FDF Scotland – Scottish Food and Drink Ambassadors

suzannetrain Published August 7, 2024

The demand for STEM skills in the Scottish food & drink industry has reached a critical point.  From existing businesses to vertical farming and alternative sources of protein to 3D food printing and digital innovation, we need to invest in future skills and engage young people with the career opportunities offered by science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills.

We are working with STEM Ambassadors in Scotland to develop a network of food & drink ambassadors to inspire the next generation and make the food and drink sector a career destination of choice.

What is a Food and Drink STEM Ambassador?

An ambassador brings different aspects of the Food and Drink sector to life by talking about everyday experiences at career events, classroom lessons, site visits, STEM focused events and workshops for young people, teachers, career influencers. Through this activity the ambassador helps young people to understand how skills and qualifications in subjects such as sciences, technology and maths, as well as many others, are required for a wide range of careers in Food & Drink.

You or your team are already potentially a STEM Ambassador!

By engaging with the STEM Food and Drink Ambassador programme, you can make a real difference to young people’s perception of STEM subjects and careers while providing professional learning and development opportunities for you and your staff.

Benefits include:

• engaging directly with your local community to raise awareness of your business
• supporting your future talent pipeline and recruitment
• providing direct support to STEM teachers to make connections between subjects and the skills required by employers
• providing specific and sectoral careers information to young people and their influencers
• engaging and developing you and your staff
• engaging the media regionally and nationally
• promoting apprentice roles directly to schools and colleges
• making food & drink a career destination of choice

Support available

There is help through the whole process. STEM Ambassadors in Scotland offers your ambassadors:

• free training and support to enhance their volunteering, both online and face-to-face
• easy access to volunteering opportunities through the STEM Learning Hub
• access to resources suitable for all ages
• a free enhanced PVG check, safeguarding training and cover by the programme’s public liability insurance

In addition, the Food & Drink Ambassadors team can provide resources and support particularly relevant to the food & drink industry.

• capture your activity & impact in one place (individual, organisation, sector level)
• provide marketing support to raise the profile of your activity
• provide access to wider network of people passionate about the development of the industry – sharing of ideas, best practice, resources.

You can find out more about how to become a Food & Drink Ambassador by joining our members drop in session on 8^th August at 12.30 pm, you can register on the FDF website using the RSVP button below.