22.10.2008
Improve recently held an event in partnership with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) to address the shortage of FSTs in the UK.
The event took place at the Defra Innovation Centre in Reading and was attended by delegates from leading industry and education organisations. They discussed the demand and supply of qualified FSTs and how the growing skills gap can be addressed, as well as how to involve all interested parties in identifying solutions.
Keynote presentations were made by Jack Matthews (CEO, Improve) who outlined the situation from the demand point of view and Professor Jack Pearce (Immediate Past President, IFST) who addressed the matter from the supply perspective. Various workshops considered how industry stakeholders can work together to help increase the supply of FSTs.
The event identified that the shortage of FSTs is a challenge faced not only by the industry, but also by education, and that the thinking of different stakeholders is in line with others. It was also agreed that a common strategy is needed to address the required actions.
A number of key goals were identified including raising the quality of graduates, and encouraging and gaining higher numbers of school students taking FST courses. Other key goals were to train and involve teachers and increase the quality and availability of careers information, as well as to establish centres of excellence in FST that will set the standard. The summary document provides a detailed insight into the event.
Improve would like to thank everyone who attended the event for their contributions, and those who helped to organise the day for all their hard work to ensure it was a success.
