Food Industry Technical Management

Learning Programme Content

The Learning Programme provision shall comprise of three mandatory elements:

• Qualifications,
• Essential Skills
• On/off the job training

The total minimum credit value required for the Level 3 Pathway Food Industry Technical Management is 49 credits (made up of the total on-and off-the-job training for all the components).

Entry requirements

Examples include:

• Academic routes (e.g. GCSEs, Welsh Baccalaureate)
• By completing vocational qualifications
• Participation on employer placement
• Work experience
• Training

Learners who have completed the Welsh Baccalaureate may have completed units or short courses which will provide underpinning knowledge towards the Apprenticeship. This will be assessed during an initial assessment allowing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) where appropriate.

Apprenticeship pathway learning programme(s)

Level 3: Food Industry Technical Management

Level 3: Food Industry Technical Management Qualifications

Participants must achieve the following combined qualification below.

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh.

On/Off the Job training

On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

The recommended minimum pathway duration time for completion is 18 months.

Total minimum credit value for the combined competence and knowledge qualification: 37 credits

Essential Skills Wales (ESW) in Communication and Application of Number: 12 credits

Total on and off-the-job training minimum training hours: 298 learning hours

• Competence = minimum 47 hours
• Knowledge = minimum 50 hours
• Essential Skills Wales (notional value 45 hours x 2) = 90 hours
• Mentoring, training and support activities 66 weeks x 1 hour/week = 66 hours
• On the job mentoring = 45 hours

Minimum off-the-job training hours = 206 training hours

• Knowledge component of - Level 3 Diploma for Proficiency in Food Industry Technical Management = 50 hours
• Essential Skills Wales and off- the- job mentoring = 156 hours

Minimum on-the-job training hours = 92 training hours

• Competence component of - Level 3 Diploma for Proficiency in Food Industry Technical Management = 47 hours
• On the job mentoring = 45 hours

On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

• 6 credits/45 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Communication
• 6 credits/45 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number

Other additional requirements

There are no additional requirements other than the general entry conditions.

Progression

Progression from the Foundation Apprenticeship in Food and Drink (Food Industry Technical Management):

Examples include:

• Into employment, for example, as a production manager/supervisor, operations manager, maintenance manager or quality manager;
• Onto the Higher Apprenticeship (level 4) in Food and Drink (Food Manufacturing Excellence) pathway;
• Into further or higher education;
• Career progression e.g. to a higher role, or specialised role at the same level.

Many career options become available to the Apprentice on successful completion of the pathway.

Equality and diversity

It is important that apprenticeship Pathways are inclusive and can demonstrate an active approach to identifying and removing barriers to entry and progression. Pathways should advance equality of opportunity between persons who share protected characteristics and those persons who do not as identified in the Equality Act 2010.

The Protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act are age, disability, gender re-assignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity. Marriage and civil partnership is also included although only in respect of the requirement to eliminate discrimination in employment.

Training providers and employers MUST also comply with the other duty under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that applicants are not discriminated against in terms of entry to the industry based upon those nine protected characteristics.

The food and drink industry in Wales is predominantly male, making up over two-thirds (68%) of the workforce; 32% are female. In comparison, a more balanced gender distribution exists across all industries in Wales where 53% are male and 47% are female. Between 2006 and 2011, the male share of the workforce increased by 7% (13,000 to 13,800) whereas the female share of the workforce declined by 4% (6,900 to 6,600). 36% of Welsh food and drink employees fall within the 45 to 54 years age group; 8% are aged 30 to 34; and only 17% are aged 16 to 29 years. The 16 to 29 years age group is considerably smaller than the other UK nations. In comparison, Northern Ireland has 38% of its food and drink workforce in this age group, England has 26% and Scotland has 25%.

Over two-thirds (68%) of the current workforce will be eligible for retirement in the next 20 years. It is notable that 3,500 non-UK nationals are estimated to be working in the Welsh food and drink industry in 2011, an increase of 86% since 2006. (Skills Insights and Labour Market Facts about the Food and Drink Manufacturing and Processing industry in Wales 2013-2014, Improve Limited 2013)

This pathway is an important route to encourage greater diversity within the industry and the following actions are being taken to promote equality and inclusion:

• Ongoing monitoring of data to identify any issues and intervene where necessary  
• Promotion of the industry to a diverse audience though our careers website Tasty Careers www.tastycareers.org.uk  and Tasty Careers Ambassadors
• Apprenticeship workshops to raise awareness of the benefits of Apprenticeships to employers

All partners involved in the delivery of apprenticeships, including training providers, centres and employers, must be committed to a policy of equal opportunities and must have robust equality and diversity policies and procedures.

Employment responsibilities and rights

Employment Responsibilities and Rights (ERR) is no longer compulsory.  But it is recommended that all apprentices (especially the 16 years -18 year group) receive a company induction programme.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the Training Provider and Employer to ensure that the requirements of this pathway are delivered in accordance with the Welsh Government/Medr Apprenticeships Guidance.

Further information may be obtained from: Medr

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