Key members of the baking industry have formed a committee designed to tackle the ongoing issue of recruitment and retention in the sector.
The committee was created following a meeting held last month at UK Flour Millers office in London. Here, representatives from major bakery trade bodies and other organisations gathered to discuss how to make bakery an attractive sector for people of all ages to build a career in.
The ultimate goal is to maintain a healthy pipeline of talent for business of all sizes, from craft bakers through to large manufacturers, to ensure the industry thrives for generations to come.
It was highlighted that there is a 5% vacancy rate across bakery manufacturing with the Craft Bakers Association noting that its members are always looking for employees. Attendees also heard how only 164 baker apprentices started in England in 2024, with just under 1,000 since 2018.
“The central focus of our discussion revolved around the resources currently available to support bakery education, both financially and physically,” explained Lucas Fussnegger, director of consultancy Fussnegger Ltd, who organised the meeting. “We learned about the various education programmes designed to help students develop their skills, and it was clear that while these programmes are invaluable, there is room for improvement, particularly in terms of outreach and awareness.”
As such, a committee has been formed. Members of the committee are as follows:
- Andrew Pyne, chief executive, Federation of Bakers
- Lesley Cameron, chief executive, Scottish Bakers
- Lucas Fussnegger, director, Fussnegger Ltd (chair)
- Sara Autton, technical bakery consultant and representative of the Alliance for Bakery Students and Trainees (ABST)
- Shirley Ryder, finance director, Craft Bakers Association
- Terry Fennell, chief executive, FDQ
- Tim Clarkson, managing director UK & Ireland, Dawn Foods, and representative of the Association of Bakery Ingredient Manufacturers (ABIM)
The next steps will see the committee meet and formulate a strategy with an aim to present its plans at the ABST conference in June 2025.
This includes promoting apprenticeships, which Fussnegger describes as “a crucial entry point for many students”, to make them more visible and accessible and attract the right students to university and college courses. It also intends to increase graduate retention in the industry and to secure funding to support these efforts which “will be a critical topic in our upcoming committee meetings, as additional financial resources could greatly enhance our ability to deliver on our goals”.
“I feel incredibly optimistic about what we can achieve together. The level of engagement and commitment from everyone in attendance was truly remarkable, and I believe we are on the cusp of making a real difference in the lives of students and trainees,” said Fussnegger.
“However, I also recognise that we have a lot of work ahead of us. Formulating a strategy, securing funding, and ensuring successful implementation will require collaboration, creativity, and perseverance. But I am confident that with the team we have in place, we are more than capable of meeting these challenges head-on.”
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