The brewing industry has joined together to submit plans for an 'industry standard' apprenticeship to the government.
The move comes in response to the introduction of the new Apprenticeship Levy this month, which will be charged to large businesses with a pay roll bill of over £3 million. According to the government, it will double investment in apprenticeships by 2020 from 2010 levels, to £2.5bn.
An 'Expression of Interest' has been submitted to the government by a group of 10 brewers, outlining the intentions to develop a new brewing apprenticeship. The plan is being backed by British Beer & Pub Association, the Society of Independent Brewers and the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. It is now subject to consultation by the Department for Education.
An apprenticeship 'Trailblazer' of employers and stakeholders has been formed to develop the standard, which is expected to take around 12 months. It is being chaired by Kris Gumbrell, chief executive of the 17-strong Brewhouse & Kitchen group.
Gumbrell, said: 'Training and apprenticeships in our industry are vital to our continued success. The creation of a brewing apprenticeship standard will help us continue to provide high-quality training opportunities for current and future employees, whilst also giving breweries access to a skilled workforce from their investment in the Levy.'
