Modern Apprenticeships (MA) offer those over 16 paid employment, along with the opportunity to train for jobs at craft and supervisory level. They are an excellent way to obtain skills and National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) to help further your chosen career, without having to study full time.

Modern Apprenticeships in catering are developed by the catering industry and therefore cover the relevant skills required for participants to become skilled craftsmen and / or supervisors. The Modern Apprenticeship route can also be suitable for training older employees.

National Vocational Qualifications are assessment based, they describe exactly what people should be able to do at work and allow them to demonstrate their competence in the workplace NVQs are about work, about skills and about the competence needed to perform effectively in their jobs.

To gain an NVQ / MA, the candidate may be required to attend "Day Release" at Catering School or a qualified and experienced assessor will visit the workplace to carry out assessments and give the candidates guidance in portfolio building.

The portfolio is built using naturally occuring evidence which is generated on a daily basis. The evidence is supported by candidate reports, assessor observations and questions and by testimonials from within the workplace.

Throughout the training period the portfolio will be verified by qualified personnel to ensure progress and good working practice.