Claire Martin, an advisory manager at Grant Thornton UK in Scotland makes appeal for youthful entrepreneurial input into Scotland’s vital £14 billion industry

We hear a lot at the moment about the challenges facing the Scottish economy. With Brexit edging closer, there are real fears about what lies ahead and Scotland’s food and drink sector is certainly no stranger to that uncertainty.

The industry has been flourishing for some time, driven by greater collaboration and a passionate push to create a single ‘Brand Scotland’. Organisations like Scotland Food & Drink (SF&D) have helped to bring together long-established firms and small start-ups, removing many of the barriers to international growth, and it’s paid off: the sector is now worth more than £14 billion to Scotland’s economy, with bold aspirations to double in size by 2030.

The seismic effects of Brexit could seriously damage those ambitions, particularly in the areas of international exporting and access to a skilled global workforce. However, there is a sense that no challenge – regardless of its scale – will hold back the resilience and determination of an industry that can, and should, be considered a key part of Scotland’s growth story.

Tackling the challenges ahead will be the key to ensuring the continued success of Scotland’s food and drink sector, and that’s exactly what business leaders have started to do. I heard from a number of industry and public sector leaders at the SF&D annual conference recently and – naturally – Brexit, particularly in the context of the sector’s future labour requirements to meet its 2030 target, was a key concern raised both in presentations and subsequent discussions with other attendees and speakers. There was widespread agreement that future growth can be driven by encouraging more entrepreneurial young people into the sector, and it was encouraging to see in Scotland’s Year of Young People that there was a host of young leaders willing to speak so passionately about the sector and its future as part of a panel session on the day.

Initiatives such as the Young Talent award are helping to raise awareness of the opportunities available to future business disruptors, but much more could be done to ensure that the food and drink sector is seen by young people as a viable future career choice which offers sufficient opportunity for career progression.

Access to a talented workforce is already proving to be a challenge for many leading businesses, a business risk that is only expected to increase post-Brexit. We need to make sure we are providing our young people with the right opportunities to reach their potential within the food and sector, as well as wider opportunities within the hospitality sector that build on a key message of Scotland Food & Drink - promoting the provenance of Scotland’s produce. This will require a co-ordinated approach to training, including political and business leaders.

Recently appointed ‘Scotland’s national chef’, Gary MacLean is one example of tapping into the talent that already exists here as a means to inspire the next generation. The former Masterchef winner has very publically chosen to remain in Scotland, rather than heading south of the border, in order to continue his work as a college lecturer developing tomorrow’s talent. In this role he is committed to promoting Scottish produce: building up the message of the importance of provenance. This is a key justification for producers to be able to command a premium on quality Scottish products and is another means to not only promote the sector as a career path but also, in the longer term, will be a contributing factor to further job creation as those in Scotland and elsewhere further buy in to the want for Scottish produce.

It is only one example, but there are many other inspirational stories that provide a sense of optimism about the future. We’ve heard much about the success of Brand Scotland for our export market, but are we doing enough to take it to schools and colleges? Are young people truly aware of the opportunities that exist in this booming industry?

Upcoming significant political change will bring a raft of challenges to Scotland’s food and drink sector, but a strategic approach driven by a commitment to drive new talent in the industry should ensure long term future success.