Labour shortages and skills gaps are creating significant workforce challenges for the UK food and drink industry, which is under increasing pressure from a growing population.
These pressures are expected to intensify as the food system struggles to support a UK population forecast to rise from 69.9 million to 73.4 million over the next decade. IGD has warned that without immediate action the situation could escalate into a “ticking workforce timebomb”.
Existing workforce challenges are set to worsen despite last year’s big push to tackle recruitment difficulties across the food and drink sector, when an industry-wide campaign backed by major suppliers and retailers aimed to attract future talent into the sector by showcasing what makes it an “incredible place to work”.
Last year, 4.2 million people were employed in the UK’s food and drink supply chain, accounting for more than one in every eight jobs nationwide. IGD’s landmark Mmmake Your Mark campaign, returning for 2025, is urging businesses to leverage that scale by bringing together the industry, trade bodies, and government to showcase the diverse and rewarding career opportunities available.
Officially relaunching on 27 August, it will be calling on businesses across the UK food system to raise awareness of career opportunities, help attract new talent and future-proof the industry’s workforce.
“The workforce timebomb is something we simply cannot ignore as an industry,” said IGD CEO Sarah Bradbury, warning that failure to take collective action, will have a commercial impact for businesses, but also “become a UK food security issue, affecting accessibility of food and inflation”.
“We know from our own learning and development programmes that young people are largely unaware of the opportunities available and skills required in the food system, as well as the sense of purpose and impact a career in food and drink can offer.”
Bradbury also believes the issue is further exacerbated by societal factors such as the decline of Saturday jobs, leading to fewer young recruits entering the industry and a lack of awareness of the types of jobs and careers available.
She added: ”Being involved is a clear step businesses can take to put a food and drink career firmly on people’s radars.”
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