An independent review was conducted to address labour issues affecting the food and beverage industry in England. The review panel, led by G’s Fresh Group chairman John Shropshire, has made several recommendations to tackle these challenges effectively.
The report, called The Independent Review of Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain, was commissioned by the UK government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It highlights the need for greater access to migrant labour and has received positive feedback from organizations representing the food and agri-food sectors.
This review comes in response to mounting pressure on the UK government to address labour shortages, which have contributed to product shortages in supermarkets. The panel of industry veterans examined various crucial areas such as recruitment, retention, skills, automation, and trade balance to shed light on the complexities faced by the industry.
One significant recommendation relates to the lack of available workers from overseas for UK agri-food businesses. While not explicitly referring to Brexit, the report acknowledges the challenges related to reduced access to European Union workers. It proposes an overhaul of the Seasonal Worker Scheme, criticized by agri-food businesses for being inadequate.
The report recommends announcing a replacement scheme for the Seasonal Worker visa pilot by the end of 2023, ensuring the industry has a sufficient workforce to maintain domestic food production levels. To inspire business confidence and investments, the new scheme should be guaranteed for a minimum of five years or until the government can confidently source seasonal workers domestically. The report also suggests considering the removal of visa caps and extending visa durations to nine months, accounting for longer harvesting periods and including a three-month “cooling off” interval.
In addition, the authors propose creating a strategy to enhance the attractiveness of the food industry, including communication campaigns targeted at changing public perception and establishing campaigns to promote the sector as an investment rather than a mere expenditure for UK workforce. They also advocate for reforming the Apprenticeship Levy to improve workforce skills and support initiatives like the Skills Supply Collaboration and food career curriculum delivery.
The report emphasizes the need for a workforce data strategy, which should be developed by Defra in partnership with the Office for National Statistics and the Department for Education’s Unit for Future Skills. It also recommends incentivizing automation as a means to enhance productivity.
An Innovation “Moonshot”
Furthermore, the report recommends advancing automation knowledge and adopting an innovative approach as part of a “moonshot” initiative. The authors believe that implementing these recommendations collectively can lead to significant positive changes and enhance the resilience of the food supply chain.
The report has received praise from industry bodies representing the UK’s agri-food sectors. National Farmers’ Union deputy president Tom Bradshaw highlights the importance of improving access to skilled and motivated workers for British farmers to ensure domestic food security. Karen Betts, chief executive of The Food and Drink Federation, welcomes the report and its focus on addressing challenges while maintaining a sustainable and resilient supply chain.
