Food Industry Technologist Apprenticeship - Level 3
Food Industry Technologist Level 3
Our Level 3 Food Technologist Apprenticeship provides learners with the hands-on skills and industry-specific techniques needed to drive sustainable growth in food and drink manufacturing.
Delegates will:
- Cover a broad range of food technology and science topics
- Implement real business improvements and benefit from practical days at state-of-the-art facilities
- Gain an industry-recognised qualification and progress their career
Businesses will:
- Receive a guaranteed return on investment benefiting from greater innovation in new product development
- Maximise profitability and meet customer requirements
- Ensure food regulations and standards, including Food Safety and HACCP, are adhered to
Key Points
Route: Apprenticeship
Typical Duration: 24 Months
Level of Delivery: Level 3
Funding Band: £18,000
Minimum Entry Requirements: English and Maths GCSE D (3) / FS Level 1
Delivery: Blended onsite and online, instructor-led
End Point Assessment: Multiple choice test, workplace project, presentation and professional discussion
You can download our 2025/26 open cohort schedule for full breakdown of the key dates including all workshops below.
To find out more why not download our programme brochure?
Food Technologist Apprenticeship Course Overview
Our Level 3 Food Technologist Apprenticeship has been developed with industry leaders in food and drink manufacturing to upskill employees, address skills gaps, and maintain high standards across the sector. This food apprenticeship programme covers a wide range of essential topics, including:
- Food and drink regulations
- Food safety and HACCP compliance
- Technical quality management
This apprenticeship is targeted at people involved at all stages of the food and drink production life cycle. Delegates will develop their food science knowledge to ensure the smooth transition of food and drink products from farm to fork. This apprenticeship focuses on ensuring that technical and quality standards are achieved throughout the food and drink manufacturing process, whilst maximising profitability to meet customer requirements.
The programme will be delivered through online workshops and coaching sessions, and supported by practical days at the state-of-the-art Harper Adams University.
What Are Food Technologists?
Millions of food products are produced and sold each and every day, representing a huge and dynamic industry not just in the UK but around the world. Food Technologists play a vital role in the field-to-fork journey, ensuring that produce is safe, high-quality, and consistent for the end consumer, whether that’s human or animal. They combine food science knowledge with technical skills to maintain safety standards and support innovation in food production.
What is an Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeship standards have been created by industry for industry, to reduce the skills gap and provide the relevant Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) to support organisational challenges and goals. They are designed to develop talent and industry-specific skills that businesses need to grow and develop.
I think the whole programme has been extremely beneficial as it isn’t just about food technology. I had originally thought it would be mainly focussed on microbiology and technical lab work. I was pleasantly surprised to learn it was much broader, covering wider topics such as where HACCP started, if you were to set up a business what you would need to consider before serving food and drink to customers, food safety and regulations and of course continuous improvement.
Who Is The Food Technologist Apprenticeship For?
The Level 3 Food Technologist Apprenticeship has been designed to upskill existing staff, giving them the essential knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) needed to excel in food and drink manufacturing.
This food apprenticeship is ideal for employees currently working in food and drink manufacturing who wish to progress in their roles or develop technical expertise for promotion.
This programme is suitable for:
- Managers and senior team members aiming to enhance their technical and leadership skills
- Employees seeking a food science apprenticeship pathway
- Those wanting to gain formal qualifications while applying learning directly to their current role
Future Career paths include:
- Food and drink technologist
- Senior Food technologist
- Technical manager
- New product development specialist
- Technical quality auditor
- CI specialist
- Quality assurance supervisor
Entry requirements:
No previous formal qualifications are needed for this apprenticeship, however delegates must be in a relevant technical role to be able to apply the knowledge, skills and behaviours developed on this programme.
English and Maths Functional Skills Level 2 can be worked towards as part of the apprenticeship programme (unless they have already achieved this). At CQM T&C, our Head of Functional Skills provides dedicated support to help learners achieve their Functional Skills Level 2 qualifications. This apprenticeship is also suitable for employees who have English as a second language (ESL) or who have completed their high school education overseas.
Benefits of Food Industry Technologist Level 3 for Businesses
Our Food Industry Technologist Level 3 apprenticeship is funded by the Apprenticeship Levy, so businesses and organisations of all sizes can benefit from funding to access apprenticeships that have been built by industry for industry.
Investing in this Food Industry Technologist Level 3 apprenticeship for your employees means you will:
- Receive a guaranteed return on investment through financial gain and positive organisational change.
- Stay competitive by producing innovative products that match consumer demands.
- Drive sales growth by expanding your product portfolio and improving production processes.
- Ensure employees are up-to-date with industry trends, food technology best practices, and food safety regulations to reduce legal risk.
- Foster a culture of innovation, creativity, and efficiency within your organisation.
- Strengthen your brand reputation with qualified food technologists on your team.
The Food Technologist apprenticeship is a funded vocational training programme that has been designed by industry stakeholders to provide apprentices with a thorough understanding of food technology best practices. Delegates will gain practical real-world skills and knowledge that can be applied to their roles.
Below are some of the key benefits of participating in this apprenticeship scheme. Delegates will:
- Gain hands-on experience in food safety, quality control, sensory evaluation, and product formulation, supported by a dedicated mentor.
- Acquire up-to-date industry knowledge in food technology, including the latest trends, techniques, and regulations such as HACCP, VACCP, and TACCP.
- Understand quality assurance at every stage of manufacturing, including raw material selection, process optimisation, and thorough quality checks.
- Develop creative skills to design new products that meet consumer needs while improving problem-solving and project management capabilities.
- Collaborate with stakeholders across the business to enhance teamwork, communication, and networking skills.
- Complete a work-based project that delivers measurable improvements, supported by Maths and English Functional Skills Level 2 training where required.
Why Choose CQM T&C For Your Food Technologist Apprenticeship?
We have been delivering world-class, business-focused solutions for over 30 years.
CQM is on the Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR) and we are compliant with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). We offer award-winning, high-quality training and apprenticeship programmes that are tailored to the needs of food and drink manufacturing employers.
Although we work with a range of industries and employers, 85% of our programmes are delivered to food and drink clients demonstrating our long-standing commitment to this industry. We understand the importance of realising ROI and harnessing a continuous improvement culture.
We’re Specialists At What We Do
Our core expertise is in Lean Six Sigma, Leadership and Management Development and a small selection of skills-based apprenticeship programmes mainly aimed at the manufacturing industry. By only delivering a small number of skills-based programmes, we can ensure our apprenticeships are delivered to the highest possible standard. CQM was named SME Provider of the Year 2023 at the OAL Awards – a testament to our commitment to offering world-class training solutions.
Unrivalled Learning Experience
Our apprenticeships are delivered using a combination of coaching, workshops, and practical days to ensure that all delegates can apply their knowledge, skills and behaviours within their role. There is a strong emphasis on making a real difference through practical-based learning. Our high quality training and development is reflected in our success rates, with a significant number of delegates achieving the highest grade of distinction upon completion.
We offer a dedicated and award-winning learner manager system, Aptem, that allows delegates and organisations to easily track their progress. Delegates will undergo a robust onboarding process, including an engagement session, initial assessment and skills review. Our aim is to ensure that all delegates are on the right programme for their skill level and identify how we can best support them to reach their goals.
The Food Technologist Apprenticeship Delivery Team
At CQM Training & Consultancy, our food technology development coaches are not just highly qualified to teach and coach, they have significant and relevant industry experience. They are expertly positioned to understand what delegates are going through and the issues they might be facing. Our development coaches can offer specific insights into overcoming industry-specific challenges and will use relevant real-life examples in every aspect of their programme delivery.
Delegates in this apprenticeship programme will be assigned a development coach who will oversee their cohort and act as their main point of contact. The two development coaches who deliver the Food Technologist apprenticeship are Richard and Paulina.
“It has been truly amazing, I can’t speak highly enough of the support I have been given by CQM T&C and my development coach, Richard Everitt. The way Richard has delivered the course has been exceptional, he has been very understanding, he spoke ‘my language’ which helped me understand the topics much more clearly with real-life examples.”
How is the Food Industry Technologist Apprenticeship Funded?
Apprenticeship funding in England primarily comes from the Apprenticeship Levy, paid by employers with a payroll of over £3 million annually. These funds can be used to train apprentices, making it a cost-effective way to upskill staff and address skill gaps. This includes the Food Industry Technologist Level 3, representing a fantastic opportunity to invest in your teams with £18,000 worth of training and assessment per delegate.
Smaller organisations can also benefit from apprenticeship funding, with a minimum of 95% funding available for your chosen programme, including the Food Industry Technologist Level 3 apprenticeship. The Food Tech L3 programme, which has a value of £18,000 worth of training, requires £1,000 of investment over 18 months, or just £55.56 per month. There may also be additional funding that SMEs can access, the team at CQM are happy to advise you on all the opportunities available and help with funding applications.
Speak to an Expert About Our Food Technologist Apprenticeship Today
Ready to upskill your team? Our Level 3 Food Technologist Apprenticeship will equip your employees with the knowledge, skills, and qualifications they need to improve product quality, ensure compliance, and enhance efficiency across your operations.
Get in touch with our team to speak to our apprenticeship experts and discover if this programme is the right fit for your business.
Download Our Open Programme Schedule 2025/26
Food Technologist Apprenticeship Level 3 FAQs
How is this apprenticeship different from a university degree in food science?
The Level 3 Food Technologist Apprenticeship focuses on practical, workplace-based learning, combining hands-on skills with industry-specific knowledge. Unlike a university degree, which is theory-heavy, this apprenticeship allows apprentices to apply knowledge directly in a real-world food manufacturing environment while gaining a recognised qualification.
Can this apprenticeship be tailored to my company’s needs?
Yes, CQM works closely with employers to align the apprenticeship content with your organisation’s specific requirements.
Other Training & Development We Provide
Lean Manufacturing Operative Level 2
This Apprenticeship Programme is ideal for those who will be expected to carry out work safely and meet the exacting quality standards demanded in a fast paced and efficient processing environment and are interested in developing themselves into a multi-skilled operator through process ownership.
Process Leader Level 4
This Apprenticeship Programme is ideal for those directing production activities and operations. Process Leaders effectively lead and manage large teams as well as providing technical/specialist input and direction to their own team and to others. Process Leader are responsible for determining and managing budgets and resources.
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