skills acTion Plan for The food and Beverage secTor - Department of ...

INTRODUCTION
Background
Food and beverage is one of the sectors identified under
the Growth and Innovation Framework (GIF) as being key
to New Zealand moving up the GDP per capita ranking of
OECD member countries. The food and beverage sector is
pivotal to the economy’s growth and export trade. There
is already a high level of interaction occurring between
government agencies and the sector.
In 2004, Cabinet agreed that a Food and Beverage
Taskforce be established with supporting working groups
to create a three to five year “Development Agenda” for
the sector. The Agenda would include bold targets and
secure stakeholders’ ownership and commitment to
implementing it. The ideal outcome of the taskforce would
be that the resources of industry, government, science
and education are focused in partnership to deliver
faster, smarter, and more sustainable growth in the food
and beverage sector.
The Skills Working Group is one of three working groups
that report to the Food and Beverage Taskforce. The
working group’s outcomes and work programme priorities
are outlined below:
OUTCOMES SOUGHT
• Current and prospective employees view the sector as a career destination of choice.
• Employers are able to attract sufficient numbers of suitably skilled and motivated employees to meet labour
supply needs of an expanding and diversifying sector.
• Employers and employees are able to innovate in the sector and achieve high performing labour and skills
sytems.
WORK PROGRAMME
Priority 1: Better Labour Market Information
• Forcasting framework, productivity study, science and technology adoption research and skill shortage
assessments.
Priority 2: More Strategic Investment in Training
• Skills and training (workplace practices, community awareness, changing occupations, quality and relevance).
Priority 3: Attractive Careers
• High quality workplaces and careers opportunities
• Integration of PhD students into food and beverage companies
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