Jacksons Bakery and Samworth Brothers have placed apprenticeships at the heart of their talent strategies this year, unveiling new programmes and expanded intakes opportunities.
The activities come amid National Apprenticeship Week, which runs from 9-15 February 2026. It is a week-long celebration that aims to shine a light on the positive impact apprentices make.
As part of the week, Jacksons Bakery, home of the Jacksons of Yorkshire brand and part of William Jackson Food Group, introduced its first cohort of 15 apprentices with The Sheffield College who are studying for an 18-month Baker Level 2 apprenticeship.
The course, which began in September 2025, blends hands-on learning with real-world experience as they spend one day a week at college, developing their skills in industry-standard training facilities, and four days working on site at Jacksons Bakery, learning directly from experienced professionals.
The apprentices train as part of Jacksons’ Rise and Shine Academy, something the firm described as a major investment in skills designed to futureproof the business and grow talent from within.
“Partnering with The Sheffield College is an important step in developing the next generation of skilled bakers who will help shape the future of our business. Many of our colleagues have dedicated decades to Jacksons and, as they approach retirement, it’s vital that we invest in fresh talent and ensure a strong succession pipeline,” said Nicola Ritchie, people development manager at Jacksons.
“Our Rise and Shine academy is centred around nurturing our colleagues, supporting their growth, and giving them the confidence and technical skills to thrive in a modern bakery environment. We’re proud to see our apprentices already bringing enthusiasm, new ideas and a real passion for our industry,” Ritchie added.
During the apprenticeship, learners gain a deep understanding of the modern bakery sector exploring industry trends, new technologies and core baking theory. Training covers methods and processes, specialist equipment, ingredients, packaging and labelling, as well as health and safety and the day-to-day operations of a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Reflecting on his experience so far, apprentice Lukman Sanni, aged 43, said: “The apprenticeship has been an incredible experience, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow. I have a strong passion for baking and a keen interest in understanding the entire integrated process of running a bakery business.”
Sanni chose an apprenticeship because of the blend of practical on-the-job training and academic study and sees it as an effective way to launch a new career.
“It allows me to immediately apply the theoretical knowledge gained at college to real-world scenarios in the workplace, reinforcing my learning and understanding of bakery processes. My long-term ambition is to fully master my craft, continuously innovate within the field and, ultimately, rise to a leadership position within the bakery industry,” Sanni added.
Investing in skills is ‘critical’
National Apprenticeship Week has also seen Samworth Brothers open up 24 vacancies across a number of courses which, once filled, will take its total number of apprentices to 263.
The manufacturer – which owns brands including Ginsters, Higgidy, and Soreen – has also launched a new Level 3 Line Manager apprenticeship following the success of its latest Level 5 cohort which saw 18 out of 19 of apprentices achieve distinctions.
“Investing in skills is critical to enable us to continue producing innovative high-quality food safely and efficiently,” said Clare Moore, chief people officer at Samworth Brothers Group. “We provide opportunities for good people to develop their talents, help them to improve their prospects and achieve their full potential.”
Apprenticeships are an “extremely effective” method of employee development, Moore added, pointing out that the firm has almost 300 apprentices in fields from engineering and supply chain to finance and operations management, with 124 coming on board in 2025.
However, Samworth Brothers also raised concerns about changes to the apprenticeship landscape and is petitioning the government and education providers to work towards a further education system that better supports businesses with relevant skills training/courses.
No comments yet