Three new trailblazer apprenticeship schemes are being developed by AHDB with one of them having a “stock person” focus.
The organisation, which has already carried out industry consultation on its crop technician apprenticeship, has now launched a similar process for a packhouse line manager scheme with the promise that consultation on a stock person apprenticeship will open later this year.
Work on the three schemes is in response to “sustained calls from industry” for attention to be given to the development of the next generation of skilled workers, with full industry consultation on how the apprenticeships are structured.
In relation to the current packhouse scheme, for example, industry stakeholders are being asked to comment on the proposed standards to ensure the planned apprenticeship will meet industry needs.
“As an employer, being able to get involved in the development of the new standards is vitally important to ensure we have access to high quality training that is relevant to our business,” said fresh produce supplier, Beverly Dixon of G’s Fresh (pictured above).
“Having an apprenticeship designed for a specific role not only gives the young person a solid foundation in their chosen career but will also ensure that the business has a fully competent member of staff, when they complete, who is more likely to stay within the business.”
With a similar model to be applied to the stock person scheme, when it opens later this year, AHDB said it was hoping for a strong response from the industry, concerening the current consultation, to create an “impactful apprenticeship programme that will provide skilled employees to build a stronger industry”.