LACA – the school food people – launch four industry and sector specific Apprenticeships in partnership with national training providers HIT Training and Cambrian Training.
It’s National Apprenticeship week 5th to 11th of February and LACA is delighted to launch four new specially designed apprenticeships for the school catering industry in the UK. Working in partnership with HIT Training in England and Cambrian Training Company in Wales, the four apprenticeships on offer include
- Level 2 School Catering Assistant/Production Chef
- Level 3 Senior Production Chef
- Level 4 Hospitality Manager
- Level 5 Operations Manager
The unique feature of these apprenticeships is that they are nationally recognised qualifications designed by school catering and training professionals to provide those within this diverse industry with the skills, knowledge and behaviours that are essential to their vital role in feeding our nation’s school children. The creation of these bespoke qualifications will ensure that the school catering industry is recognised and valued as an essential profession.
These apprenticeships cover all the roles in the sector so there is something suitable for all sector employees. The unique partnership with HIT in England and Cambrian Training Company in Wales provides employees and employers a direct route to specific and tailored advice and information as to how to access relevant funding, what is the best level apprenticeship for an individual and individual tailored support for learners.
School catering providers provide customised training and support for all their employees and these apprenticeships build on the knowledge and understanding, skills and behaviours key to the role and formalise the learning for an apprenticeship award. Furthermore, they allow progression within the school food sector and the formal transfer of skills for progression across the broader hospitality sector.
Each apprenticeship has a fact sheet available on the LACA website (https://www.laca.co.uk/laca-apprenticeships) which provides full information. Typically, each apprenticeship takes a year to eighteen months to complete and can be completed in the workplace. Entry requirements vary with advice available to support learners in deciding their best access route. End-Point Assessment leads to an apprenticeship award at the relevant level.
Anita Brown, LACA Chair
“I am delighted to be able to launch these exciting opportunities for training and development for our colleagues working in key roles in schools feeding our young people every day. Working in the sector to deliver healthy and nutritious school lunches is a hugely worthwhile career only enhanced by the achievement of a nationally recognised award”.
Jill Whittaker OBE FCA Executive Chair HIT Training
“At HIT Training our mission is to transform lives, shape futures and create income opportunities that allow everyone to reach their full potential and acquire essential skills for life. We are delighted to be working in partnership with LACA and Cambrian Training as part of this exciting apprenticeship initiative.”
Faith O’Brien Managing Director Cambrian Training Company
“Cambrian Training Company is delighted to be partnering with HIT Training and LACA to provide work – based apprenticeships to LACA’s members in Wales. Working in hospitality and catering are important roles and we are keen to support the professionalisation of the industry across all sectors, working with our employer and learner clients across Wales.”
The Three Partner Organisations
LACA – The School Food People – is the leading professional body representing members drawn from across the school food sector representing public and private sector contract caterers and suppliers to schools and academies across the UK.
With around three million lunches being served every school day in 27,000 schools, the LACA network is the country’s largest provider of school food. The organisation is a professional body with members representing more than 110,000 staff.
LACA supports its membership by involving members in a nationwide network creating networking opportunities, events and services that help further the education and development of people working in the industry.
The launch of four, industry specific and specially designed apprenticeships is the latest example of developments to create opportunities for our members and to further support the professionalism of the sector.
HIT Training
HIT Training is the market leading specialist apprenticeship and training provider for the UK’s hospitality, catering and retail industries. Working in partnership with sector employers, we improve employees’ skills, increase efficiency and productivity and enable innovation whilst boosting the bottom line.
Cambrian Training Company
With over 25 years history, Cambrian Training Company is the leading Welsh provider of work-based apprenticeships in hospitality and catering. Our award-winning apprenticeships support employers to successfully hire and upskill staff, improving motivation, retention and productivity, whilst helping learners to achieve their career ambitions.
