Practical resources for ambassador activity success
It is a brand new year, and as Emma Koubayssi highlighted in her recent blogs, even small actions as a Scottish Food & Drink Ambassador can spark huge curiosity in a young person.
Whether you are planning your first school visit or you are a seasoned pro, we know that engaging and effective delivery can take a bit of planning.
To make things as simple as possible, we have pulled together a list of useful resources. These are designed to save you time on admin, help you explain what you do and provide ready-made inspiration for your next activity.
There is also the monthly enews and the LinkedIn group to keep up to date on events, timely prompts, examples and low‑pressure ideas for “one small action” during the year.
The essentials: getting started and spread the word
If you are looking for the right words to describe the programme or need a quick refresher on how to grow your profile, start here.
Introduction to STEM ambassadors: perfect for when you need to describe exactly what we do. It is “cut and paste” ready for your emails or bios.
Top tips guide: a handy PDF filled with advice on how to raise your profile and help grow our ambassador community.
STEM ambassador handbook: the comprehensive guide for both new and experienced volunteers, covering everything you need to know about the scheme
Practical tools: templates and offers
Don’t reinvent the wheel! Use these templates to structure your offers on the STEM digital platform or to prep for a school session.
Creating a food and drink offer: a guide to help you package your expertise into an appealing session for schools.
Creating a site visit offer: everything you need to consider when inviting pupils into your workplace.
Creating a careers event offer: specifically designed for those busy careers fairs and employability events.
Activity ideas and inspiration
Not sure what to do with a group of primary pupils? Need a video to liven up a presentation? These resources have you covered.
Early years and first level activity ideas: short, engaging STEM activities tailored for younger children.
FDF case study videos: a collection of real stories from people in the industry to help bring different roles to life.
Find your future in food toolkit: a goldmine of stats, key messages and a skills route map showing how qualifications lead to careers.
From oats to oatcakes and smoothie journeys: use the “food stories” section on the portal to find lessons on how everyday products are made.
How do you make a loaf of bread? and How do you make a chicken salad?: fantastic visual breakdowns of every role involved in creating a single meal.
Sector-specific deep dives
Remember to tap into specific sectoral resources, like membership organisation websites and Scotland Food & Drink. For example, these resources provide specific insights into farming, whisky and production.
Farming and food supply careers: a great resource for land-based roles and the journey from farm to fork.
Whisky industry world of work: a guide to the careers available in one of Scotland’s most iconic exports.
Seafood careers video: a highly visual look at the diverse range of roles within the seafood sector.
Feedback and impact
Don’t forget to capture the magic. Tracking your impact helps us keep the programme running strong.
Feedback toolkit: short, easy activities to gather pupil feedback during your session.
Activity feedback form: a simple word document to help you log your successes.
And remember to log that activity on the Ambassador platform once it’s done.
Remember to keep an eye on Emma’s occasional blogs as they come along for the latest dates and opportunities.
Whether you choose to judge a competition or give a five-minute talk, these resources are here to ensure you feel confident every step of the way.