The National Centre for Food Manufacturing is seen as a national exemplar for its innovative apprenticeship provision and commitment to partnering with employers to develop and deliver apprenticeships to meet their needs. The NCFM aims to provide the best experience for apprentices through flexible delivery and innovative teaching and learning. We have worked with employers and the Trailblazer Groups to be able to offer a comprehensive range of new standards including the sector’s first Higher Level and Degree Apprenticeships.

This qualification is designed to develop advanced occupational skills & knowledge in a wide range of supervisory & monitoring skills in food processing, food service & retail.
It is too small for inclusion within the Food and Drink Apprenticeship framework. It is ideal for learners who carry out routine workplace tasks and who may use this qualification as a stepping stone to larger qualifications of this type.

The programme is tailored to the needs of individuals embarking on a scientific or technical career in food and drink manufacturing or those working in and seeking to advance their careers in quality, technical, hygiene or product development roles. Our programmes are a combination of on-the-job learning and part-time study at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing, with delivery consisting of attended learning through block release and distance learning study. The courses aim to provide comprehensive work-based training schemes for people wishing to develop their career in the food manufacturing industry, complemented by ‘off the job’ learning to develop the supervisors, managers and technologists of the future.

It offers learners the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge required to prove competence at work in supervisory management roles.

The qualification provides food manufacturers and the supply chain with a unique blend of business management competencies with technical food management competencies.

The University delivers a Higher Apprenticeship in Food Manufacturing supported by Cogent, the Sector Skills Council for the Science and Technology based industries.

This FdSc programme is mapped to the FdSc Food Operations and Supply Chain Management standard to enable employers to utilise the apprenticeship levy to develop their operation management teams and provide progression opportunities for employees. This programme is also available as a stand-alone FdSc to provide access to non-levy funded or self-funded students.

The BSc (Hons) in Food Operations and Supply Chain Management has been developed to prepare students for managing multi-disciplined teams in today’s fast-paced food manufacturing environments. Students are introduced to both the theoretical and practical aspects of management within food manufacturing sector including planning, logistics, technical support and resource management.

The Level 2 Diploma or Certificate in Food Production and Cooking is for candidates

who wish to work in the hospitality industry and already have knowledge of the basic principles of kitchen work, or who can demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm to work and study in order to supplement their existing knowledge.

Candidates will be required to display both practical skills and the associated knowledge in order to complete the assessments.

This qualification is tailored to those working food processing and manufacturing outlets and covers a wide range of environments from bakeries ready meal production in small or large operations. General duties include the production of food products to meet customer specifications – this will involve hands on preparation of the product, maintaining food hygiene and health and safety regulations as well as cleaning, packaging and dispatch of the finished product.

This qualification is an Award requiring achievement of 8 credits. Candidates are encouraged to work at their own pace following individual programmes of learning. The length of time taken to complete will depend upon many factors but we expect most candidates to complete within 3 - 6 months.

This qualification is a Certificate requiring achievement of 27 credits. Candidates are encouraged to work at their own pace following individual programmes of learning. The length of time taken to complete will depend upon many factors but we expect most candidates to complete within 12 months.

This qualification is an Award requiring achievement of 10 credits. Candidates are encouraged to work at their own pace following individual programmes of learning. The length of time taken to complete will depend upon many factors but we expect most candidates to need between 6 and 12 months.