The recruiter...

David Macauley, managing director, Eden Search & Select

Assomeone who would like to think of themselves as still young (35!), and so I truly believe this industry has some fantastic opportunities for great talent to progress. As an executive search specialist we cover many sectors across the food and drink industry and the problem isn’t unique to fresh produce.

My view is we need to work harder at communicating the benefits and opportunities this industry can present to young people, rather than focusing on the challenges and pressures we tend to talk about. The reality is it doesn’t matter if you’re a retailer, supplier, grower or in logistics, the UK food industry is a 24/7 business, but it’s the best in the world and develops some of the finest talent that other countries aspire to attract. It is also massively short of young talent. Few other industries can offer a young person a fast-track progression to senior management or directorship within 10 years. If you have the commitment and talent the rewards are there to match any industry, but the message is getting lost as we don’t communicate this opportunity as an industry to universities and schools.

There are some great companies bucking the trend, but I believe we need to be braver with the message and encourage companies to shout about their successes, and individuals to tell their stories of rapid progression and provide the next generation with the role models to show what can be done. If we can present this powerful message in a clear, modern and transparent way, we will have a chance to really connect with the future leaders the fresh produce sector desperately needs.

The grower...

Joe Rolfe, general manager, Taylorgrown

Fresh produce can offer such wide and diverse career opportunities – why wouldn’t you want to take up the challenge and be a part of it? When I first got involved within the sector I got hooked very quickly. There are so many aspects to learn and be a part of, all the way through the supply chain, from farm to shelf. I have personally gone down the growing side, but I am still able to get involved in all the other processes from processing raw material, packing, marketing and strategy.

On the growing front, there is so much technology and science involved it is challenging, rewarding and exciting. Farming is no longer a last choice. The variety of technology now ranges from camera-guided hoes to GPS satellite steering, which can then link into your farm software to co-ordinate and record all operations on the farm. We need young, talented men and women to help manage and drive through these new technologies. We have digital weather stations that record rainfall and soil moisture to help manage irrigation, and these all link in to the farm management system. Drones are helping us to make efficiency savings when it comes to agronomy and harvesting. And these are barely scratching the surface.

There are some real technical challenges that occur on a daily basis, whether that is in the field or in the packhouse, where standards are ever increasing. One minute you can be up to your knees in mud, the next discussing pest management strategy, organising the farm team, sorting out paperwork, managing your budgets and farm accounts, doing audits, or showcasing your farm to your customers – which is probably the most rewarding of all. And at the end of it all, I can walk into a shop and pick up a bag of veg with my name on.

The retailer...

Johnathan Sutton, technical manager, Marks and Spencer

I have been involved in the agri-food industry for over 30 years and have always valued the balance of experience with new thinking and views. The education system is well placed to supply high calibre students into the food industry, and food retail has numerous opportunities within the wide scope of this business. I work with universities on both sides of this sector – the agri side and the food science side – as we need to ensure that science is maintained throughout the food chain.

Retail is appealing to young people by offering an opportunity to work in a very innovative and inspirational environment – you have the chance to see new products on sale and available to millions of consumers in every town in the country and globally. The variety of roles from product development, buying, merchandising, stock management, technical and agronomy gives a wide scope for young people to forge a career within the most exciting area of food, which sees the complete end-to-end journey.

It’s important that we encourage young people to apply for roles in retail, so that we are building a team that will deliver a brighter future for years to come and continue to deliver the brand values and challenge the meaning, as times change. I am a Bright Crop and Stemnet ambassador supporting schools and colleges to see the wide scope of this industry and the opportunities that are often unseen, so that the next generation can enjoy working in this business, as I have, and the industry is in great shape for the future.

The supplier...

Tom Amery, managing director, The Watercress Company (TWC)

There has been never a better opportunity to join the progressive, dynamic and varied industry that is fresh produce.

The reason for this is that we have an abundance of jobs with a lack of suitable candidates. Only 20 years ago there were many colleges throughout the UK offering a range of skills, from production through to crop science. Many senior individuals in the industry, currently responsible for the recruitment of the bright stars of the next 40 years, started their career in these colleges. Over the years there has been a decline in the number of courses offered, but fortunately there are some signs recently that this situation is improving. As a school leaver at 15, an NVQ advocate and then graduate from Writtle College, I joined TWC and have been able to progress and develop under the guidance of a fantastic mentor.

The opportunity in the horticultural industry is immense as the nature of the business becomes ever more technical. The industry has the ability to attract a huge range of skills from other sectors and this has insulated horticulture to some extent from the lack of primary expertise coming out of the educational system. However, as we exit the recession, we cannot rely on other sectors to train our recruits.

Fresh produce businesses need to look closer to home to ensure their companies are recruiting locally and get involved in the provision of training in the workplace and at specialist colleges. I recently took on this opportunity first hand at Kingston Maurward College in Dorset, committing to three years of support and direction on behalf of TWC – three months in and my only regret is that I didn’t join earlier.

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