Home > News > September 2005 > 30-Sep-2005

Partners wanted for apprenticeship programmes

Employers in food and drink manufacturing are being urged to join forces with education providers to offer apprenticeship programmes to young people starting out in the industry.

Earlier this year, Improve, the food and drink manufacturing Sector Skills Council, received £100,000 to fund the development of new apprenticeship frameworks in England, and to widen participation in existing frameworks where there is low take-up.

"Improve has several apprenticeship frameworks approved for bakery, food and drink manufacturing, and meat and poultry," said Teresa Brookes, learning frameworks manager at Improve.

"Now we are responding to employers' demands to design new apprenticeship programmes which not only meet their requirements, but that also offer the best range and level of training to employees.

"In order to achieve this, we need more food and drink manufacturers to buy into the apprenticeship ethos and begin offering placements for those keen to forge a career in the industry.

"Whether employers develop existing staff or recruit new employees as apprentices, the benefits to their business can be numerous in terms of productivity, efficiency and profit."

While apprenticeships have traditionally been open to 16 to 24-year-olds only, planning and implementing a new Young Apprenticeship framework for school pupils aged 14 to 16 is a key component of Improve's work.

Improve said the new framework allows pupils to undertake a two-year apprenticeship while still at school, spending two days a week learning with an employer or vocational training provider to develop the skills needed to equip them for a career.

External link

For more information about Improve and their apprenticeship frameworks, visit: www.improveltd.co.uk

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