Welsh dairy firms plot future success

Representatives from companies including First Milk, Dairy Farmers of Britain, Rachel’s Organic, South Caernarfon Creameries, Llaeth Cymraeg, Bethesda, Llanboidy, Volac, plus some smaller artisan producers, gathered at Gelli Aur Dairy Development Centre in Wales.

They met with representatives of the Welsh Assembly Government, Dairy UK, the Wales Food Network and sector skills council Improve to discuss the future of the dairy industry in Wales.

High on the agenda was Project Eden, a UK-wide collaboration between the dairy industry and the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Manufacturing (which is part of Improve) to develop a world-class template for dairy training and qualifications reform for export across Europe.

Delegates at Gelli Aur agreed on the importance of having the interests of Wales’ £400m dairy industry formally represented as Project Eden progresses, and voted to meet regularly as the Welsh Dairy Processor Forum to offer feedback. But it was also agreed that the forum should take on a wider remit to work with Improve on all skills issues affecting Wales, and also with the Welsh Assembly Government on its Welsh Dairy Strategy.

Improve operations manager for Wales, Huw Rees, said: “This is a positive development for Wales. Food and drink is a major industry in Wales, but it’s facing some tough challenges. A third of workers in the industry have no qualifications, for example – double the UK average. If we want to raise productivity and profits, we need skilled, ambitious workers, which means we have to do more to offer good career opportunities by offering the right training and development. This requires collaboration across the board, and the dairy sector is setting the example.”

One of the speakers at the event, Joyce Stangoe of Dairy Farmers of Britain, said she hoped that the formation of the group would help give smaller dairy companies in Wales more of a voice. “It was an extremely useful event,” she said. “DFB is fully supportive of Project Eden. However, we feel this project needs to consider the needs of smaller companies, as well as the major dairy companies, and a coordinated response such as that being proposed in Wales will help give such producers a voice.

“I personally would also like to see the government make more money available to help small businesses take on apprentices or sponsor school leavers, as an alternative to keeping young people in school or college, to help in developing a more skilled work force. Again, I think a group like this will offer the kind of coordinated response the dairy industry in Wales needs to be heard on these issues.”