The Future Bakers Council is on a mission to fix the baking industry’s recruitment and retention problem by inspiring the next generation of bakery professionals.
That’s no easy feat considering recruitment and retention are frequently among the top challenges highlighted by firms of all sizes, something which is compounded by Brexit and the pandemic. It’s a complex situation, particularly at a time when rising minimum wage and changes to National Insurance mean more costs are being levelled at businesses and, as a result, customers.
Nevertheless, the Council is clear that ensuring a pipeline of future talent will be essential to the industry’s ability to adapt and thrive for many years to come.
What is the Future Bakers Council?
So, what is the Future Bakers Council and how is it planning to achieve this?
The initiative was first introduced last autumn when key members from the baking industry, including representatives from trade bodies, education providers and assesses, as well as other organisations, formed a committee designed to tackle the ongoing issue.
Now, six months later and with a name formalised, the Council is ready to take its next steps.
The purpose of the Future Bakers Council is simple – to inspire the next generation of bakery professionals. Achieving it is a bit more complex but can be boiled down to its vision to ‘establish the bakery sector as a career destination of choice. Attract, nurture and retain talented bakery professionals who will drive innovation and excellence in the industry’.
“Our work focuses on inspiring the next generation of bakery professionals by promoting the industry as a viable and rewarding career path,” explained Lucas Fussnegger, director of consultancy Fussnegger Ltd and chair of the Future Bakers Council. “We’re addressing a lack of visibility around bakery careers, gaps in training provision, and the need for a stronger pipeline of talent that aligns with emerging technology and industry needs.”
This will involve cultivating an environment where all bakery professionals, from apprentices to business leaders, can ‘thrive, learn, and develop their skills’.
“Since the last update, we’ve defined a clear strategic framework including our purpose, vision, and mission. We’ve also developed a structured delivery plan that includes industry-wide surveys to assess current recruitment and retention challenges,” explained Fussnegger. “Engagement has increased with key stakeholders, and collaborative actions are now underway to map training pathways and identify capability gaps across the sector.”
How can the industry help?
The immediate next step for the Future Bakers Council is to launch surveys for the industry and educational institutions to better understand the current environment. This includes finding out the current and future needs of the industry, understanding graduate retention rates and the reasons behind why some students stay in bakery and others don’t, and also identifying the barriers to baker recruitment and retention.
“These insights will inform targeted initiatives to support skills development, career progression, and talent retention. We’re also working on promoting the benefits of bakery education and creating clearer career pathways for both new entrants and existing employees,” added Fussnegger.
There are several ways depending on where in the industry you are. They are:
- Industry members can contribute to surveys, share insight on workforce needs, and support the development of career pathways within their organisations
- Education providers can engage by sharing feedback on graduate destinations and collaborating on curriculum development
- Students and career changers can explore apprenticeship opportunities, join promotional events, and access resources to learn more about careers in baking.
All stakeholders are encouraged to champion the industry, promote available opportunities, and help shape the future of bakery education and training.
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