Sainsbury’s is extending its horticulture and agriculture apprenticeship scheme run to include applicants from its livestock and poultry supply chains.
Applications for the scheme are open until February 28, 2015, providing those who are successful with a level 2 apprenticeship that includes visits to the supply chain to enable apprentices to “understand the wider industry of which they will be part”.
Since the first horticulture apprentices began their 20-month-long placement with the supermarket chain last September, they have carried out varied roles across Sainsbury’s fruit and vegetable suppliers from apple production through to mushrooms. The plan now is to do the same with livestock.
“Off the back of the horticulture apprentices who are working with suppliers across the country, we’re really proud to extend the scheme to livestock and poultry supply chains,” said Sainsbury’s horticultural manager, Robert Honeysett.
Sainsbury’s run the scheme in partnership with the recruitment and training organisation, Staffline, implementing the so-called “EDGE Apprenticeships in Food & Farming” to educate, develop, grow and employ young people.Â
The EDGE scheme was launched in March 2013 to “tackle skills shortages and a widening age gap in the food and farming industries”.
Sainsbury’s said the scheme is already successfully matching bright and enthusiastic young people with dynamic and exciting job opportunities.