Prima Bakeries and Warrens Bakery have worked with a college to develop a new apprenticeship.
The Cornish bakers have partnered with Truro and Penwith College, which is investing in a new bakery, to design a Bakery Apprenticeship Standard. The first group of learners will start the Craft Baker (Level 2) Apprenticeship Standard in October.
Apprenticeship Standards were introduced last year and replace traditional Framework courses. Course content is designed with businesses to ensure apprentices leave college with the skills employers require.
It is hoped the new Standard will help to tackle concerns over an ageing workforce in baking by attracting young people into the profession.
The programme is designed to appeal to anyone with a passion for traditional baking and will teach those with no previous experience to produce bread, cakes and pastries.
“It is essential that new blood is developed for the bakery industry,” said Prima Bakeries managing director Mark Norton. “We believe this is best done by being trained by specialist and experienced bakery professionals in a dedicated environment.”
Prima has already recruited Jason Bennellick, the first apprentice who will study the new programme. Warrens Bakery employs around 600 people across the south west and is offering two bakery apprenticeship positions.
Tutor Dave Williams, who has 40 years’ experience in the craft bakery and confectionery industries, said it had been a pleasure to talk with Cornish bakeries to design the programme.
“Installation of the new specialist bakery kitchen at Penwith College has already started and I’d like to thank to thank Prima Bakeries, Philps Bakery and Warrens Bakery for their generous help with some of the kit,” he added.
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