IGD has launched two new online learning courses, designed to help colleagues across food and consumer goods build their understanding of the industry, as well as the workplace skills they need to thrive.
The new courses, Inside the Industry: How it Really Works and Work Ready: Core Skills for Success, are an evolution of IGD’s existing New Starter Skills Course. Both courses are free to access, and each course is delivered over 3 hours, across 4 weeks in a self-led, easily accessible format.
Inside the Industry: How it Really Works
This course helps learners see the bigger picture and make an impact by building essential context on how the UK food system operates end-to-end. From farm to fork, the course explores what happens at every stage and why it matters, helping people understand how suppliers, manufacturers and retailers work as one connected system. It also looks ahead to what will shape the future of the industry and why that is important.
Designed for all colleagues working in, and with, the food and consumer goods industry, the course is particularly relevant for new hires, career changers, professionals from other sectors and anyone looking to strengthen their industry and commercial awareness. By the end of the course, learners will understand how goods move from source to consumer, how each stage of the value chain connects, and how commercial, operational and sustainability dynamics shape real-world decision-making.
Work Ready: Core Skills for Success
Designed to build the essential professional skills needed to succeed in modern workplaces across the food system, this course focuses on how work happens in practice. It helps learners master the workplace skills that no one teaches but every employer expects, including communication, productivity, collaboration and professional confidence.
Aimed at those starting a career in food and grocery, or colleagues moving into a supervisory or corporate role. This course is also ideal for apprentices, graduates or interns. The course uses real-world scenarios and actionable strategies to build confidence navigating organisational dynamics and developing a professional presence.
Kimberley Chapman, Director of Learning at IGD, said: “The food and consumer goods industry is one of the most connected, complex and fast-moving sectors in the UK, and people joining or progressing within it need both a clear understanding of how the whole system fits together and the practical skills to succeed at work.
“These two free courses have been designed to give learners that foundation. Inside the Industry helps people think beyond their role, organisation and sector, while Work Ready supports the core professional behaviours and skills employers value most. Together, they will help colleagues build confidence, make more informed decisions and contribute more effectively across the industry.”
Both courses are free to access and form part of IGD’s Learning offer for food and consumer goods professionals, supporting lifelong skill development and helping organisations build the capability needed to respond to change across the sector.
To sign up for the courses or to find out more, visit: https://www.igd.com/learning.
