Bakery Apprenticeship

Bakers today are involved in so much more than simply baking bread. Every day bakers make and sell not only millions of loaves but also cakes, pies, pasties and biscuits. So, bread-making is just one of the bakery skills an apprentice baker will learn as part of their bakery apprenticeship

The Level 2 Bakery Apprenticeship Standard equips bakery apprentices with the skills needed to become an all-round baker – whether that’s in

  • A traditional craft bakery
  • A large automated bakery plant
  • A retail supermarket bakery department

A craft baker usually produces a range of bakery products from start to finish. A plant baker may be involved in one or more stages of the bakery process, using automated machinery to produce baked goods at scale. A retail baker will bake off products but also be involved in bakery counter display and other shop floor activities.

Whichever business environment the bakery apprentice works in though, they will need a core set of skills, knowledge and behaviours.

Developed by employers from all sectors of the bakery industry, the bakery standard apprenticeship is focused on employability. Although not a requirement of the standard apprentice bakers may support their bakery apprenticeship by studying for an accredited Bakery Diploma, such as the FDQ Level 2 Diploma in Bakery. The diploma covers all the requirements of the bakery standard, but also allows the bakery apprentice to learn specialist bakery skills, such as cake decorating.

To see what is included in the bakery apprenticeship, including the bakery end-point assessment

Download the standard

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Why are apprenticeship standards better than previous apprenticeships?

Firstly, apprenticeship standards, including bakery, are developed ‘by employers for employers.’ Nobody knows better what is needed in a job role than the employers themselves. Secondly, one of the biggest changes is that apprentices now don’t automatically qualify after ‘serving their time’. They need to prove their skills at ‘end-point assessment’ or EPA. EPA is the name given to a series of tests that happen towards the end of an apprenticeship. Apprentices must succeed at end-point assessment in order to achieve their apprenticeship. Find out more about end-point assessment (EPA)

Level 2 Bakery Apprenticeship Funding

The L2 Bakery Apprenticeship is a Band 12 apprenticeship, which has a maximum funding rate of £9000. Funding for apprenticeships is either via co-investment with government or via the Apprentice Levy. Large bakery employers (with a wage bill over £3 million pa) fund their apprenticeships through the levy. The levy is collected by HMRC at a rate of 0.5% of a business’s monthly wage bill. Smaller employers (with an annual wage bill below £3m) fund their bakery apprenticeships through co-investment with government. These employers need only pay 5% of their apprentices training costs, meaning that for every £1000 the government invests in the apprenticeship, the employer contribution is just £50. For employers with less than 50 employees that 5% is waived if their apprentice is between 16-18 years or between 19-24 and has a local authority education, health and care plan, or has been in the care of a local authority.  Employers are also now able to negotiate with their approved training provider to ensure that they get good value training that suits their business, and choose their preferred end-point assessment organisation.

Find out more about apprenticeship funding

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