LACA Apprenticeships

29 Jan 2024

LACA has developed four industry and sector specific Apprenticeships in partnership with national training providers HIT Training and Cambrian Training.

To coincide with the start of National Apprenticeship Week 2024 (Monday 5th - Sunday 11th February) LACA has launched four new specially designed apprenticeships for the school catering industry in the UK. Working in partnership with HIT Training in England and Cambrian Training Company in Wales, the four apprenticeships on offer to LACA members include:

Level 2 School Catering Assistant / Production Chef
Level 3 Senior Production Chef
Level 4 Hospitality Manager
Level 5 Operations Manager

The unique feature of these apprenticeships is that they are nationally recognised qualifications designed by school catering and training professionals to provide those within this diverse industry with the skills, knowledge and behaviours that are essential to their vital role in feeding our nation’s school children.

The creation of these bespoke qualifications will ensure that the school catering industry is recognised and valued as an essential profession.

These apprenticeships cover all the roles in the sector so there is something suitable for all sector employees. The unique partnership with HIT in England and Cambrian Training Company in Wales provides employees and employers a direct route to specific and tailored advice and information as to how to access relevant funding, what is the best level apprenticeship for an individual and individual tailored support for learners.

School catering providers provide customised training and support for all their employees and these apprenticeships build on the knowledge and understanding, skills and behaviours key to the role and formalise the learning for an apprenticeship award. Furthermore, they allow progression within the school food sector and the formal transfer of skills for progression across the broader hospitality sector.

Typically, each apprenticeship takes a year to eighteen months to complete and can be completed in the workplace. Entry requirements vary with advice available to support learners in deciding their best access route. End-Point Assessment leads to an apprenticeship award at the relevant level.

More details of each of the apprenticeships can be found below as attachments.