On Tuesday, Defra secretary Liz Truss unveiled plans for new ‘food degree apprenticeships’ that will provide on the job training and degree-level education for young people entering the food and drink sector.

The three apprenticeships – spearheaded by the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink (NSAFD) – are being developed, with a focus on ‘food engineering’, ‘Food Science’ and ‘Dairy Technology’. The announcement follows a 2015 pledge by the government and Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which represents the interests of large food companies, to increase the number of apprenticeships from 1 percent to 3% of work positions by 2020.

A NSAFD spokesperson said that, of the three areas of focus, Dairy Tech apprenticeships will begin this October, with the first batch of Food Science and Food Engineering apprentices being taken on next year.

Unveiling the food degree apprenticeships plan on Tuesday, Liz Truss used the occasion to restate her support for leader David Cameron’s position on EU membership. Truss highlighted the importance of the EU market to British food and agriculture; around 60% of Britain’s food and drink exports (worth £11bn) go to the EU. Truss said maintaining Britain’s “World leading food and farming industry is dependent on continued access to the EU market with no barriers.”

The environment secretary said,  “We have a proud heritage in food innovation – from Fry’s first ever chocolate bar to HP Sauce. Today we outstrip France and Germany when it comes to exciting new food and drink inventions. Food and farming should be a top career destination for our young people, as prestigious as medicine, as fun and stimulating as the gaming industry and as cutting-edge as London’s Tech City.

“We are already seeing more skilled workers enter the industry – rising faster than other areas of manufacturing – and these new degree apprenticeship schemes will provide an even brighter future in an industry that generates billions of pounds for our growing economy.”

Companies expanding their apprenticeship programmes include Mars, which currently employs 53 apprentices and plans to recruit 28 more in 2016, Nestlé’s - which took on 46 apprentices in 2015 - and Premier Foods.

Angela Coleshill, Director of Competitiveness at FDF, commented, “We know that there are significant skills challenges facing our industry, from an ageing workforce to talent shortages and specific technical skills gaps. Left unaddressed, these challenges risk undermining future productivity improvements in our sector.”