Nutritionists teach and inform groups and individuals about diet and nutrition, motivating them to make changes that will promote a healthier lifestyle.

The Work

You could be:

• working with individuals or the wider community motivating them to make positive changes to their lifestyle
• advising sports professionals on their diet to improve their performance
• promoting healthy living through presentations and workshops in schools and colleges
• providing specialist advice to staff in schools or residential care homes
• helping with menu ideas for hospitals, schools, sports team, care homes or workplace canteens
• carrying out surveys, putting changes in place, and writing up reports
• providing nutritional information for food manufacturing companies for their packaging
• researching foods, including new products for the market, and how they affect our health.

Pay

Starting off as a nutritionist with the NHS you would be on the Agenda for Change salary scales. The current pay scales are from April 2024. You would start on Band 5, £31,892 to £39,735 a year. With experience and specialisation you could move on to Band 6, £39,912 to £48,635 a year.

Outside the NHS your income would vary according to your employer. It could range from £28,000 to £33,000 a year.

Conditions

• You could be based in a range of environments including an office, hospital, residential care home, health centre or sports club.
• You may be working as part of a research team, working in a laboratory.
• You may have to travel between different locations.
• Hours are normally regular, Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Useful Subjects

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Health and Food Technology
• Human Biology
• Scientific Technologies (SCQF Level 6) (FA) (FA)
• SfW Food and Drink Manufacturing Industry

Getting In

• There is no specific route into this career, however most nutritionists will have a degree in nutrition or other related subject.
• Queen Margaret University offers an MNutrition degree requiring 4 Highers at BBBC (standard entry) or BCCC (widening access entry) including Higher Biology or Chemistry and preferably another science subject. Subjects at National 5 are also required.
• Other Scottish universities off nutrition degrees studied with another subject such as food science, dietetics and fitness. You would normally need 4 good Highers including a science subject.
• Employers would expect you to be registered with the Association for Nutrition (AfN). There are three categories: Registered Nutritionist (RNutr), Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) and Fellow of AfN (FAfN). See their website for details.

Nutritionists work for the NHS as well as a number of other employers including local authorities, residential care homes, sports clubs, or private companies. Some work freelance for a number of different companies. They also work in research based in universities.

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland

2024

6555

1.7 %

RISE

2029

6666

  United Kingdom

2024

75522

4.5 %

RISE

2029

78928

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What Does it Take?

You should be:

• interested in food and science
• able to motivate others
• able to explains things to others in a way they will understand
• good at organising your workload
• confident in presenting information
• good at researching and handling data.

Training

• Training is usually on the job. You would be expected to keep your skills and knowledge up to date.
• The Association for Nutrition offers courses suitable for CPD.

Getting On

• You could move onto a senior role.
• You may wish to specialise in a particular area such as public health, sports nutrition, animal nutrition, food industry or teaching.
• You might decide to go freelance.

More Information

Have a look at the A Tasty Career in Nutrition Science from the Association for Nutrition for some more information on this career.

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Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.