Food industry must tackle ‘overworked and underpaid’ career image, report says

Scotland’s food and drink industry must build sustainable careers and tackle stereotypes of those within it being “overworked and underpaid”, a new report has said.

A report from the Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy (EFDA) says the £18.9 billion industry must give up “siloed” thinking or risk stifling growth.

The Academy, which was previously known as the Edinburgh New Town Cookery School, says there should be a unified response to growing pressures on the food and drink sector – such as rising costs and a widening skills gap.

The report, titled “The table is set for growth”, urged the industry to showcase the diversity of and value of careers in the sector, avoiding the “underpaid and overworked” archetypes often portrayed.

Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, executive chair at the academy, said: “To understand the challenges ahead, the industry must come together and recognise what’s at stake. This isn’t just about filling roles or supporting businesses.

“It is about recognising the value of the food and drink industry to the economy and and the nation’s health and food security, and realising the full potential of the people within it.”

She continued: “Having been involved in the industry for over 30 years, I’ve seen it come through a number of challenging times.

“What I, and others, have witnessed is that all too often change is siloed.

“Efforts are duplicated, insights aren’t shared and solutions are built in isolation, rather than in partnership.

“This is what needs to change first, if we are to succeed collectively as an industry.

“There’s no doubt there are a wealth of obstacles to overcome but at EFDA we believe the space we have created to allow connection and collaboration has the potential to do just that.

“We need to come together, share knowledge and challenge one another, and build solutions that go far beyond the boundaries of an individual businesses.”