The Tasty Careers Schools Challenge 2026, an exciting competition designed to spark creativity and teamwork among pupils across Wales, has once again showcased the incredible talent and innovation of young people in the food and drink sector.
The Tasty Careers School Challenge, delivered by the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD) Wales in partnership with Welsh Government Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales programme and Careers Wales, aims to raise awareness of the exciting career opportunities within Wales’ thriving food and drink industry. Supporters of this year’s Schools Challenge include Kepak, Dunbia, Leprino and Castell Howell.
This year’s challenge invited participants to work in teams to design a new healthy food or drink product using as much local Welsh produce as possible. The brief required students to create a product that delivers clear health benefits, is sustainable, and commercially viable. Each team also developed an original brand name, logo, and slogan, presenting their ideas in a 500g/ml package to a panel of expert judges.
Tasty Careers 2026 attracted 28 entrants and 168 students this year, contributing to a total of 121 entrants, with over 4,900 pupils participating from schools nationwide since 2018.
Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, said:
“Congratulations to all the finalists of the Tasty Careers Schools Challenge 2026. They’ve shown incredible creativity, teamwork and ambition in designing healthy, sustainable products using the very best of Welsh produce. Competitions like this - delivered by The National Skills Academy with the support of Welsh Governments Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales programme, Careers Wales and our industry partners - play an important role in helping young people discover the exciting career opportunities across Wales’ thriving food and drink sector. I hope that they will carry this feeling with them as they make exciting choices about their future career and consider bringing their talents to Wales’s vibrant food and drink industry.”
Louise Cairns, CEO for NSAFD/Tasty Careers, said:
“The 2026 Tasty Careers School Challenge has been an incredible success. I’ve been truly inspired by the creativity, passion, and professionalism shown by every team. The standard this year has been exceptional, and it’s a privilege to see so many young people showcasing the talent and innovation that will shape the future of our industry.”
Kate Rees, Programme Manager for the Welsh Government Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales programme, added:
“We’re delighted to have supported the 2026 Tasty Careers School Challenge. It’s fantastic to see so many young people engaging with the food and drink industry and demonstrating such creativity and enthusiasm. Initiatives like this are vital for inspiring the next generation and showcasing the exciting career opportunities our sector has to offer.”
The competition has been running since 2018, with finals this year taking place in North, South and West Wales.
Congratulations to all the regional winners!
Mae Her Ysgolion Gyrfaoedd Blasus 2026, cystadleuaeth gyffrous a gynlluniwyd i sbarduno creadigrwydd a gwaith tîm ymhlith disgyblion ledled Cymru, wedi arddangos unwaith eto dalent ac arloesedd anhygoel pobl ifanc yn y sector bwyd a diod.
Nod Her Ysgolion Gyrfaoedd Blasus, a gyflwynir gan yr Academi Sgiliau Genedlaethol ar gyfer Bwyd a Diod (NSAFD) Cymru mewn partneriaeth â rhaglen Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru Llywodraeth Cymru a Gyrfaoedd Cymru, yw codi ymwybyddiaeth o'r cyfleoedd gyrfa cyffrous o fewn diwydiant bwyd a diod ffyniannus Cymru. Mae cefnogwyr Her Ysgolion eleni yn cynnwys Kepak, Dunbia, Leprino a Castell Howell.
Gwahoddodd her eleni gyfranogwyr i weithio mewn timau i ddylunio cynnyrch bwyd neu ddiod iach newydd gan ddefnyddio cymaint o gynnyrch lleol Cymreig â phosibl. Roedd y briff yn gofyn i fyfyrwyr greu cynnyrch sy'n darparu manteision iechyd clir, sy'n gynaliadwy, ac yn fasnachol hyfyw. Datblygodd pob tîm enw brand gwreiddiol, logo, a slogan hefyd, gan gyflwyno eu syniadau mewn pecyn 500g/ml i banel o feirniaid arbenigol.
Denodd Gyrfaoedd Blasus 2026, 28 o ymgeiswyr a 168 o fyfyrwyr eleni, gan gyfrannu at gyfanswm o 121 o ymgeiswyr, gyda dros 4,900 o ddisgyblion yn cymryd rhan o ysgolion ledled y wlad ers 2018.
Dywedodd Huw Irranca-Davies, Dirprwy Brif Weinidog ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig:
“Llongyfarchiadau i bawb a gyrhaeddodd rownd derfynol Her Ysgolion Gyrfaoedd Blasus 2026. Maent wedi dangos creadigrwydd, gwaith tîm ac uchelgais anhygoel wrth ddatblygu cynhyrchion iach a chynaliadwy gan ddefnyddio’r cynnyrch gorau o Gymru. Mae cystadlaethau fel hyn - a gyflwynir gan yr Academi Sgiliau Genedlaethol gyda chefnogaeth rhaglen Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru Llywodraeth Cymru, Gyrfaoedd Cymru a’n partneriaid yn y diwydiant - yn chwarae rhan bwysig wrth helpu pobl ifanc i ddarganfod y cyfleoedd gyrfa cyffrous ar draws sector bwyd a diod ffyniannus Cymru.
Rwy’n gobeithio y byddant yn cario’r teimlad hwn gyda nhw wrth iddynt wneud dewisiadau cyffrous am eu gyrfa yn y dyfodol, ac ystyried dod â’u talentau i ddiwydiant bwyd a diod bywiog Cymru.”
Dywedodd Louise Cairns, Prif Swyddog Gweithredol NSAFD/Gyrfaoedd Blasus:
“Mae Her Ysgolion Gyrfaoedd Blasus 2026 wedi bod yn llwyddiant anhygoel. Rwyf wedi cael fy ysbrydoli’n fawr gan y creadigrwydd, yr angerdd, a’r proffesiynoldeb a ddangoswyd gan bob tîm. Mae’r safon eleni wedi bod yn eithriadol, ac mae’n fraint gweld cymaint o bobl ifanc yn arddangos y dalent a’r arloesedd a fydd yn llunio dyfodol ein diwydiant.”
Ychwanegodd Kate Rees, Rheolwr Rhaglen Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru Llywodraeth Cymru:
“Rydym wrth ein bodd ein bod wedi cefnogi Her Ysgol Gyrfaoedd Blasus 2026. Mae'n wych gweld cymaint o bobl ifanc yn ymgysylltu â'r diwydiant bwyd a diod ac yn dangos cymaint o greadigrwydd a brwdfrydedd. Mae mentrau fel hyn yn hanfodol ar gyfer ysbrydoli'r genhedlaeth nesaf ac arddangos y cyfleoedd gyrfa cyffrous sydd gan ein sector i'w cynnig.”
Mae'r gystadleuaeth wedi bod yn rhedeg ers 2018, gyda rowndiau terfynol eleni yn cael eu cynnal yng Ngogledd, De a Gorllewin Cymru.
Llongyfarchiadau i'r holl enillwyr rhanbarthol!
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