The renewed focus on vocational education is something the meat industry welcomes and needs to take advantage of. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate the breadth of careers the industry has to offer and show young people that there are rewarding, skilled career paths beyond the traditional university route.

The timing matters. Meat businesses continue to face recruitment and retention challenges, from skilled butchery and slaughter roles to technical, engineering and manufacturing positions. As Government places greater emphasis on vocational routes, there is a real opportunity for the industry to showcase what it has to offer to the next generation of workers.

That does not mean university is the wrong choice. Higher education will remain the right route for many young people. But it is not the only route to a successful career, and technical education should be just as visible, accessible and valued, helping to remove any stigma around alternative pathways.

T Levels are one example of how this can work. They provide a Level 3 technical education route, combining classroom learning with a substantial industry placement, and can lead into employment, higher education or an apprenticeship.

For food and drink businesses, the opportunity is significant. A well-designed placement gives students genuine workplace experience while allowing employers to introduce young people to the industry and develop future talent. Around 30% of T Level students move directly into full-time employment with their placement employer, demonstrating the potential for placements to become a genuine recruitment pipeline.

However, the current system also highlights a wider issue for the food industry.

BMPA was disappointed that there is no dedicated food manufacturing T Level. This was a missed opportunity for Government to demonstrate its support for an industry of fundamental importance to the UK. A specific route would have sent a clear signal to students, teachers and parents that food manufacturing is a modern, skilled industry offering real career opportunities. Its absence risks making the sector less visible when young people are considering their futures.

That said, businesses do not need to wait for a bespoke qualification to get involved which may not be clear. Existing T Levels can be adapted to meet the needs of food and drink employers, with providers able to help businesses shape meaningful placements around real operational tasks.

But Government also needs to do its part. Food manufacturing feeds the nation and makes a major contribution to the UK economy. Support cannot simply mean asking businesses to recruit and train more people; it must also mean creating a skills system that recognises and responds to the needs of the sectors it relies on.

So the message is clear. To industry: engage now and make the most of the T Level opportunity. To Government: match that commitment with practical support. A dedicated food manufacturing T Level would be a strong place to start.

The industry is ready to play its part in building the workforce of tomorrow. Government needs to make sure the training system gives us the tools to do it.