Industry smashes apprenticeship target

Food and drink manufacturers in the UK have trebled the number of apprenticeships across the industry, beating an original target to double the number before the end of 2012.

The Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF) President Jim Moseley announced the good news at FDF’s annual President’s Reception, which was also attended by the secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs Owen Paterson.

The latest data from the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and the sector skills council, Improve, shows that since August 2011 there have been 5,281 apprenticeship starts in food and drink manufacturing businesses across the country. Apprenticeships now make up 1.3 per cent of the overall food and drink manufacturing workforce – up from 0.4 per cent in 2010/11.
“With people at the heart of our FDF centenary celebrations next year, I am delighted that we have beaten our Apprenticeship Pledge target by trebling our apprentice numbers in 2012,” says Moseley. “ Our Apprenticeship Pledge and Graduate Excellence programme are both key to attracting the talented individuals that we need for the future, enabling us to achieve our joint vision with government to grow our sector 20 per cent by 2020.”

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