Why do some candidates favor the automotive, FMCG, retail or pharmaceuticals industries over the food industry?
Certainly we might have some views on recruitment - but come on - the food industry? The biggest manufacturing sector in the UK - a world leader, a centre of excellence and market knowledge. And yet still economic reports and media channels ignore the sector as little more than a small trifling . The same media experts doff their caps, quite rightly, to the mighty retailers, but do not see the connection or relationships and importance of a strong and vibrant supply base. A sector that has increased employment in the last two years; a sector that is growing; a sector that demands our continual attention as consumers as we buy for our three meals a day.
It also seems to have passed many graduates by as well who don't see the tremendous careers on offer in food manufacturing or retail as something to consider with their 2:1 and 1st class degrees. Perhaps they can't get past the sartorial fear of hair nets and wellies...
Maybe our food manufacturing supply base is more highly regarded abroad? Recently we have entered into projects in India and America, where British food manufacturing expertise is greatly in demand and well rewarded.
In recruitment terms it is true that a lot of the food industry sees it as low cost transactional activity. Quite right you might say as would we if you just want CVs off job boards. But (and there is a BIG but here) we recently completed a really key project for a Client - a business that was the "sick child" of their sector who needed true strategic thought and consultative advice from us. A recent news release from them seems to sum up how important truly effective recruitment proved to be.
They say the "business was restructured during 2009 with the creation of a single leadership team and the reinforcement of our management capability through a number of experienced hires to key positions. These changes are starting to show results with sales in the second quarter up. The first half has seen the launch of 87 new products, representing almost one third of our range, compared with 28 in the same period last year. Not only have we launched more products but they have been extremely well received by our customers and by consumers. In many cases the initial demand being more than double our expectation."
So I think its time all those who are serious about the food industry stuck their chests out and helped make people understand how important the retail and manufacturing sectors are to UK plc and how essential outstanding recruitment is to achieve the goals.

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