UK’s first food engineering degree announced

Sheffield Hallam University will partner with the UK food and drink industry to deliver the country’s first dedicated food and drink engineering degree, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) announced on Monday.

In April, the FDF, along with the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink and Improve, invited UK universities to compete to develop the degree to address the industry shortage of food and beverage engineers. Following a rigorous selection process, Sheffield Hallam was selected to develop the degree.

The FDF says the UK food and drink industry needs to recruit 137,000 new employees between 2007 and 2017, with new recruits needing knowledge of cutting-edge food and beverage manufacturing technology and the scientific aspects of food and drink production.

“This is an important milestone in redressing gaps in provision for our industry,” said Justine Fosh, Executive Director of the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink.

Increasing use of automation in the food industry has led to a need for higher skill levels, Fosh said.

“This activity demonstrates the importance of the industry coming together to support new developments to ensure that they are appropriate to industry needs and sustainable for the future.”

“Sheffield Hallam demonstrated both the skills but also the willingness to listen to industry and develop a new partnership for the future,” Fosh said.

Sheffield Hallam hopes to accept the first food and drink engineering students in September 2014. The food industry has committed to offering work placements for graduates.