Careers in Curriculum

Trust Career Adviser

Part of the Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust

What is a Food Technologist/Scientist

Food Technology Careers: what's involved?

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and production technicians (9%).

When crisp companies hold competitions asking you to design your own flavour, what flavour would YOU design to excite the taste buds and sell to as many people as possible?

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This is just one example of the questions food technologists and food scientists ask themselves as they blend new ingredients and invent or tweak recipes.

Food technologists and food scientists make tomorrow’s food safe and delicious today. You could be making sure food labels are giving honest nutrition information. You could also look into better, safer, cooler, cheaper, safer packaging that keeps food fresh (even when it’s come from the other side of the world). You’ll believe there’s always a way to improve on the original.

Typical Employers

Employers recruiting graduates for Food Technology related jobs include:

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The main employers of food science graduates are food manufacturers, producers, processors and retailers. These can range from global multinational companies to small-to-medium-sized businesses.

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Technical service providers and government departments concerned with developing food policy and enforcement processes also offer employment.

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Jobs are also available with local authorities and regulatory bodies in areas such as food safety, inspection and analysis.

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Food science graduates also work in a range of areas in the land-based sector, which encompasses agriculture and animals, as well as fresh produce, food service and retail.

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Other employers operate in the industrial and scientific sectors. The NHS and private healthcare organisations also offer employment opportunities in nutrition, for example.

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Jobs related to a Food Technology Degree

Job profile examples including Labour Market Information click on links below:

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• Food technologist
• Health and safety inspector
• Nutritional therapist
• Nutritionist
• Product/process development scientist
• Production manager
• Quality manager
• Regulatory affairs officer
• Secondary school teacher
• Technical brewer

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Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

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Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

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• Chef
• Procurement manager
• Research scientist (life sciences)
• Scientific laboratory technician
• Toxicologist

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Becoming a Food Technologist

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Studying a Food Technology Degree develops skills in:

• a genuine interest in science and how it is applied to food and cookery
• high standards of cleanliness and the ability to adhere to strict hygiene rules
• excellent attention to detail
• strong written and verbal communication skills
• leadership qualities
• people and teamworking skills
• a flexible approach to working
• numeracy and problem-solving skills
• good organisational ability and time-management skills
• an awareness of the consumer market.

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Food Technology

What careers are powered by Food Technology?

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In the video below, we meet Ashleigh, in which she goes through her day to day life as a Food Technologist and the skills that are required.

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