Latest news with #FDQ
Business News Wales
3 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Food and Drink Engineering Apprenticeship Launched to Meet Growing Demand
Pembrokeshire College, in collaboration with the Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales programme, has launched a new Food and Drink Engineering Maintenance Apprenticeship course. The initiative derives from discussions at the Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales programme Expert Group where skills gaps in this field were identified, and aims to meet the growing demand for skilled engineers in the food and drink manufacturing sector. Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs said: 'I am delighted to hear about the new Apprenticeship course at Pembrokeshire College, delivered in partnership with the Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales programme. This initiative is a fantastic step forward in building a skilled workforce for the vital food and drink production and manufacturing sectors in Wales. By providing practical, hands-on training, this course will equip individuals with the expertise needed to thrive in these industries, ensuring a strong and sustainable future for our Welsh food and drink landscape.' The course will commence in September 2025 at the College's Haverfordwest Campus. This three-year apprenticeship offers a hands-on, industry-focused curriculum, designed to equip apprentices with the essential skills needed to maintain and optimise food and drink production machinery. Lois Pugh, Workforce Development Manager who has been at the forefront of discussions on behalf of Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales programme, said: 'I am excited to see the launch of this course as a direct outcome of discussions at the Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales programme Expert Group and to continue advocating for the apprenticeship opportunity, with a strong focus on encouraging businesses across South-West Wales to get involved and support this vital new initiative.' As part of the initiative, Pembrokeshire College is looking to recruit students to participate in the apprenticeships programme. Businesses will be invited to partner with the college, providing apprentices with valuable on-the-job experience. Dr Barry Walters, Principal, Pembrokeshire College said: 'Pembrokeshire College is delighted to be launching the Engineering Maintenance Apprenticeship for the Food and Drink industry this September. There's a strong demand for skilled engineers in this sector, and we are pleased to expand our current apprenticeship portfolio to better support the skills needs of our industry partners.' FDQ (Food and Drink Qualifications) will set the assignments for the course, having facilitated the key relationships and collaborations necessary for its successful inception and ensuring apprentices receive high-quality, relevant training that meets industry standards. This new apprenticeship programme reflects the Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales programme's commitment to supporting the growth and development of the food and drink industry by nurturing the next generation of engineering professionals.
Business News Wales
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Embracing Apprenticeships Will Help Food and Drink Manufacturing to Thrive
Apprenticeships hold the key to skills development in Wales' food and drink industry. They provide structured training, they help businesses grow their talent from within, and they enable employees to build sustainable, rewarding careers. But while we are seeing success in this area, there is still more that can be done. At FDQ, we've been working with the Welsh Government, colleges, training providers and employers for more than 20 years to develop qualifications and assessment services that meet the needs of businesses in the sector. If you work in food and drink manufacturing in Wales, chances are your qualification has been developed with our input. The skills landscape is constantly evolving, and our role is to ensure that the training on offer reflects what employers actually need. Last year, the Welsh Government invested £134 million into skills, and food and drink apprenticeships form a key part of this. There are 23 apprenticeship frameworks in place, including one dedicated to food and drink, covering a range of disciplines, from butchery and bakery to production line roles and technical skills. The programme is designed with direct input from employers, ensuring that businesses get the skilled workforce they need. Yet despite this investment, uptake in food and drink apprenticeships could be higher. The demand is there, but more needs to be done to ensure businesses across the country are engaging with the opportunities available. Many employers still hesitate to take on apprentices, sometimes due to a lack of awareness about the benefits, or concerns about the time and cost involved. But apprenticeships are proven to deliver value. Businesses that take the time to train and develop their staff benefit from greater productivity and improved retention. In fact, 64% of those who complete an apprenticeship remain with their employer long-term. That's a level of loyalty most businesses would love to achieve. The food and drink industry has often struggled with perceptions. Many still see it as low-paid, low-skilled, and physically demanding work, but that no longer reflects reality. Modern food manufacturing environments are clean, well-regulated and increasingly technical. Robotics, automation and AI are playing a growing role in production, and digital skills are becoming just as important as traditional craft skills. Green skills are also in demand, as businesses work towards net zero. A good example of how apprenticeships can support growth is the brewing industry. The apprenticeship framework in England already includes a Level 4 qualification for brewers, which has been highly successful in upskilling employees and supporting the industry. But until now, there was no equivalent in Wales. That's why we've been working with the Welsh Government to develop a Level 4 brewing apprenticeship, which will be introduced next year. It shows how, when employers call for change, the system can respond to meet their needs. Ultimately, the more employers engage with apprenticeships, the more training providers will invest in delivering them. It's a case of supply and demand. If businesses in Wales want to see more apprenticeships available in specialist areas, they need to step up and show that there is real appetite for them. As we look to the future, it's clear that food and drink will remain one of Wales' key industries. The sector is resilient, having weathered economic shifts, Brexit, and the pandemic. But to keep it strong, we need to ensure the next generation is equipped with the right skills. That means embracing apprenticeships, developing digital and green skills, and ensuring businesses of all sizes see training as an investment, not a cost. If we get this right, the food and drink industry in Wales will not just survive – it will thrive.
