Our strategic activities focus on working collaboratively with key stakeholders across the food and drink industry to influence policy, promote skills development, and drive long‑term sector growth. Through our deep industry insight and strong relationships across the sector, we bring employers, government bodies and education partners together to shape a coherent skills agenda, champion employer needs and ensure the sector’s voice is heard at national level.
Our activity extends across all four nations, where we lead the development of National Occupational Standards (NOS), qualifications and apprenticeships on behalf of the industry. We work closely with the Welsh and Irish Governments on apprenticeship reform programmes, and sit on the board of Scotland Food and Drink to support the strategic direction of skills in Scotland.
Our monthly HR and Apprenticeship Forums are one of the most valuable benefits of the Employer Services Network, offering a unique space for employers to share best practice, discuss current challenges, and learn from one another. These sessions are attended by leading food and drink manufacturers and regularly feature expert speakers from across the sector, alongside key stakeholders such as Skills England, DEFRA and DWP.
In addition, we host two annual Apprenticeship Landscape Meetings that bring employers and stakeholders together to showcase successes, explore emerging skills policies and deepen collective understanding of the apprenticeship landscape. No other network offers this level of collaboration, insight and peer connection, and the feedback we receive reflects just how valuable these forums are for businesses across the sector.
Being part of the Employer Services Network mean you gain access to a number of consultancy days that can be used flexibly to support your specific needs. You may choose to work with a Skills Consultant on a particular challenge, explore opportunities to add greater value across your workforce strategy, or draw on specialist input from across our team. Together, we’ll identify the right support and match you with the most appropriate expert for your business. Consultancy days can be used for a wide range of activity, including apprenticeship advice and guidance (such as levy utilisation and selecting the right standards), developing early careers strategies, learning and development workshops, apprenticeship landscape overviews, and mentoring or coaching for apprentice managers.
We identify and help you select the right training providers for your business, managing the entire tendering process on your behalf. Our team handles all provider engagement, facilitates selection presentations, and develops clear assessment criteria, removing the hassle and ensuring you choose the best-fit partner for your programme.
Our NSAFD online learning programmes are created in partnership with leading food and drink manufacturers, with every course written and reviewed by subject matter experts from across the industry. Already widely used throughout the sector, our content is refreshed annually by industry representatives to ensure it stays fully aligned with current knowledge needs and best practice. We also offer our own Food Safety Level 3 and HACCP Level 3 courses, available to businesses within the Employer Services Network at discounted rates. As part of the Network, your business will receive an additional 20% discount across our full suite of third‑party online courses, giving you cost‑effective access to high‑quality training
Tasty Careers connects your business with the next generation of talent through a national outreach programme that helps employers showcase real career pathways, inspire young people, and highlight the breadth of opportunities within the food and drink industry. By giving you a platform to tell your story, whether through the Tasty Careers Ambassadors Programme or the hands‑on Tasty Schools Challenge, it bridges the awareness gap, sparks interest in the skills our sector needs for the future, and strengthens your long‑term talent pipeline. It’s a simple, high‑impact way to build visibility, engage schools and colleges, and contribute to a positive, unified message about the industry.
The Tasty Careers Ambassadors Programme gives your employees the chance to become powerful advocates for the sector. Ambassadors visit schools and colleges to share their own career journeys, talk about the roles within your business, and bring the industry to life through real‑world examples.
For employers, it’s a practical and meaningful way to:
Ambassadors receive guidance and resources to help them deliver engaging sessions, making it easy for any business to get involved, regardless of size or experience.
The Tasty Schools Challenge is a hands‑on, creative competition that brings industry and education together. Schools work on real‑world food and drink challenges set by employers, giving students a taste of innovation, teamwork, and problem‑solving within the sector.
For businesses, the Challenge offers a unique opportunity to:
It’s a fun, high‑energy way to connect with young people while highlighting the creativity and technical expertise that drive the industry forward.
Whether you want to share your job vacancies on the website, train Ambassadors through the Programme, or take part in the Schools Challenge, Tasty Careers gives your business a powerful platform to shape perceptions, inspire future talent, and strengthen the sector’s long‑term skills pipeline.
Simply enter your details to request a copy of the T Level Toolkit for Employers in the Food & Drink Sector.
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