What if the key to tackling rising workforce costs and unlocking peak performance isn’t just about technical skills, but something more human?
With nearly half of Scottish food & drink businesses (48%) expanding their workforce last year, and a significant 75% facing rising staff costs, the need for efficient and effective teams has never been greater.
The answer, according to industry leaders, lies in nurturing the often-overlooked “life skills” of the workforce.
New resources
The Feeding Workforce Skills project has launched a powerful new set of resources to help employers cultivate the essential life skills that drive innovation, collaboration and ultimately, success.
“We’re looking for jobs that are interesting and engaging, so any employer that can offer a healthy balance is a really attractive proposition,” said 26-year-old chocolate entrepreneur Finlay MacDonald, owner of Chocolates of Glenshiel.
Finlay, who actively engages with his team of 16, shared his insights as part of the new Feeding Workforce Life Skills podcast series.
This initiative, the third phase of the ongoing Feeding Workforce Skills project by the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership’s Skills Advisory Group, provides employer-facing resources designed to help businesses develop both their own life skills and those of their wider workforce.
The aim is to encourage employers to re-evaluate life skills, explore new approaches, attitudes, and initiatives, ultimately positioning them as an “employer of choice”.
Podcast series: a deep dive into life skills from leaders to future talent
The podcast series explores life skills through three distinct lenses: leadership, organisational culture and the next generation.
The first episode features compelling conversations with managing directors who have successfully harnessed and fostered life skills within their organisations: Lewis MacLean (Macleans Highland Bakery), Paul Thomson (JK Thomson Premier Seafood) and Alan Baxter (Rowan Glen). The discussion reveals how these leaders inspire their teams and drive success through these essential skills.
The second podcast delves into the art of building high-performing teams with insights from seasoned professionals renowned for their people skills: Martyn Beard (Associated Seafood), Sharon Blyfield (Coca-Cola) and Kerry Campbell (8Doors Distillery).
Kerry Campbell, co-founder of John O’Groats-based 8Doors Distillery, underscores the fundamental importance of these skills: “Life skills are essential,” she said.
“We are a small business making a single malt Scotch whisky, and the distillation process itself is very technical.
“If that’s all we had, we’d have a great whisky, but we still wouldn’t have a business because you need all of the life skills to turn that skilfully handcrafted product into something that you can sell to customers.”
Businesses are seeking better communication, collaboration, initiative, adaptability, curiosity and critical thinking – all hallmarks of strong life skills.
The final podcast looks to the future, featuring conversations with dynamic rising stars under 35: Eilidh Wynd (of Simon Howie), Finlay MacDonald (Chocolates of Glenshiel) and Imogen Sherrit (Highland Spring).
Their experiences offer valuable lessons for engaging and developing the next generation of talent. Expert insights are also shared by Sarah Smith of lightbulb.coach.
Four interlinked guides: practical pathways to workforce development
Complementing the podcasts, four interlinked guidance articles provide a comprehensive overview of life skills and signpost employers and employees to valuable resources such as webinars and guides.
These articles provide actionable insights to help food and drink employers:
- understand the importance of life skills in driving business success
- identify and cultivate these essential skills within their existing workforce
- integrate life skills considerations into their recruitment processes
- create a supportive environment that fosters continuous development
These free resources – available at https://www.foodeducationscotland.scot/life-skills – offer practical approaches to integrating life skills development into your business strategy.
The podcasts can be found at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1123904 – or by searching for “Feeding Workforce Life Skills” on any podcast platform.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a competitive edge by fostering a skilled, engaged, and future-ready workforce. Explore the full resources here: https://www.foodeducationscotland.scot/feeding-workforce-skills
