Food Businesses Urged to Have Their Say on New Building Block Standards

Phil Black - PII Editor 17/06/2015

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Industry skills body the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink is urging food businesses across the UK to have their say on new building block standards designed to drive professional job performance in crucial food technologist and food engineering roles.

The Academy has issued an open invite for food firms to get involved in a summer-long review of National Occupational Standards (NOS) in the two areas. Business involvement will ensure the benchmark industry standards of performance and knowledge keep pace with changing industry needs and effective working practices.

“Food Technologists are the lifeblood of product innovation while efficient engineers are key to efficient production in an increasingly automated environment. Strong business input is critical to NOS underpinning these roles,” said Justine Fosh, Academy CEO.

NOS set down industry expectations of performance and achievement and the specific knowledge and skills staff need to perform effectively. They form the basis of industry qualifications and are used to inform professional development as well as resource management.

In Scotland, where there is currently no food industry designed Modern Apprenticeship in engineering, industry agreement to revised NOS will lift the starting gate on establishment of a food and drink engineering maintenance qualification and apprenticeship.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, NOS will be used to underpin existing Apprenticeships and qualifications, inform future qualifications and ensure learning content remains fit for purpose.

“Advances in production technology, demand for new product development and constant prioritisation of food safety and quality has brought change and new requirements into Food Technologist roles,” said Fosh

“New NOS for Food Technologists will help plug gaps in apprenticeship training and bring qualification learning up to date while qualifications in Engineering specific to the food industry will be founded on NOS and need to continue to reflect the unique needs of the food industry in changing times.

“There is an industry skills shortage in both of these areas and contributing to NOS development is a great way for businesses to be part of the wider solution,” Fosh continued. “The best way to secure these skills is to ‘grow your own’ by helping to confirm the NOS that attractive apprenticeships can then be built around.”

The Academy is inviting experienced food technologists and engineers to give their views by agreeing to take part in telephone interviews or short workplace face-to-face meetings with NOS Review staff. Those able to devote more time have the option of attending one of two summer NOS review meetings.

The results will then be shared with the industry for wider comment prior to sign off later this year by relevant Government regulatory bodies including the UK Commissions for Employment & Skills in England, The Scottish Qualifications Authority, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of Education & Lifelong Learning in Northern Ireland.