Food industry technologist
Level 3 · AdvancedHealth and science 2 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A Food Industry Technologist apprenticeship trains you to support product development, quality management, and technical compliance activities across food and drink manufacturing. You will work with scientists, production teams, and commercial colleagues to develop new products and maintain quality standards. This standard leads to food technologist, quality manager, or NPD specialist roles across the sector.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Food science fundamentals - microbiology, chemistry, and physics
Product development and recipe formulation skills
Food legislation, labelling, and regulatory compliance
Quality management systems and third-party audits
Shelf life evaluation and stability testing
Sensory analysis and consumer evaluation methods
Ingredient functionality and raw material assessment
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Support new product development from concept to launch
Formulate and trial new recipes in the development kitchen
Carry out microbiological and physical product testing
Prepare product specifications and legal labelling
Maintain quality records and support audit preparation
Liaise with suppliers on raw material technical requirements
Conduct sensory and shelf-life evaluation of products
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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