Food Business and Marketing with Placement Year

Overview

Key features

Throughout this Food Business and Marketing with Placement Year BSc degree from the University of Reading you will:

• explore the key challenges facing UK, European and global food businesses, including food processors, retailers, food services, and start-ups
• gain an understanding of current issues in the food sector, such as rising costs, sustainability, and consumer health and wellbeing
• develop valuable digital marketing skills.

You'll have the chance to apply your skills to real food business and marketing problems – contributing to the creation or launch of new food products, for example, or designing social media campaigns and marketing communication plans.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake an exciting marketing project as part of a student team. You'll complete mock-consultancies, develop research proposals, carry out market research and present your findings. You’ll also interact with different food businesses through field visits, guest speakers and placements.

During your final year, you will complete either an applied marketing project or a longer independent research project on a food-related topic that inspires you. Past projects have covered a variety of topics, including consumer attitudes towards plant-based food and social media influence on young adults’ food choices.

If you're thinking of starting your own food business, this course also offers opportunities to gain entrepreneurial skills and insight.

Career opportunities:

You'll graduate from this course with a range of specialist and transferable skills required by the fast-paced, rapidly evolving food industry. As a highly skilled graduate, you'll possess tools for market and business analysis, qualitative and quantitative research, and an understanding of consumer behaviour, marketing and business strategy.

You will be well-placed to move into a range of key business roles within the food industry and other sectors. These can include marketing, brand management, category management, retail management, supply chain management, sales, buying, policy analysis, product development, and start-up businesses.

Previous students have gone on to work for a wide range of companies, both big and small, including Mars, Sainsbury's, Kellogg's, Unilever, and Heineken. They have also found employment with industry associations and boards such as the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).