FOOD AND DRINK
You might not have thought about a career in food and drink but it ’ s a large and growing sector with plenty of opportunities – both for long term employment or aspiring to running your own business . From farm to fork there are a variety of roles across product development , growing , processing , manufacturing , quality testing , package design , distribution and sales . In Leicestershire , there are many food and drink businesses ranging from small ‘ artisan ’ ( craftsperson ) companies to large producers . The health food market is also growing .
What is happening ?
• The food and drink sector makes hundreds of different products ; there is innovation in creating new products , new processes and new markets . Specialisms within the sector include bakery , dairy , confectionery , chilled and frozen products .
• This sector has over 8,240 businesses employing around 400,000 people , and is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK .
• Jobs include product manager , quality technician , food technologist , production planner , category manager , environmental technologist , chocolatier , pastry chef , and brewer and food scientist . There are new roles for food security , food safety , social responsibility and sustainability .
• The Food and Drink Manufacturing sector in the Leicester and Leicestershire area employs 13,200 people .
• There is a growing artisan food market , focussing on home grown , hand- made and locally sourced goods . The Melton Mowbray area is establishing itself as the Rural Capital of Food and Drink , and has regular food festivals .
• The Leicester Food Park , providing high quality food manufacturing space with purpose-built units on a 1.5 acre site , supports new and established food businesses .
• The diverse local population ensures an availability of exciting food markets , flavours and products ; there is opportunity to use cultural fusion for products .
• Walkers in Beaumont Leys is the largest crisp factory in the world !
• In the UK there are 8 , 000 new food products introduced to market every year !
What Work Leicestershire
What could you earn ? *
Baker
On the web
Skills & qualities
Food scientist Production engineer Quality assurance technician Food production operative Consumer analyst
Useful subjects
Local employers include
• Hancocks Topco ( confectionery )
• Walkers
• Cott Beverages
• Samworth Brothers
• Everards
www . tastesuccess . co . uk www . tastycareers . org . uk www . careersinfoodanddrink . co . uk www . leicesterfoodpark . co . uk
£ 15K- £ 45K £ 20K- £ 45K £ 22K- £ 45K £ 22K- £ 35K £ 14K- £ 24K
£ 20K- £ 50K
• Pukka Pies
• Big Bear Confectionary
• Belvoir Fruit Farms
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