Two courses have been added to the UK government’s employment initiative, which will provide fully funded training for those new to the food industry.

First launched in April 2021, the government’s Plan for Jobs initiative offers free courses and qualifications for adults aged 19 and over, who do not already have a level three qualification. The award is the equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or A levels.

According to details published on the UK government’s website, the courses included under this initiative aim to help people gain the qualifications needed and valued by employers, improve their job prospects, and progress in work.

The Level Three Diploma in Food Technology and the Level Three Diploma in Food Technology and Manufacturing have now been added to the list of courses available.

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has welcomed the announcement after several weeks of lobbying for the inclusion of the food industry on the curriculum.  

Tony Goodger, spokesperson for AIMS, said: “We recently wrote to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, Gillian Keegan MP, asking that she review the list of available qualifications and to add some which are food industry related. We reminded her of the importance of the food manufacturing sector and the current job shortages that are being experienced by our members.”

Goodger went on to thank Keegan for adding the two qualifications but asked, “given the acute shortage of meat and poultry processing”, that a Level Three Advanced Butcher course be added to the programme.