IFATE announces funding for abattoir apprenticeship
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE) has announced it will run funding for an abattoir apprenticeship derived from the mainstream butchery qualification already on offer.
As an interim measure, the IFATE said it will review the number of participants on the apprenticeship in six months’ time.
According to chief executive of the Food and Drink Training and Education Council (ftc) Christine Walsh, in recent years, fewer companies have been enrolling staff on the abattoir apprenticeship, placing the scheme at risk of being de-listed.
Commenting on the announcement, Walsh said: “With a recognised shortage of both slaughter and boning hall staff across the UK, it would be disappointing if the abattoir apprenticeship standard was de-listed.
“There hasn’t been a lot of promotion or uptake for the apprenticeship, and this may be because employers do not know where to source qualified training providers in such a specialised area.
“However, I would encourage all those working in the slaughter industry to consider whether some of their staff would benefit from completing the apprenticeship, as we are at risk of losing a good training opportunity.”
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