial for companies to keep investing in skills and harness the talent and energy of a new generation. This will be an exceptionally challenging decade and the future is in our hands.”
The results of the survey were detailed at yesterday’s IGD Food & Grocery Employment and Skills Summit, which also saw Sainsbury’s Chief Executive Officer Justin King reveal his company’s plans to launch a new bakery college. The new centre in Wellingborough will reduce the time it takes staff to achieve their NVQs.
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Written by Ben Sillitoe
