Soup Poster Stirring Up Interest in Schools

Scotland’s food and drink sector is the largest manufacturing industry in the country, yet the sheer variety of career paths it offers can often remain a mystery to those still in the classroom.

To bridge this gap, the Scotland Food & Drink (SF&D) Partnership’s Skills Advisory Group has launched an innovative new resource designed to catch the eye of the next generation of talent and to help career influencers, like teachers, understand the opportunities offered across the food supply chain.

A new A2 poster campaign - “Who makes a can of soup?” - is currently being distributed to all 360 publicly funded secondary schools across Scotland. This visual guide illustrates the complex “farm to spoon” journey of a humble tin of soup, highlighting the diverse array of professionals and skills required to bring a product to life.

Connecting Industry and Education

The project is a collaborative effort delivered through the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership alongside Education Scotland and Skills Development Scotland.

It also enlisted the help of Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) regional groups, leveraging its network of school coordinators. They have made sure the posters are being placed for the most impact: in teaching staff rooms, career hubs and classrooms ranging from home economics and business studies to the science labs.

The campaign serves a dual purpose. For pupils, it demystifies the industry by showcasing roles they may never have considered, from agronomists and new product development technologists to packaging designers and logistics specialists.

For educators and careers advisors, the poster features a prominent QR code that links directly to the food education portal at foodeducationscotland.scot.

This portal is a comprehensive hub for teaching resources that use food as a context for learning by linking the school curriculum to real-world applications in STEM, sustainability and business.

The campaign is also aligned with the “Find a Future in Food” toolkit, which was launched last year, and provides snappy statistics, inspirational personal stories and dynamic video content to further engage potential recruits.

A Strategic Vision for Skills

The Skills Advisory Group exists to examine and optimise the talent pool within the Scottish food and drink sector. This campaign marks a transitional piece of work as the industry refreshes its Skills Action Plan, which will coordinate the activities of sector associations over the coming years to address the ongoing need for fresh talent.

Moira Stalker, Skills Manager at the Food & Drink Federation Scotland, emphasised the importance of this collaboration:

“The food and drink sector is one of Scotland’s most vibrant industries, yet pupils and teachers often do not realise the sheer variety of roles available. This eye-catching A2 poster is a real-world resource that will point both pupils and career influencers to the wealth of digital assets that can inform and inspire them.

“The ultimate goal is to get teachers and career influencers to a single, clear destination to help them convey relevant and up-to-date information about working in food & drink.

We are grateful for the support of our partners and of the DYW groups across the country in reaching the right people.”

Download your copy of the poster here.