We find 6,562 jobs in the food and drink manufacturing sector

by Sheila Prophet - 06/06/2011

"WHATEVER happens to the economy, we all need to eat and drink and that means a constant supply of jobs. As part of our Get Britain Working campaign we’ve found 6,562 jobs in the food and drink manufacturing sector."

“From small specialist food makers, through to processing plants for multinational companies, the range of jobs in the food and drink industry is huge,” says Darra Singh from Jobcentre Plus. And now is a particularly good time to find opportunities.

Darra adds: “The summer months often see an increase in vacancies, with things like fruit picking or agricultural work. Summer barbecues also see an increase in temporary jobs in areas like meat packing”

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There are great opportunities to get a career whatever your training. “There are currently fantastic opportunities to get into an industry where doors will open,” says Jack Matthews of Improve, the Food and Drink Sector Skills Council (www.improve-skills.co.uk).

“The industry is becoming ever more sophisticated in its operations and use of technology, so businesses are crying out for highly skilled managers, engineers, technicians and food scientists and technologists.

He adds: “You don’t need to be a graduate to take advantage of this demand. Employers are increasingly looking to nurture talent internally to fulfil senior positions and apprenticeships are becoming increasingly popular as a result. In Scotland, for example, the number of food and drink apprentices has soared from about 25 in 2007 to 1,000this year.”

WHERE ARE THE JOBS?

Jobcentre Plus (www.direct.gov.uk/employment) says it has 4,139 vacancies appearing on its records every month.

There are hundreds of production line workers needed across the country from Devon to Ayrshire and Norfolk to Cardiff.

These include 1,944 packers, bottlers, canners and fillers and 1,518 food, drink and tobacco operatives (from £5.93 an hour).

At www.fish4jobs.co.uk we spotted 822 jobs ranging from agricultural to packing staff including a warehouse operative/picker in Basingstoke (£7 days, £8 nights) and pickers and packers in Snodland, Kent (£6.50).

There are 961 related jobs at www.reed.co.uk including a vending machine engineer in Leicester (negotiable) and a fish process operative in Glasgow (from £6.07). Food and drink experts Staffline are currently placing 650 new people into new jobs EVERY week.

“Jobs come and go so quickly we can’t get them on the website so it pays to call our central number on 01858 412 767 to find out what’s available,” says Staffline CEO Andy Hogarth. Jobs range from seasonal pickers to warehouse staff.

WHAT IS THE WORK LIKE?

Food manufacturing involves the production and packing of a wide variety of food items, including frozen, canned, baked, dried and pasteurised products. Food process workers and packaging operatives work on the machines that put finished food and drink products like biscuits, crisps, soup, drinks and chocolate bars into containers, cans or packets.

There is also the option of specialising in a particular skill. As a trained butcher, baker or fishmonger, there is plenty of in-store opportunity at supermarkets. Or you could work for a smaller company.

SALARIES

Starting salaries begin at around £12,000 a year, although apprentices might get less. This can increase to £25,000 for management and supervisor positions.

More Details: http://www.mirror.co.uk/advice/jobs/2011/05/26/we-find-6-562-jobs-in-the-food-and-drink-manufacturing-sector-115875-23156927/