The dairy industry covers the three areas including:

• milk production on farms
• processing of milk used for liquid consumption
• development and manufacture of products such as cheese, butter, yoghurt and desserts

In england, there are approximately 24,582 employees in the UK dairy processing, production and distribution in around 510 UK companies.  56% of the workforce are employed in 5 organisations.  The industry has a turnover rate of £6 billion.  8.5% of the workforce are employed part-time

The British dairy workforce is largely based in England, with highest employment proportions in the South West (22.6%) and the North West (17%).  The East Midlands has the smallest proportion of the workforce (3.8%).

Future drivers in the industry include:

• decline in customer numbers means a need to find new markets and new products
• the Working Time Directive influence on doorstep delivery
• changing customer demands
• rising customer standards
• the need to cut costs the introduction of new technology, new working practices and quality management systems

There are 5 times more men than women employed the industry.  Only 0.6% of the workforce have a disability and 0.9% are from minority groups, figures which are low by national comparison.  The average age of the workforce is 40 years, with 19% under 25 years and 30% over 45 years.

8% of English dairy organisations report either hard-to-fill or skill shortage vacancies of which 15% reported skill shortage vacancies.  There are skill shortages in management, production operations, engineering, roundstaff and franchisees, plus LGV drivers.

The industry has a high staff turnover rate which is the result of wage competition, unsociable hours and fluctuating demand. 

The highest qualification for 62% of the workforce is at Level 1.  69% of workers in the industry do not have a qualification higher than Level 2 (69% in the UK dairy industry).  31% of the workforce have a Level 3 and 18% are qualified to Level 4 or higher, as in the UK dairy industry.

There is a lack of industry specific qualifications.
 
Source: Improve website 2006, At a Glance – England 2005, Improve Market Assessment 2004, Labour Force Survey 2004 and Inter-departmental Business Register 2004

For more data and regional figures on the dairy industry go to the Improve website.