The future workforce needs of the UK dairy industry are being addressed through the launch of Talent Forum, a strategic, executive-level group formed to lead the national conversation on the future of workforce skills for the £5.7 billion sector.

With 86% of farmers with vacancies reporting very few or no applicants possessing the right skills, the combination of a skills gap and the attraction and retention of talent forms the basis of the Talent Forum’s work to inform a response to these challenges.

The Think Dairy Careers initiative, led by Digital Dairy Chain partner, University of the West of Scotland (UWS), has brought together senior leaders from across the dairy supply chain, government, and supporting technology sectors, the Talent Forum will play a critical role in addressing the industry’s most urgent workforce challenges. This includes identifying digital skills gaps, tackling succession planning, and forecasting future skills needs – from farm to processing, and throughout the wider supply chain.

Digital Dairy Chain is funded by UKRI as part of its Strength in Places programme.

The board is made up of the following members:

  • Stephen Jacobs, CEO of TIAH
  • Paul Flannagan, Director at AHDB
  •  Liz Barron-Majerik (Chair), Director of Lantra
  • Colin Ferguson, Farmers/NFU
  • Peter Dawson, Operations & Sustainability Policy Director of Dairy UK
  • Helen Brooks, Engagement Director of UK Agri Tech Centre
  • Derek Wilson, Head of Agriculture and Rural at Scottish Government
  • John Powell, Head of Agriculture Sectors at DEFRA
  •  Robert Craig, Chairman of Trustees at RABDF
  •  Sam Rhynas (Vice Chair), Managing Director of Seventeen Points
  • John Whitelaw, Vice Chair of Dairy Transport Assurance Scheme (DTAS)
  •  Marian Pusey, Executive Director at Society of Dairy Technicians
  • Mazdak Salavati, Reader in dairy, SRUC

The Talent Forum will guide the development of a Future Skills Needs Assessment, drawing on data, insight, and engagement with stakeholders across the sector. This assessment will help shape future investment in vocational education, apprenticeships, and continuous professional development, ensuring the dairy sector is equipped with the skills it needs to thrive in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven landscape.

Sam Rhynas, Vice Chair of the Talent Forum, said: “The work of the Talent Forum board is vital in ensuring a resilient, highly skilled workforce that meets the evolving demands of the sector, fostering both economic growth and individual career progression. Additionally, it opens opportunities to create a diverse environment, bringing expertise from other sectors to work collaboratively and develop new & innovative approaches.”

Lynne Somerville, Think Dairy Careers Skills Lead at UWS, said: “The launch of the Think Dairy Careers Talent Forum is an exciting step forward for the UK dairy sector. I’m thrilled that senior leaders from across the industry have come on board to be part of it. Their involvement shows just how committed we all are to promoting careers in dairy and tackling the sector’s talent challenges head-on."

By working together, we’ve got a real opportunity to raise awareness, open up new pathways, and help build a skilled and future-ready workforce.

Lynne Somerville, Think Dairy Careers Skills Lead at UWS

By aligning expertise and fostering collaboration, the Talent Forum will strengthen the sector’s competitiveness, support long-term sustainability, and build a resilient talent pipeline – helping to attract and retain the skilled workforce needed for the dairy industry of tomorrow.

Professor Robert MacIntosh, Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at UWS said: “By placing skills development at the heart of this key sector's growth strategy, we can ensure that UK dairy not only meets the challenges ahead—but thrives."

The Think Dairy Careers initiative affirms that continuous professional development, vocational initiatives and interventions are not just beneficial—but essential—to securing a resilient and skilled future for the UK's dairy sector.

Professor Robert MacIntosh, Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at UWS

Find out more about the Talent Forum and the work of Think Dairy Careers at www.digitaldairychain.co.uk/talentforum