There is so much opportunity in food and drink in Scotland.

Opportunities for people of all ages to find great careers and green jobs.

Opportunities for employers to use workforce development to power up their businesses.

And opportunities for educators to link to one of Scotland’s most important economic sectors.

Our careers, skills and workforce development resources can help you explore your own opportunities in food and drink, whether you’re looking for a career, for tools to develop your people or for curriculum support.

young people

For young people, job changers & others

The career opportunities in food and drink are probably wider than you think. In fact, whatever your stage in education or life post-education, there is almost certainly a career for you.

employers

For employers

Nowadays, every employer needs to think about how best to recruit, retain and develop staff. Our workforce development resources and links can set you on your way.

educators

For educators

We have a range of resources about food and drink careers, as well as teaching aids relevant for STEM, business and other subjects.

Latest updates

Global Burger Challenge 2025

Update

Welcome to the Global Burger Challenge for 2025!

We have teamed up with Quality Meat Scotland to bring you this classroom challenge, using the context of creating a burger to learn about the journey food makes, from farm to fork.
This year, our burger challenge will ask pupils to focus on the cuisine found within a country or continent, and use this as a basis for developing a patty. Using our Farming Foodsteps resources, they can learn about the meat included in their burger patty, whether this is Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb, or Specially Selected Pork.
Pupils will then contextualise this learning, by considering the nutritional value of their burger patty; what they could pair it with to enhance the overall dish; and the costings, packaging and marketing of the dish. 

Read the Quality Meat Scotland press release here 

Find full information about the challenge and the supporting teaching resources here

Tilda food sustainability challenge

The Tilda Challenge is back!

This year, the challenge will focus on sustainability in the food and drink industry. We are challenging S1 - 3 pupils in Scotland to design a dish based on an ambient Tilda rice product, using a by-product ingredient or 'food waste' and local produce

Designed to develop an understanding of sustainability, employability skills, and the skills required to work in food and drink, this activity supports healthy eating and social responsibility. The challenge also supports multiple curriculum principles (more info is provided within the entry form).

Entries will be judged against the criteria set out in the entry form, with the winning team receiving £100, and two runner up teams receiving £50 each. The winning school will also receive £100 worth of kitchen equipment.

Find full information and entry form here

Closing date for entries is 1st November 2024.

Pre-register your interest by emailing skills@fdfscotland.org.uk

 

Recruitment support from the Department for Work and Pensions

The DWP can help food and drink manufacturers find their next team members. Use these links to learn about their range of support services, and how they can help transition colleagues (current and future) who are in receipt of Universal Credit:

Reasons to work or upskill in food and drink

Careers in food and drink are careers that matter.

It’s a sector worth billions to Scotland, where STEM and digital skills are increasingly important.

There are roles and progression opportunities locally, nationally and internationally, and it’s a key sector in helping Scotland meet its Net Zero ambitions.

And in Scotland alone, the sector needs nearly 35,000 new recruits by 2031 to fill skills gaps.

Other reasons to work in food and drink in Scotland

A Future in Food

FDF Scotland and Skills Development Scotland work in partnership to support delivery of the skills ambitions of the industry on behalf of the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership.

Our skills initiative, A Future in Food, works with partners across Scotland to raise awareness of the career opportunities available in the Scottish food and drink industry. We help young people, educators, career influencers and parents understand these opportunities and the skills needed by employers.

The Scottish Government funds this work through the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership.

For more information please contact: 

Related pages

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Becoming a Food and Drink Ambassador

Our ambassadors inspire young people to consider a career in food and drink. If you work in food and drink and would like to help motivate the next generation of recruits into the industry you can sign up as a food and drink ambassador.