Level 3 Food Industry Technologist Apprenticeship Certificate in
About this course
Our Level 3 Food Industry Technologist Apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to enhance your skills and career prospects within the food and drink industry. The course has been carefully designed to meet the needs of the food and drink industry to develop your core skills, knowledge and behaviours in food science and technology.
Upon completion of this apprenticeship you will be working in an industry which offers many ongoing career opportunities in roles such as Technical Manager, Quality, Process Development or New Product Development specialist or an Auditor. Alternatively, once qualified there is also the opportunity to progress onto studying at degree level via our Level 6 Food Industry Technical Professional Apprenticeship (FITP) to further develop career prospects.
Why choose this apprenticeship?
The food industry is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing sectors of industry, facing many challenges; recruitment and retention being one of the biggest.
This Level 3 apprenticeship has been designed in conjunction with the food and drink manufacturing industry to deliver taught blocks alongside practical on-the-job learning that benefits both the employer and the employee — supporting learners to develop valuable skills, and enabling them to make an immediate contribution to the workplace.
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, individuals are eligible to apply for The Science Council for Registered Science Technician (RSiTech) through a shortened application route.
Who is this aimed at?
This apprenticeship provides an entry point for applicants who are aged 18 and over, and are interested in developing a product development or technical career to study at further education level. It is suitable for a full range of roles, such as quality assurance supervisor, technical quality auditor and product process development technologist; who are looking to enhance their skills. No previous formal qualifications are needed. Dedicated functional skills support is provided for those needing to complete a Level 2 English and Maths qualification.
NTU can support a business with the recruitment of new apprentices and assist with the funding application. The training completed throughout the programme will support the development of the key knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to be successful in current and future roles.
What will my apprenticeship contain?
In order to achieve your apprenticeship you must evidence that you have developed your skills, knowledge and behaviours as detailed in the apprenticeship standard statements.
This apprenticeship requires you to complete three mandatory qualifications;
- Food Industry Technologist Apprenticeship
- Level 2 English, if not already achieved
- Level 2 Mathematics, if not already achieved
How is the apprenticeship course run?
This apprenticeship can take up to 24 months to complete including EPA. The apprenticeship is delivered on a block release basis which includes six, one week blocks, over 18 months. This is combined with online workshops and coaching support from an academic and workplace mentor. Training is provided for the workplace mentor and regular progress reviews are held between the learner and the workplace. The block study approach combines studies with work and applies what is learnt at university in the workplace.
By the end of the 24-month period the apprentice will achieve a Level 3 Food Industry Technologist apprenticeship. Level 2 English and Maths functional skills will also be completed, if not already achieved.
Where will I study?
Apprentices will study at Brackenhurst with its purpose-built food technology facilities including a sensory kitchen, food pilot plant and laboratories. The programme is delivered by industry experts in a dynamic teaching setting, which allows apprentices to succeed in a supportive environment. Throughout the programme apprentices will be working with others from the food industry, sharing work and study experiences.
We are the top-rated University provider of higher and degree apprenticeships in the UK in the RateMyApprenticeship Top Training Providers list for 2024-25.
What you’ll study
You will study a series of core units throughout the year along side modules specialising in either Food Development or Food Quality.
Core Units
- Audits and continuous improvement
- Communication
- Data collection and analysis
- Food Science
- Legislation, regulations and standard
- Processes, trials and costings
- Product non conformance
- Quality systems and food safety
- Raw material checks
- Sensory evaluation
Food Development Specialist
- New product development and samples
- Product specification
- Sensory and shelf-like evaluation
Food Quality Specialist
- Auditing and resolving problems
- Evaluate raw materials
- Auditing products and processes
Completing your Apprenticeship
To achieve the apprenticeship, all apprentices must complete an End-Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA is an independent assessment that ascertains whether an apprentice is competent in their occupation.
Gateway
Gateway is the period of time between the end of the off-the-job training (practical period) and the beginning of the assessment period when EPA will take place.
At Gateway, the apprentice, employer and training provider will review the apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours to determine whether they are ready to take their EPA. This is normally done at a Gateway review meeting which takes place near the end of the apprenticeship. At this meeting, all three parties will check that the mandatory aspects of the apprenticeship have been completed and that the apprentice is ready to take their final assessment(s).
Apprentices must meet the Gateway requirement set out in the assessment plan before taking their EPA.
End-Point Assessment
This apprenticeship is non-integrated. This means that the end-point assessment is administered and assessed by an external organisation.
Details of the assessment elements can be found in the assessment plan.
There are three elements to this end-point assessment:
- Written knowledge test
- Workplace project and presentation
- Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, individuals are eligible to apply for The Science Council for Registered Science Technician (RSiTech) through a shortened application route.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
How you're taught
You will experience a range of learning and teaching methods, during the block taught weeks on campus and via distance learning in between the teaching blocks. As well as traditional lectures and tutorials you will undertake practical work in our food processing laboratory and chemistry laboratory.
How you're assessed
You will be observed in the workplace by your academic mentor/assessor who will assess your skills, behaviour and knowledge. Along with other evidence that you produce against the criteria of the qualification during your studies e.g. project work, case studies etc. Your assessments will be collated to form an overall result at the of the end-point assessment which will be administered and assessed by an external organisation where you will achieve either a pass, merit or distinction.
Careers and employability
This qualification will assist your career progression within the food and drink sector. It is appropriate for a range of roles within quality assurance, technical, production and new product development.
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.
Campus and facilities
As a dedicated home for our animal, rural and environmental science courses, the Brackenhurst Campus has a character all of its own. From the population of almost 2,000 students and staff to the animals themselves — cats and cattle, sheep and horses — it’s all about community. Relax with a coffee in the Orangery; kick back with your coursemates in the Brack Bar; enjoy the peace and quiet of our Victorian walled garden or Eco-Library; grab a pal and wander through 500 acres of stunning countryside.
Our Brackenhurst Campus sits on the doorstep of Southwell: a picture-perfect market town filled with rustic pubs, cosy cafés, and boutique shops. A little further afield, and served by reliable buses that run late into the night, you’ve got Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. It’s stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.
Entry requirements
UK students
You will need:
- GCSE maths or international equivalent – minimum 4 / C or above
- GCSE English or international equivalent – minimum 4 / C or above.
If you have not achieved these grades or you do not have copies of your certificates to evidence this level you will be required to complete our online functional skills assessment during the application process and must achieve:
- Maths functional skills Level 1 (and must be willing to gain Level 2 during your apprenticeship)
- English functional skills Level 1 (and must be willing to gain Level 2 during your apprenticeship).
If either English or maths results are scored at E3 and the candidate can demonstrate more than 2 years experience in the food industry applications will be considered. This is on the condition that the other subject scored Level 1 or above.
Learning support will be provided by Nottingham Trent University as part of your apprenticeship to equip you with the knowledge needed to pass Level 2 in English and maths. Please note that you will need to be prepared to commit to the additional learning required and longer teaching hours during your block weeks on campus.
Additional requirements for UK students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
International students
We will review your identity documents / immigration status to verify your residency eligibility in line with the apprenticeship funding rules, at the application stage.
Additional requirements for international students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
