National Manager -Scotland

I’m Kelvin, National Manager, Scotland for Improve a role I have fulfilled for the last five years. Prior to that I was a Technical Manager involved in the manufacture and packaging of beverages. I have always been interested in working with the Products, Processes and People that are involved in Food & Drink.

In Scotland, Food & Drink is being seen as more and more important as an economic contributor in terms of its turnover, employment and it’s potential to grow further. With the ongoing challenges of the economic slowdown, increasing interest in local/quality products, the need to enhance our food security as well as the need to look to our longer term sustainability this importance is going to increase further.
Our work in Scotland involves understanding the employers in the different sub-sectors especially Bakery, Meat & Poultry, Fish and Beverages which account for the bulk of activity as well as employment. We maintain regular dialogue with the key Trade Associations as well as Scotland Food & Drink to whom we act as the Skills lead.

With Education and Skills Policy devolved to the Scottish Parliament we play an important role in terms of informing Scottish Government, MSP’s and Public Bodies about the key workforce development issues, priorities and challenges that our employers have and work to ensure that support and resources are channelled to the areas that need it most.

We work closely with private and public training providers who deliver training to the current and future employees of the industry so that it best meets the needs of the businesses for whom it has been designed. The recently launched Scotland Food & Drink Skills Academy, which is linked to the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink, is a key part of our strategy to ensure that sufficient resources and expertise is focussed on the industry and can meet the increasing demand from employers’ for higher and more specialised skills.

It has been hugely rewarding to see the results and benefits arising from the greater industry participation in the Modern Apprenticeship programme via the Food Manufacture frameworks at Level II and III. Improve were instrumental in articulating the industry demand for greater flexibility in the Modern Apprenticeship programme and this has resulted in a sea change in the approach now being taken by the industry meaning that employers can train staff regardless of their age, on a programme that is relevant to their business and that can be delivered a place and time to suit their needs.

Through our Scottish newsletter, the tailored website and our new Scottish Employers Forum we aim to continue our work for the benefit of the Food & Drink industry in the years to come.   

Kelvin Thomson, National Manager Scotland