Graduate Careers in Food and Drink
There has never been a more exciting time to get into the food and drink industry. Cookery programmes, celebrity chefs and Jamie Oliver’s School Dinners have all stressed the importance of eating healthily. Changing lifestyles and high demand for good quality food means that the food and drink industry is booming, with employment reaching the heights of 650,000 people and an annual turnover of £66 billion. Graduate careers in food and drink are in abundance and have very good promotion prospects. Food manufacturing offers an exciting and varied career to able and enthusiastic graduates. There is a huge diversity of graduate careers in food and drink available from the scientific and technological to the creative and imaginative. Whatever your academic background, there will be a discipline that complements your knowledge, skills and talents. If you want to work in a dynamic and challenging industry then a graduate career in food and drink may be for you.
There is a lot more to food manufacturing than you may think, the end product is just the tip of the iceberg! Like any industry, there are numerous sectors that contribute and support the overall functioning and efficiency of the manufacturing process. The following descriptions give you a brief overview of the responsibilities of each of the key sectors:
Research and Product Development
This is a very interesting sector to work in and is particularly attractive to graduates from a scientific background. Jobs in Research predominantly involve using scientific knowledge to produce a new product that can be kept fresh and safe until it reaches the consumer. Jobs in Product Development involve working to a design brief that ensures the product is both aesthetically and hygienically packaged. For more information on careers in Research and Product Development visit:
www.improveltd.co.uk/improve/Top_Links/Careers/The_Jobs/Research
_and_Development.c1163.aspx
Purchasing
 A job in purchasing is ideal for a graduate with business acumen and good interpersonal skills. A typical job in this sector is that of a Buyer – one who chooses, sources and buys products for the company at the best price one can negotiate. A job in purchasing requires someone who can work well under pressure, has excellent communication skills and is highly organised. For more information on careers in purchasing visit:
www.improveltd.co.uk/improve/Top_Links/Careers/
The_Jobs/Purchasing.c1164.aspx
Production
This area of the industry covers those aspects that are involved in putting the product together. This may entail operating machinery or engineering work. Although you do not need to have a degree to work in this sector, there are opportunities for management and planning roles. For more information visit:
www.improveltd.co.uk/improve/Top_Links/Careers/
The_Jobs/Production.c1165.aspx
Quality Assurance
For those of you with scientific and technological backgrounds, a job in Quality Assurance may be the ideal outlet for your knowledge and skills. Those who work in Quality Assurance are concerned with food safety; making sure the product is quality assured and meets the highest standards. Other roles include Safety Officers and Health and Safety Advisors. Graduates with a methodical approach to work and an eye for detail are invaluable, as are those with a competent knowledge of statistics. For more information visit:
www.improveltd.co.uk/improve/Top_Links/Careers/
The_Jobs/Quality_Assurance.c1166.aspx
Graduates who are creative, organised and excellent communicators may be interested in a career in marketing. This is a key sector as it is the role of the marketing manger/executive to make the product attractive to businesses and consumers. A career in marketing is never dull; you will be expected to be able to multi-task, handling many different projects at once. For more information on what marketing entails visit:
www.improveltd.co.uk/improve/Top_Links/Careers/
The_Jobs/Marketing.c1167.aspx
Sales
The Sales sector is a vital cog in the food manufacturing machine. Graduates who are confident, assertive and enthusiastic with high levels of communication and negotiation skills are ideal candidates for sales positions. Depending on the company you work for, salaries can offer high rates of commission. If you are a successful sales person then there is the potential for earning a substantial salary. For more information on Sales careers in the food and drink industry visit:
www.improveltd.co.uk/improve/Top_Links/Careers/
The_Jobs/Sales_26_Buying.c1168.aspx
 A career in Logistics involves planning and managing the transportation and delivery of goods right from the supplier to the consumer. Are you a graduate with a good knowledge of computer packages with an ability to analyse data? A job in Logistics may be for you. For more information visit:
www.improveltd.co.uk/improve/Top_Links/Careers/
The_Jobs/Logistics.c1171.aspx
Are you a real people person? Are you patient and approachable? A job in Human Resources may be for you. Human Resources is vital for any successful company as it deals with the training, development, health, safety and happiness of its employees. A career in Human Resources is a varied and exciting career as every day will bring a new challenge. As well as interpersonal skills, the ability to make financial calculations is a must. For more information visit:
www.improveltd.co.uk/improve/Top_Links/Careers/
The_Jobs/HR_26_Training.c1169.aspx
Graduate careers in food and drink are varied, challenging and interesting. Next time you sit down to eat a bowl of cornflakes, think about how many people were involved in making sure you have a nice breakfast! Why not become part of the process and pursue a graduate career in food and drink.
For more information on the sector and specific job roles visit Improve Food and Drink Sector Skills Council: www.improveltd.co.uk.
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