A Guide To Food Science And Food Technologist Apprenticeships

Introduction To Food Technologist and Food Science Apprenticeships

What were your academic strengths in school? If you enjoy STEM subjects (subjects such as maths, sciences and IT) and you also have a keen interest in food and nutrition, there are exciting careers you can build around that and merge your passions.

So what are the types of roles you could do where you can merge science jobs with food jobs? Lots of science jobs are often associated with doing a university degree first but what if you have decided a full time university degree is not for you? If you are keen to get out there into the world of work and you want a meaningful career with structured training, then it’s possible to do Science Apprenticeships. Combine this with your passion for food and nutrition and you could have a really rewarding job doing Food Science Apprenticeships or a Food Technologist Apprenticeship.

But what is a food technologist or a food scientist? What are their roles and responsibilities? Just think about when you are walking up and down the aisles of your local supermarket and you are doing your food shopping. Quite often, you will be shopping for all your favourite brands. Well known household names. And as you put the items into your trolley, you trust that food safety has been taken into account and you can eat those foods and enjoy them without becoming sick. That’s because your favourite chocolate biscuits, soft drinks, frozen foods - whatever it might be - have been thoroughly researched, tested and correctly packaged, stored and distributed by the food scientists and technologists around the UK.

There are lots of other areas to food science and technology and if you think food safety jobs and nutrition sound right up your street then why not think about doing Apprenticeships in Food Science and Technology.

Contents:

• How Do Apprenticeships In Food Science And Food Technology Work?
• Food Science And Food Technology Apprenticeships - Qualifications And Pathways
• Further Career Progression After Apprenticeships In Food Science and Food Technology
• Apply For Food Technologist Apprenticeship And Food Science Apprenticeships In The UK

How Do Apprenticeships In Food Science And Food Technology Work?

Apprenticeships are ideal for those of you who don’t want to go onto full time study but you still want to gain professional, nationally recognised qualifications to further your career. Rather than doing food science course or food technology courses, you will be hands on, straight away in the workplace. You will earn a wage and get the structured training you need to be successful.

For some apprenticeships in this area, you can even do Level 6 food science degree Apprenticeships, meaning you will have equivalent qualifications to those of a university degree. And the bonus here is, you will also have the work experience and complete your Apprenticeship without having the burden of debts that are built up whilst doing full time study at university. Depending on the situation of the company you are working for, you could also be offered full time permanent food jobs in food science or as a food technologist.

Doing Apprenticeships in Food Science or focussing on being a food technologist can also see you working in different environments, depending on the company you are working for and their focus. You might be working in a manufacturing setting, for example, in a factory. Some of you might be working in retail in specialised refrigerated areas or in head offices. Others of you could spend more time in a laboratory setting or out in agricultural settings. Some larger food companies will offer their own tailored food science Degree Apprenticeships and other types of Food Apprenticeship programmes.

Food Science And Food Technology Apprenticeships - Qualifications And Pathways

Level 3 Food Technologist Apprenticeship Standard
Food technologists take great pride in their work and doing a Food technologist Apprenticeship means you will be a part of one of the fastest growing industries in the UK, with food safety being central to everything you do.

The Level 3 Food Technologist Apprenticeship Standard is ideal for those of you who are looking for entry level positions as a route into a career as as food technologist. There are no formal qualification requirements but if you didn’t reach Level 2 English and Maths in school or elsewhere, you will be required to do this before being awarded your Apprenticeship Standard.

• The Level 3 Food Technologist Apprenticeship Standard will take between 24 months and 30 months to complete.
• After successful completion for the Food Technologist Apprenticeship, you will be awarded a Level 3 Diploma in Food technology.

Food Technologist Apprenticeship jobs could see you working in a variety of environments, depending on the company you are working for and which direction you want to take for careers in food. You could be working in:

• Laboratories, doing food safety jobs and researching food quality.
• Food product development jobs - launching new products and improving existing products.
• Factories - looking at manufacturing practices and making sure food is being produced, stored and moved safely.
• Retail.
• Agricultural settings.

Level 6 Food Science Degree Apprenticeships - Food Industry Technical Professional
The Level 6 Food Science Degree Apprenticeships as Food Industry Technical Professional will equip you for managerial positions once you have completed the programme. The company you are working for and the types of food science jobs you want to be doing in the future will determine the roles you work towards.

Technical professional roles include: Assistant Food Technical Manager, Quality Manager, Shift Quality Manager, Hygiene Manager, Product Innovation and Development Technologist.

To apply for the Food Industry Technical Professional Level 6 Food Science Degree Apprenticeships, you will need the following qualifications or experience: 3 A-Levels, including a science subject or food technology. Or relevant industry experience. You will also need to have completed a minimum of Level 2 English and Maths.

This Apprenticeship Standard is a Degree Apprenticeship and will take 4 years to complete. Once you have completed the Apprenticeship programme, you will be awarded BSc Food Science & Technology.

This Degree Apprenticeship comes with professional recognition. Once you have qualified, you will be eligible to apply for membership with the Institute of Food and Science Technology and achieve the status of Registered Scientist.

Further Career Progression After Apprenticeships In Food Science and Food Technology

For the food scientist and the food technologist, there is lots of room for career progression once you have completed your Apprenticeship. After the Level 3 Food Technologist Apprenticeship Standard, it is up to you how far you want to take your career. Once you are in a full time role, you could work towards a food science degree or similar and take on more senior roles and even managerial positions.

If you have done food science degree Apprenticeships, you could opt to stay with the same company in a managerial role. Some people also choose to further their knowledge, either with postgraduate study or other courses related to their work. You might opt to go into research, other types of food safety jobs - or you could even go it alone and become entrepreneurial. You could set up your own microbrewery, for example. Wherever your passions lie, there will be room for career growth in the food science and technology field.

Apply For Food Technologist Apprenticeship And Food Science Apprenticeships In The UK

So, are you keen to get started with food jobs in a particular field? If so, then take a look to see if there are any apprenticeships out there that will make you into the food technologist or food industry technical professional that you want to be.