Apprenticeships
FDF supports the Government's aim to increase the quality and quantity of apprenticeships. The challenge of an ageing workforce means that our sector will need 140,000 new recruits by 2024. Growing apprenticeship numbers is a key part of the solution for the UK food and drink industry.
Apprenticeship Levy
In August 2015 Government announced its commitment to support 3 million
apprenticeships by
2020. As part of this pledge Government announced the introduction of an
apprenticeship levy to help
fund their ambition. It represents a seismic change in the landscape of skills
and for the business and
public sector employers it brings both risk and opportunity.
The Apprenticeship Levy came into effect on 6 April 2017 and applies to
employers who have a
pay bill above £3million. The Apprenticeship Levy is an important
opportunity to help the food
and drink manufacturing sector grow high quality apprenticeship numbers.
The Government has published an employer guide on
how the Apprenticeship Levy will work
The Department for
Education has also published a guide on newly updated funding reform to
Apprenticeships
For further advice regarding the levy, Members can visit the toolkit here.
Apprenticeship Trailblazers
What are Apprenticeship Trailblazers?
In 2013 the Government launched the Trailblazers initiative whereby
apprenticeships are
designed by employers to ensure that apprenticeships produce people who are
fully competent and
who meet clearly defined standards set by employers rather than by training
providers.
A range of Trailblazers are underway in the food and drink industry. All are
being led by groups of
experienced representatives from food and drink businesses with the majority
supported by the
National Skills Academy for Food and Drink. You can follow the progress of each Trailblazer project here.
What are the benefits to employers in taking on Apprentices?
Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes specifically tailored to meet
the skills needs
of employers. By FDF working in partnership with the National Skills Academy
for
food and drink and
the National Apprenticeship Service, you can benefit from:
- reduced administrative burden as you are supported through the process
of
developing and implementing an apprenticeship programme;
- optimised levy investment ensuring you have the ability to maximise your
investment through the apprenticeship levy on high-quality apprenticeship
standards;
- developing high-quality apprenticeship standards that meet the needs of
the
food and drink manufacturing sector;
- high quality training providers that have been hand-picked to meet your
needs;
- central measurement undertaken which will provide us with credibility as
we
celebrate our success and launch a PR campaign.
Last reviewed: 12 Apr 2018