Written by Alasdair Murray
18 Nov 2025
Innovations Shaping Talent Acquisition in Scotland's Food and Drink Sector
In my previous articles, I've explored Scotland's talent challenges in food and drink manufacturing - from overcoming workforce shortages to implementing effective recruitment strategies and addressing the critical need for upskilling. Today, I want to shift the focus to something that genuinely excites me: how innovation is fundamentally reshaping the roles we're recruiting for, and the opportunities this creates for both our sector and Scotland's wider workforce.
The National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University, part of the £1.5 billion Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal, exemplifies this shift. Since opening in 2022, it has worked directly with Scottish food and drink businesses to develop robotic solutions addressing labour shortages whilst improving efficiency and sustainability. This isn't abstract research - it's creating tangible new roles across our sector.
Consider Angus Soft Fruits, recent winners of the Business Innovation Award at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2025. Their partnership with Saga Robotics to deploy 'Thorvald' robots delivering targeted ultraviolet-C treatment to berry crops represents exactly the kind of innovation I'm talking about. Angela Porchez, General Manager at Angus Growers, makes a crucial point: these technologies are 'not replacements for people, but tools that can help us farm more sustainably'.
What matters from a recruitment perspective is what this creates: new roles in robotics operations, data analysis, system maintenance, and precision agriculture that blend traditional food production knowledge with cutting-edge technical skills.
Where once we recruited primarily for production and processing roles, we're now seeking robotics technicians, automation specialists, food scientists working with AI systems, and sustainability officers who can translate net-zero commitments into operational reality. The global robotics market is projected to reach $283 billion by 2032, up from $72 billion in 2022, and Scotland is positioning itself not as a spectator but as an active participant in this growth.
These aren't traditional manufacturing jobs rebranded - they're genuinely new career pathways requiring different skills and offering different prospects. And crucially, they're attracting talent from sectors that might never have considered food and drink as a career option.
A graduate engineer designing automated systems for a whisky distillery. A data scientist optimising supply chains for a salmon producer. A sustainability specialist implementing circular economy initiatives for a bakery. These roles exist now, in Scotland, in our sector.
The Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation at Queen Margaret University works with both SMEs and global companies on product development that demands expertise in food technology, nutrition science, and commercial innovation. SRUC's Food Security Challenge Centre is generating evidence on how innovations in production systems can ensure sustainable food supply for growing populations - work that requires researchers, agronomists, and policy specialists.
What I'm increasingly explaining to candidates is that food and drink offers something many tech roles cannot: the satisfaction of working on something tangible and essential, with clear societal benefit, whilst still engaging with cutting-edge technology.
The innovations we're discussing aren't optional extras - they're essential responses to real challenges. Climate adaptation, supply chain resilience, reducing environmental impact whilst maintaining productivity - these require technological solutions delivered by skilled people. Scotland's commitment to reaching net zero by 2045 means our sector must innovate, and that innovation requires talent.
When Angus Soft Fruits faced increased pressure from powdery mildew during Scotland's unusually hot summer, their robotic UV treatment systems provided an effective, sustainable solution without relying solely on chemicals. This protected crop quality, supported grower returns, and demonstrated how technology solves real-world problems. But it still required skilled people to operate, monitor, and optimise those systems.
For recruitment, this ecosystem approach means talent can see clear pathways and support structures. It's not just about individual companies offering isolated opportunities - it's about Scotland building genuine capability in advanced food and drink manufacturing that offers long-term career prospects.
From my conversations with both candidates and employers, what differentiates Scotland is this coordinated approach. Companies can access training through initiatives I've discussed previously - Modern Apprenticeships, the Flexible Workforce Development Fund - whilst simultaneously tapping into world-leading research and development support. It creates a compelling proposition for talent.
What excites me about the current moment is that we're not just talking about future possibilities. These changes are happening now, in Scottish businesses, creating real opportunities for people who might never have considered food and drink as a career option.
For candidates, the message is clear: if you're interested in working at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and essential industry, food and drink manufacturing offers compelling pathways. For businesses, the imperative is equally clear: invest in innovation and communicate the opportunities this creates to attract the talent that will drive your future success.
At Eden Scott, we're working with food and drink businesses across Scotland to identify and attract this new generation of talent - people who combine technical expertise with a genuine interest in sustainable food systems. The sector's evolution represents opportunity, and we're here to help both candidates and employers navigate it effectively.
For recruitment support or to discuss how innovation is reshaping talent needs in your business, contact our team at Eden Scott.
The transformation underway
Scotland's £15 billion food and drink sector is experiencing a technological shift that's redefining what careers in our industry actually look like. While previous discussions have focused on adapting our existing workforce, what I'm increasingly seeing is the emergence of entirely new career pathways that simply didn't exist five years ago.The National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University, part of the £1.5 billion Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal, exemplifies this shift. Since opening in 2022, it has worked directly with Scottish food and drink businesses to develop robotic solutions addressing labour shortages whilst improving efficiency and sustainability. This isn't abstract research - it's creating tangible new roles across our sector.
Consider Angus Soft Fruits, recent winners of the Business Innovation Award at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2025. Their partnership with Saga Robotics to deploy 'Thorvald' robots delivering targeted ultraviolet-C treatment to berry crops represents exactly the kind of innovation I'm talking about. Angela Porchez, General Manager at Angus Growers, makes a crucial point: these technologies are 'not replacements for people, but tools that can help us farm more sustainably'.
What matters from a recruitment perspective is what this creates: new roles in robotics operations, data analysis, system maintenance, and precision agriculture that blend traditional food production knowledge with cutting-edge technical skills.
From production lines to tech careers
The shift in required qualifications tells its own story. Scotland Food & Drink data shows the largest proportion of our future workforce will need education at SCQF Level 7-10, with Science and Technology Professionals forecast to become the most in-demand occupation. This mirrors what I'm seeing directly in the market.Where once we recruited primarily for production and processing roles, we're now seeking robotics technicians, automation specialists, food scientists working with AI systems, and sustainability officers who can translate net-zero commitments into operational reality. The global robotics market is projected to reach $283 billion by 2032, up from $72 billion in 2022, and Scotland is positioning itself not as a spectator but as an active participant in this growth.
These aren't traditional manufacturing jobs rebranded - they're genuinely new career pathways requiring different skills and offering different prospects. And crucially, they're attracting talent from sectors that might never have considered food and drink as a career option.
Opening doors to diverse talent
This is where I see the real opportunity. The evolution of roles in food and drink manufacturing means we can now credibly recruit from engineering, technology, finance, data science, and marketing backgrounds - professionals who might have previously dismissed our sector as offering limited career progression.A graduate engineer designing automated systems for a whisky distillery. A data scientist optimising supply chains for a salmon producer. A sustainability specialist implementing circular economy initiatives for a bakery. These roles exist now, in Scotland, in our sector.
The Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation at Queen Margaret University works with both SMEs and global companies on product development that demands expertise in food technology, nutrition science, and commercial innovation. SRUC's Food Security Challenge Centre is generating evidence on how innovations in production systems can ensure sustainable food supply for growing populations - work that requires researchers, agronomists, and policy specialists.
What I'm increasingly explaining to candidates is that food and drink offers something many tech roles cannot: the satisfaction of working on something tangible and essential, with clear societal benefit, whilst still engaging with cutting-edge technology.
Innovation addressing real challenges
Beyond recruitment advantages, there's a broader imperative driving this innovation: sustainability and food security. Scotland's Good Food Nation Act places statutory responsibilities on government and public bodies to develop food plans, reflecting the strategic importance of our sector to national wellbeing.The innovations we're discussing aren't optional extras - they're essential responses to real challenges. Climate adaptation, supply chain resilience, reducing environmental impact whilst maintaining productivity - these require technological solutions delivered by skilled people. Scotland's commitment to reaching net zero by 2045 means our sector must innovate, and that innovation requires talent.
When Angus Soft Fruits faced increased pressure from powdery mildew during Scotland's unusually hot summer, their robotic UV treatment systems provided an effective, sustainable solution without relying solely on chemicals. This protected crop quality, supported grower returns, and demonstrated how technology solves real-world problems. But it still required skilled people to operate, monitor, and optimise those systems.
Building Scotland's innovation advantage
Scotland's collaborative approach between industry, academia, and government - exemplified by initiatives like the National Robotarium's 'triple helix' model - creates ideal conditions for rapid innovation adoption. The Deep Tech Growth Programme, launched in partnership between the National Robotarium, Scottish Enterprise, and the National Manufacturing Institute of Scotland, brings together manufacturing capabilities and research expertise specifically to support companies from concept through to production.[14]For recruitment, this ecosystem approach means talent can see clear pathways and support structures. It's not just about individual companies offering isolated opportunities - it's about Scotland building genuine capability in advanced food and drink manufacturing that offers long-term career prospects.
From my conversations with both candidates and employers, what differentiates Scotland is this coordinated approach. Companies can access training through initiatives I've discussed previously - Modern Apprenticeships, the Flexible Workforce Development Fund - whilst simultaneously tapping into world-leading research and development support. It creates a compelling proposition for talent.
Looking ahead
The question isn't whether innovation will continue reshaping our sector - that's inevitable. The question is whether Scotland seizes the opportunity to position itself as a leader in this transformation, attracting the diverse talent needed to drive it forward.What excites me about the current moment is that we're not just talking about future possibilities. These changes are happening now, in Scottish businesses, creating real opportunities for people who might never have considered food and drink as a career option.
For candidates, the message is clear: if you're interested in working at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and essential industry, food and drink manufacturing offers compelling pathways. For businesses, the imperative is equally clear: invest in innovation and communicate the opportunities this creates to attract the talent that will drive your future success.
At Eden Scott, we're working with food and drink businesses across Scotland to identify and attract this new generation of talent - people who combine technical expertise with a genuine interest in sustainable food systems. The sector's evolution represents opportunity, and we're here to help both candidates and employers navigate it effectively.
For recruitment support or to discuss how innovation is reshaping talent needs in your business, contact our team at Eden Scott.
