Food & Nutrition Apprenticeships
What are the best apprenticeships for food enthusiasts?
Do you enjoy cooking? Take an interest in food labels and ingredients? Want to create something new?
Here are a few reasons you might like to get your teeth into a food and nutrition apprenticeship!

Why Food & Nutrition is Useful for Apprenticeships
You may have learned about healthy eating and nutrition at school. You will likely have been taught how to follow a simple recipe and produce something delicious and nutritious. However, you may have yet to realise that this knowledge could lead to a rich and tasty career in various industries.
From food manufacturing and health and wellbeing to hospitality, those who can create, analyse and advise on the food we put into our bodies will always be in high demand.
There are several apprenticeships at all levels dedicated to food and nutrition. If you’ve got the raw ingredients, they can help you cook up the career you have always wanted.
Transferable skills
If you can read and consistently replicate a recipe, you can start experimenting with substitutions and different ways of cooking. Once you have mastered the basics, it’s time to get creative.
You can always practice your cooking or baking for family and friends, taking into account any food allergies or dietary restrictions.
Food hygiene is also essential in any job that deals with food, whether in a factory or restaurant. You should always wash your hands before eating, but other requirements are necessary for working with food, such as sterilising implements and separating potentially harmful ingredients.
You would also need a food hygiene certificate if you were taking care of someone and providing their food, such as ‘Meals on Wheels’ or working in a childcare facility.
Intermediate roles
Entry-level apprenticeships in the UK are called intermediate or level two apprenticeships.
They have five main functions:
- To cater to young people whose talents were not traditionally academic
- To help fill the skills gap that exists in almost every UK industry
- To increase diversity in sectors which were historically exclusive to a particular type of candidate
- To create an alternative route to work than universities
- To give those who wish to change their career an outlet to do so
Entry Requirements
The minimum requirements for any apprenticeship in the UK, are:
- You must be 16 or older
- You must not be in full-time education
- You must have the right to live and work in the UK
Other requirements will vary between apprenticeship providers, employers and roles. However, you will typically need good passes in your English and Science GCSEs (or equivalent). For some roles, a strong grade in Maths may also be required.
Some entry-level apprenticeships will allow you to complete these qualifications in the first year of your apprenticeship if you don’t have them when you apply. Remember, there is no harm in asking.
Qualifications gained
You will graduate from your intermediate apprenticeship with the equivalent of 5 good GCSE passes.
You can find intermediate food and nutrition apprenticeships at:
- Chef Benson-Smith Academy – including Level 2 Butcher, Level 2 Fishmonger, Level 2 craft baker and Level 2 retail baker.
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Advanced/Higher/Degree targeted at A-Level
Level 3 apprenticeships are also known as advanced apprenticeships. Levels 4 and 5 are higher, and levels 6 and 7 are degree apprenticeships.
Entry Requirements
To qualify for an advanced food-based apprenticeship, you typically need five or more GCSEs of C or above (or equivalent). English is usually a must, and you may need either chemistry or biology. Familiarity with engineering, biochemistry or microbiology is an advantage.
To apply for a higher or degree-level science food apprenticeship, you will need good A-level passes in one or more of the above.
Qualifications gained
Completing an advanced apprenticeship will earn you the equivalent of 2 A-Level passes.
A higher apprenticeship is equivalent to a foundation degree, and a degree apprenticeship will get you a bachelor’s or master’s degree, depending on your level of study.
Advanced, higher and degree apprenticeships in food and nutrition include:
- Dietitian Level 6 – various providers
- Food Technologist Degree Apprenticeship – Nestle
- Degree apprenticeships in Food Science and Technology and Food Engineering – Avara Foods
Industry Focus
Food and nutrition form the basis for a couple of different sectors, from food science and manufacturing to catering and dietitians.
Food scientists and food technologists make sure that the food being developed is safe for human consumption. They also help pioneer and popularise food science innovations and technology to improve the quality and nutritional value of the food we eat.
The job combines biological and chemical sciences with technology and engineering, an interesting mix that will appeal to foodies who enjoy scientific processes and solving problems.
Many food scientists and technologists work in laboratories. However, others may work on farms, food production factories or development kitchens.
The Institute of Food Science & Technology provides apprenticeships in the food sector.
Usually found under ‘hospitality’ cooking and catering encompasses a smorgasbord of roles from food prep or chef in a restaurant and cook in the army to butchers and cake makers.
You will usually start as a production chef – helping to prep ingredients and follow recipes to produce large amounts of food, such as for large events, or a commis chef – supporting the head chef in preparing food for a smaller number of people, such as in a restaurant or eaterie.
Mitchells & Butlers, the company behind big brands such as Toby Carvery, Miller & Carter and All Bar One offers chef apprenticeships, plus bar and waiting and kitchen assistant apprenticeships.
The prestigious Royal Academy of Culinary Arts is just one organisation offering chef apprenticeships.
There are also opportunities for those who prefer to study pre-made food and evaluate its nutritional value.
Dietitians provide evidence-based medical nutritional therapy to meet their client’s specific needs. They must be board-certified in food and nutrition and can work at research institutions, hospitals, and outpatient clinics or within the local community.
There are five main types of dietitians:
- Clinical (hospitals)
- Outpatient (hospitals or clinics, but patients’ ailments are less severe)
- Food service management – big organisations such as an army base or school
- Community – works with the community as a whole on nutrition programmes and initiatives
- Research – research hospitals/universities & can carry out nutritional interventions
The term nutritionist may be used interchangeably with dietitian, but they are less medically focused. For example, a nutritionist may work with a personal trainer to create a tailored programme to get the best health and fitness results from their client.
The Association of UK Dietitians offers Support Worker Apprenticeships and Dietetic Degree Apprenticeships.
Other Opportunities
There are many other jobs in food and nutrition, including:
- Food/restaurant critic
- Culinary arts teacher
- Food tester
- Food tour guide
- Food photographer
- Gourmet food salesperson
- Food and drink writer
- Food stylist
Conclusion
Everyone needs to eat, and with climate change affecting the food we grow and cultivate, food experts are in demand across several sectors.
We hope we have given you something to chew on. For more information about related and alternative apprenticeships, please search our website using the location and subject filters.
If you have any other questions, please, get in touch, we’d love to hear from you and will get back to you asap.
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