National Food & Drink Training (NFDT), the training arm of trade body Scottish Bakers, has launched an academy designed to empower food and drink manufacturers across the UK.
Called NFDT Academy, it has a blended approach combining practical workshops, one-to-one coaching, and enhanced online support which help businesses strengthen their technical expertise, leadership, compliance, and customer service.
The suite of learning and development programmes delivered by the academy spans a wide range of specialist areas with each course designed to meet a specific need. These include:
- Practical Baking Skills – delivers hands-on, science-based training in fermentation, lamination, sponge development, costings, and new product development. It equips teams with technical expertise to understand how ingredients and processes influence product quality and consistency.
- Lean/CI Bite-Sized Chunks – introduces continuous improvement through 12 modular sessions. Covering topics such as change management, value stream mapping, and waste minimisation, it empowers teams to embed lean thinking into daily operations.
- Building High Impact Teams – focuses on personality dynamics, communication, and collaboration. Designed for cross-functional manufacturing teams, this course promotes stronger teamwork and emphasises the importance of diverse roles and collaboration for productivity.
- Train the Trainer – aimed at team leaders, managers, and senior staff, giving them the tools and confidence to plan and deliver effective internal training. This programme supports employee development and builds a culture of learning within the business.
- Mystery Shop – NFDT’s professional customer experience evaluation service. It provides detailed, unbiased feedback to help businesses measure service performance, ensure brand consistency, and identify actionable areas for improvement.
The courses range from £350 to £750 plus VAT per day with the exception of Mystery Shopping where a bespoke quote can be provided.
“In today’s fast-paced food and drink sector, businesses need a training partner that delivers measurable results. Whether you want to improve production processes, strengthen team dynamics, or embed a culture of continuous improvement, NFDT is your training partner – offering tailored, impactful solutions that deliver real business value,” said Scott Anderson, training & development manager at NFDT.
“Our mission is to understand your challenges, engage your staff, and deliver practical learning that makes a measurable difference from day one,” Anderson added.
NFDT’s programmes are built on nationally recognised and quality assured vocational qualifications. Last month it rolled out a Level 3 Diploma in Lead Baker qualification offering a comprehensive curriculum covering cake, biscuit, pastry, and bread production.
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