Food industry has science shortage
A drop in the number of school pupils choosing science subjects at A-level is causing a major headache for North Yorkshire food and drink manufacturers.
The region's food and drink industry is thriving, with an annual turnover of £8 billion and steady year-on-year growth over the past decade.
But with fewer young people studying science post-GCSE, the industry is being bitten by a shortage of qualified food scientists and technologists.
Targets agreed between employers in Yorkshire and Humberside and Improve, the York-based food and drink sector skills council, aim to double the number of food scientists working in new product development and quality assurance in the region to more than 1,000.
But to reach that target by 2014 as planned, Improve chief executive Jack Matthews admits there needs to be a major turnaround in the numbers of young people studying science at A-level and beyond.
Mr Matthews said: "We are in a situation now where only one in five A-level passes are in biology, chemistry, physics and maths. Unless we increase that number significantly, we are going to continue to see food science degree courses undersubscribed, and that means we will continue to struggle to fill food science positions in the industry."
Amie Postings, chairperson of the York Hoteliers Association, said if students are replacing their science A-levels with vocational course it could be better news for the hotel and hospitality industries.
Miss Postings said: "If students are replacing A-level science with something more vocational such as customer service or catering skills then it may be more relevant for other industries such as ours."
In a bid to alter young people's perceptions of food science and manufacturing, Improve has launched a School's Challenge programme available to primary and secondary schools across England.
The challenge, originally developed in Scotland, matches schools with local food and drink producers, who set a project for pupils to design and make a new food product.
The company is then left to judge the best efforts, with prizes issued to the overall winners. The programme has been so successful that over 12,000 school students have been involved in the challenge and a number of the products developed are now on supermarket shelves.
Mr Matthews is also backing the introduction of new 14-19 diplomas to reinvigorate science in schools.
He says the Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design, due to be rolled out in September 2009, will see science subjects taught in practical contexts, which will help bring the topics to life in the classroom.
Have your say
How can we encourage pupils to take up science?
6:42pm Wednesday 26th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: jollygreenp, York on 7:22am Thu 27 Mar 08
As long as the food industry and manufacturing industry in general continue to pay scientists and technologists at such abysmally low levels of pay they will not attract candidates into science subjects. Those that they do attract that have an enthusiasm for science will often not stay long as they realise the rates of pay are poor and move into more lucrative fields like marketing and IT despite their love of doing an interesting job. It all boils down to the question of do people live to work or do they work to live and getting an equitable balance.
As long as the food industry and manufacturing industry in general continue to pay scientists and technologists at such abysmally low levels of pay they will not attract candidates into science subjects. Those that they do attract that have an enthusiasm for science will often not stay long as they realise the rates of pay are poor and move into more lucrative fields like marketing and IT despite their love of doing an interesting job. It all boils down to the question of do people live to work or do they work to live and getting an equitable balance.
Posted by: Bemused on 9:00am Thu 27 Mar 08
It might also be that science A Levels and degrees are more difficult than soft options such as media studies.
It might also be that science A Levels and degrees are more difficult than soft options such as media studies.
Posted by: John Lightfoot, Leeds on 11:01am Thu 27 Mar 08
I would have to disagree that pay for food scientists is the problem. I am a consultant for the food and drink manufacturing industry and food scientists typically earn between £25,000 and £30,000. Senior positions offer salaries up to £70,000.
I would have to disagree that pay for food scientists is the problem. I am a consultant for the food and drink manufacturing industry and food scientists typically earn between £25,000 and £30,000. Senior positions offer salaries up to £70,000.
Posted by: simon, down.south on 12:34am Fri 28 Mar 08
[italic]Miss Postings said: "If students are replacing A-level science with something more vocational such as customer service or catering skills then it may be more relevant for other industries such as ours."[/italic]
Obviously
Miss Postings said: "If students are replacing A-level science with something more vocational such as customer service or catering skills then it may be more relevant for other industries such as ours."
Obviously
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