A revised version of the Baker Level 2 apprenticeship has been approved for launch in early 2021 by the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE).
The revision follows a review by the bakery trailblazer group, chaired by George Fuller of Fullers Bakery, who is also chairman of the Craft Bakers Association.
The trailblazer group also includes Gordon Polson, CEO of the Federation of Bakers, as well as representatives from Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Hovis and Warburtons.
The review was coordinated by the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD).
The Baker Level 2 apprenticeship offers an overview of every aspect of baking and is intended to provide learners with good general baking knowledge.
“The revised apprenticeship is a great example of cross-industry collaboration and has been excellently co-ordinated by the NSAFD,” Fuller said.
“The apprenticeship has been designed to work across the whole baking industry, and to cover every element of the trade,” he added.
“Employers can be confident that those following it will have all the skills, knowledge and behaviours required and that apprentices completing the standard are set up for a career in the industry, for life.”
The bakery trailblazer group will start work on updating the Level 3 Baker Trailblazer Apprenticeship Standard in early 2021, with the expectation that it will be ready for rollout by the middle of next year.
“The bakery trailblazer group has worked incredibly hard this year to revise the Baker Level 2 apprenticeship,” said Diane Wilford, relationship manager at IFATE.
“It is an exemplary apprenticeship,” she added. “A big thank you to George and the team for their tireless commitment.”
The NSAFD is working with the larger food and drink manufacturing employers to create a sector levy fund and matching service, which allows smaller companies to benefit from larger businesses’ unspent apprenticeships funds.
The aim is to share levy funds with smaller craft bakeries so they are able to cover the full costs required for apprenticeship training.
“The apprenticeship levy transfer scheme is a great opportunity for smaller bakery businesses to receive the full amount of money required to train an apprentice,” said Louise Cairns, CEO of NSAFD.
“It is a great example of the industry working together, for the success of the whole and we would encourage any craft bakeries interested in discussing this to get in touch.”
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