Abattoir apprenticeship in the UK is at risk
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE) has accepted that the abattoir apprenticeship and the slaughter role are, fundamentally, different from mainstream butchery. The consensus is, therefore, that the abattoir apprenticeship should be retained (funded) as a separate standard.
However, over the last few years, fewer and fewer companies have been enrolling staff on the abattoir apprenticeship, which places it at risk of being de-listed. As an interim measure, the IFATE has agreed to review the number of participants in six months’ time.
Christine Walsh, AHDB Head of Stakeholder Engagement Management, commented: "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."
In the UK, two training providers are supporting the abattoir apprenticeship standard and offer nationwide coverage, AHDB mentioned in a press release. The lack of workforce in the processing plants has seriously impacted the meat sector last year.
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