Butchery employers including Morrisons, Faccenda and Aubrey Allen call for direct industry input into ‘significant apprenticeship reform’ from 12 noon, 14th May

(PRWEB UK) 15 May 2014

This employer led group was announced by Skills Minister Matthew Hancock MP in March during National Apprenticeship Week celebrations. Businesses involved include Morrisons, Faccenda, Fairfax Meadow and Aubrey Allen along with several professional and trade bodies supported by the Food and Drink Training and Education Council (ftc) have been working on significant reform of the butchery apprenticeship standards.

“We have long been committed to developing our young talent; equipping them with the skills, knowledge and attitude to become highly skilled butchers who can provide a quality service to our customers. As part of this, we are keen to help the industry to ensure all new butchers have the opportunity to meet their potential and progress successfully in their careers.” - Mickey Greenhalgh, Head of Craft Academy at Wm Morrisons Supermarkets

The new standards, expected to be finalised in June, will outline what employers need from their butchery employees of tomorrow, in terms of skills, knowledge and behaviours. These key components will provide the foundation for agreeing the vocational education, training and assessment requirements which could make up a butchery programme.

Butchery employers, professional and trade bodies and assessment experts are now urged to get involved in commenting on the proposed standards. The consultation will open mid-May.

“This is an exciting part of the project, said Lucianne Allen Chair of the Steering Group and Sales and Marketing Director, Aubrey Allen. “And I strongly encourage butchery businesses and other stakeholders to get involved. It is important that the wider sector have their say now to help us finally shape these standards before they are set in stone.”

The standard that will emerge from this process will be responsive to the needs of industry; meaning that each apprentice will have the skills, knowledge and behaviours required by the sector. It will be focused on quality so that the apprentice has to demonstrate their ability through rigorous assessment and it will be based on a short and clear standard written by employers using employer friendly terminology.

“We are delighted to be involved in this once-in-a-generation initiative. It is vital that our industry has a steady stream of well qualified people to ensure that the UK can continue to compete successfully with the rest of the world. I urge businesses to get involved in the consultation to guarantee that it meets the needs of our industry now and in the future.” - Andrew Brodie, HR Director, Faccenda

“By getting involved in the development and origination of this standard we want to ensure that butchery becomes more and more popular as a distinct career choice for young people,” said Keith Fisher Chief Executive of professional body the Institute of Meat.

“Young apprentices bring significant levels of enthusiasm, commitment and talent with them and we look forward to finalising and launching this new standard in the summer to ensure that benefits are maximised for both business and learner.”

The newly named Food and Drink Training and Education Council (ftc) is providing secretariat support to the employer led butchery trailblazer group. Therefore, any employer, professional body, training provider or assessment expert who would like to receive a direct consultation invitation should contact ftc via ftc(at)foodtraining(dot)org(dot)uk or call 0113 3970 398.

About the butchery trailblazer steering group
The butchery trailblazer steering group was given the responsibility to redesign the apprenticeship standard by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. It includes representatives from Aubrey Allen, Walter Smith Fine Foods, Bernard Matthews, ABP Group, Fairfax Meadow, Faccenda, John Taylor and Son Ltd, Tulip, JW Mettrick and Sons Ltd, Cranstons Quality Butchers ltd, Morrisons, Institute of Meat, British Poultry Council, National Federation of Meat and Food Traders, British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) with secretariat support provided by Food and Drink Training and Education Council Limited (ftc).

About ftc
Food and drink training and education council (ftc) formerly known as Meat Training Council (MTC). Ftc is a food industry skills focussed charity, dedicated to working collaboratively in the build a world class food industry in the UK. We are involved in a range of practical and impactful charitable work to help support our industry in competing with the greatest nations in the world.

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