NSAFD Unveils Trailblazer Apprenticeships To Raise Industry Standards

Phil Black - PII Editor 02/02/2016

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As part of its commitment to improving best practice within the industry, the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD) has unveiled its new engineering apprenticeship for the Food and Drink Industry as part of the Government’s ‘Trailblazer’ programme.

Officially launching at the organisation’s Food & Drink Skills Conference on 11^th February, the apprenticeship has been designed by a steering group supported by the NSAFD which consists of some of the UK’s biggest food and drink companies, including: 2 Sisters Food Group, Fresh Pastures, Haribo, Heineken UK Limited, KP Snacks, McCain Foods (GB) Ltd, Nestlé UK & Ireland Ltd, Unilever and Tulip Ltd.

At the Food & Drink Skills Conference in Milton Keynes on 11^th February, the NSAFD will officially launch the new Food & Drink Engineering Maintenance (FDEM) Trailblazer apprenticeship.

Developed for the industry, by food and drink industry employers, the FDEM trailblazer has been described as ‘game-changing’ for the sector, resulting in a course which, for the first time, combines a unique mix of engineering and food technology skills.

The resulting complementary Level 3 Diploma qualification has been designed to assess skills and knowledge in a food and drink manufacturing workplace.

The steering group has carefully selected Selby, Wiltshire, Peterborough Regional, Carlisle, Leicester, Middlesbrough, Kirklees and Birmingham Metropolitan Colleges, as well as the College of West Anglia and Midland Group Training Services, to be the Industry Approved training providers who will deliver the new trailblazer.

The NSAFD and employer groups have a further four trailblazers in development, covering Food and Drink Process Operations, Advanced Food and Drink Process Operations, Bakery, and Food Technology which are all due to launch in September 2016.

The group is also working on apprenticeships covering Advanced Standards for Bakery and a Higher Level apprenticeship for Food Technology as well as developing standards for Food and Drink Supply Chain Professionals and Fishmongers.

Those food and drink businesses interested in learning more about the new portfolio of Trailblazer apprenticeships can register to secure a place at the free Food & Drink Skills Conference by emailing info@foodanddrink.nsaacademy.co.uk

Justine Fosh, Chief Executive of NSAFD: “We know that our sector is facing a skills gap crisis and we urgently need to build our industry’s talent pipeline. This new trailblazer will be an exciting addition to the food and drink sector and will strengthen possible progression routes.

A wide range of sector stakeholders have contributed to the development of this apprenticeship as well as a mix of major employers and professional engineering institutes, so we are confident we are launching something designed by the industry for the industry.”