Drive to Expand Network of Training Providers

27 March 2008: The National Skills Academy for Food & Drink Manufacturing is currently inviting accomplished Training Providers to apply to join their network of excellence.

Expressions of interest are being called for from providers that specialise in bakery, brewing, sweet confectionery, soft drinks, automation, sustainability, leadership and management, as well as more general food and drink manufacturing skills.

Justine Fosh, director of the NSA for Food and Drink Manufacture, said: “It’s important to build a wide-reaching network of training centres, in order to ensure that all 500,000 workers in the food and drink industry have access to the high-quality training delivered through the NSA.

“Learning providers that successfully join the NSA network will be recognised by industry as leaders in training provision. They will also have access to an expanded customer base, excellent marketing opportunities and, potentially, extra funding.”

The NSA Network of Excellence will comprise network Champions, who offer a focal point for training within specific industry sub-sectors and network Members, working under their strategic leadership to deliver industry leading provision.

A rigorous accreditation process ensures that the network comprises only the very best training providers, so that employers and learners benefit from top-quality training through the NSA.

The existing accredited learning providers include Network Champions for meat and poultry (Poultec Training in Dereham, Norfolk), dairy (Reaseheath College in Nantwich), lean manufacturing (Peter Rowley Ltd in Grimsby), and seafood (Sea Fish Industry Association and The Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education). Providers that specialise in these areas will continue to be considered for accreditation, with a view to becoming Network Members.

Interested Providers are requested to apply via the website www.foodanddrink.nsacademy.co.uk. Completed expression of interest forms must be submitted by 21 April.

If you require further information about the NSA network of excellence, please don’t hesitate to call me on 0845 644 0558. Or, log onto www.foodanddrink.nsacademy.co.uk for details about the ongoing development of the NSA.