The Academy
Training programmes to help your business thrive
Welcome to the Academy
Sell your offer, build your brand and grow your business.
Already working on your growth plans for the grocery and foodservice markets? Or just starting out in your food and drink career?
There’s something for you in The Academy.
You’ll find the practical tools and information you need to build the long-term success of your business. All based on real-world commercial insights, we focus on knowledge-sharing, upskilling and innovative practices.
As you know, our industry is recovering from recent challenges. The Academy will support you from recovery through to UK wide growth, adopting a flexible learning approach to make sure time away from your business is limited.
I feel I have grown in confidence and business acumen from attending the course and feel better equipped to plan the next stage of our growth”
Will’s support with interpreting complex market data has been really helpful, without which I would not have been able to extract as much from the insights as I have done, this learning will also allow me to interpret future data, charts and insights.
Making a tangible difference to your business
The unique series of flexible training courses are designed by a curated team of industry experts to enable real and sustainable business growth. Underpinned by tailored one-to-one support, each programme matches the needs of your business with appropriate specialists and mentors.
The Academy will:
- Aid your understanding of channels and customers
- Provide you with expert support to make strategic decisions
- Show you how to unearth relevant insights in market, customer and category data
- Teach you how best to position and strengthen your brand
- Demonstrate how to build trading relationships and negotiation skills with buyers
- Improve your long-term business plan and help you prioritise next steps
Helping you drive significant growth
No matter whether you’re a two-person start-up or a renowned, established brand we can offer you the expertise you need across three distinct courses to give your business the competitive edge.
Seeding Growth
Aimed at newly established businesses, those at the start of their growth journey, or individuals starting out in the food and drink industry.
Accelerating Growth
For producers who are already trading with a multiple account and seeking to take their business to the next level.
Commercial Excellence
For well established, highly ambitious producers looking for significant growth in UK markets.
Aimed at newly established businesses, those at the start of their growth journey, or individuals starting out in the food and drink industry.
For producers who are already trading with a multiple account and seeking to take their business to the next level.
For well established, highly ambitious producers looking for significant growth in UK markets.
Choose a training programme that suits.
Not sure what programme is right for you? Use our programme selector tool to help you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Academy is a commercially focused training programme for Scottish food and drink businesses no matter their size or scale of ambition. Designed by credible market experts, it is grounded in the principles of knowledge-sharing and tailored support and provides individuals with the practical tools and skills to achieve greater commercial success in their chosen market.
There are three distinct programmes for businesses at different stages of growth.
Seeding Growth is geared toward early-stage businesses or those towards the start of their growth journey to drive sales and opportunities beyond your local market.
Find out more about this programme
Accelerating Growth is for SMEs with aspirations to enter the next phase of growth and will help identify and unlock opportunities to increase penetration and sales in UK markets.
Find out more about this programme
Commercial Excellence is for highly ambitious commercial professionals and sales leaders in well established businesses looking to achieve significant market growth.
The Academy will be delivered by a curated team of highly knowledgeable specialists with years of credible FMCG experience.
Group workshops and one-to-ones will be delivered as live, virtual sessions using Zoom. Programme materials and handouts will be available to download after each module.
If you are still not sure which programme is best suited to you, use our diagnostic tool to find out.
- Seeding Growth spans 3 months, with 5 modules; each module is 2 half day workshops.
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Accelerating Growth spans 4 months, with 4 modules; each module is 2 half day workshops.
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Commercial Excellence spans 12 months, with 3 modules condensed into 3 months; each is a full day workshop. Executive coaching is available over the year.
Delegates will also be expected to commit to furthering their learning through agreed activity between sessions, supported by a mentor who will be matched to their personal business needs. Delegates on Commercial Excellence will need to devote time to developing a project of commercial strategic importance and will be matched to an executive coach.
Sessions will take place during the working week. All dates/times of workshops are set and notified at the start of the course. Mentoring sessions are by mutual arrangement.
There is standard fee for each programme. Members of Scotland Food & Drink receive a discount relative to their business turnover. Members of Scotland Food & Drink Partner organisations receive a 25% discount.
Fees can be found on each programme page.
Yes of course. These programmes have been designed to benefit all Scottish food and drink producers.
To discuss membership and benefit from the discount, please contact us prior to programme application.
The Academy will be delivered by a curated team of highly knowledgeable specialists with years of credible FMCG experience.
Group workshops and one-to-ones will be delivered as live, virtual sessions using Zoom. Programme materials and handouts will be available to download after each module.
To maximise the group learning experience and benefit of the peer group, each programme is limited to a small cohort.
Each programme has multiple intake dates. Please see programme page on website for latest cohort intake dates.
To benefit fully from the programme, delegates are required to attend all modules. Second delegate place is subject to availability.
Applications are submitted online: Seeding Growth; Accelerating Growth; Commercial Excellence. Your application should take you no more than 10 minutes to complete.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel to ensure applicants are matched to the right programme to meet their needs and ambitions for growth. After which, places will be allocated and successful applicants directed to the payment portal.
If the programme is oversubscribed, businesses will be placed on a waiting list for the next available cohort.
Scotland Food & Drink will notify applicants within 4 weeks prior to the programme commencing.
If you are unsuccessful in your application, a member of the Business Development team will be in touch to discuss the best way to reapply or provide relevant alternative support.
If a programme is oversubscribed or you miss a deadline, we will work with you to ensure your place on the next available cohort.
Unfortunately not. The current programmes require businesses to have a market ready product.
No. The Academy is for businesses who produce a food and/or drink product in Scotland and is not available to third-party consultants, sales representatives, agencies or supply chain operators (logistics providers, wholesalers, foodservice or retailers).
Yes. Each delegate will receive a certificate to acknowledge completing the course.
If you haven’t found what you’re looking for on the website, please email: the- academy@foodanddrink.scot with your name, contact details and a note of where your business is based and we’ll get back to you.
More information
For any questions about how The Academy can strengthen your skills and help you grow, read our FAQs or contact us on the-academy@foodanddrink.scot
The Academy is applicable to food and drink producers or manufacturers based in Scotland, who have a trade ready product. No third-party consultants, sales representatives, agencies or supply chain operators (including logistics, wholesalers, foodservice and retailers). Full Terms & Conditions can be read here.
Find the best course for your business
Need help choosing the Academy course that best suits you business needs and the stage you are at in your journey? Our experienced team can help. Get in touch today.