Apprenticeships & Online Courses for tomorrow’s Bakers

Launch your baking career or upskill your team with CBA apprenticeships, online training, industry qualifications, and student funding.

your future career

Structured Apprenticeships for Independent Bakeries

Taking on an apprentice is a powerful and cost effective way to grow your bakery business and nurture future talent.

Who can join an apprenticeship?

Designed for individuals aged 16–18 (or older with specific criteria) pursuing a bakery career.

How much are apprentices paid?

Apprentice wage minimum: £3.70/hour for a 30-hour week (includes college training time)

Employer incentives

Government incentives – employers receive £1,000 funding in two £500 instalments

CBA's support

Advice on hiring process, employment contracts, hours, and insurance considerations

Our practical Apprenticeship Guidelines help bakery owners understand eligibility, recruitment, legal responsibilities, time allocation between work and college, and how to access government funding and apprenticeships, including Levy-funded training.

CBA collaborates closely with National Food & Drink Training (NFDT)—the specialist training arm of Scottish Bakers—to support levy-paying businesses across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands, delivering quality-assured, workplace-focused apprenticeship training tailored to your team’s schedule and competency needs

On-Demand Online Training Courses

Our members-only CBA Online Training portal offers flexible, industry-specific courses:

Courses are priced at £10 for members and include certificates upon completion, plus tools to assign coursework, track staff progress, and maintain team competence 

Recognised Qualifications & Certifications

In partnership with NFDT

Strengthen your credentials with industry-recognised qualifications:

These qualifications are recognised nationally and tailored to different roles and stages within the baking sector—from hands-on production to team leadership—and are designed to support both individual career development and bakery business growth.

Level 2 Bakery Standard
Designed to prepare apprentices for professional baking roles in craft bakeries, high‑street outlets, or automated plants, the Level 2 standard covers core knowledge like ingredient functionality, hygiene practices, dough processes, and bakery safety responsibilities
Level 2 Food & Drink Process Operator
This qualification trains staff to operate efficiently in food production environments—ideal for bakeries with production lines—covering equipment operation, safety procedures, and regulatory compliance
Level 3 Team Leader / Supervisor
Aimed at developing leadership and supervisory capabilities within bakeries, this Level 3 standard focuses on managing teams, production oversight, quality assurance, and professional workplace behaviours
Level 3 Bakery Standard (Coming Soon)
The upcoming Level 3 standard will provide a clear progression from expertise in baking production to strategic leadership, combining advanced bakery knowledge, team management, and production innovation for future industry leaders

Brand New! HR & Management Training

Delivered by Worknest

CBA Funding for Students & Apprentices

Everyone needs a little helping hand from time to time, and the CBA community wanted to exactly the kind of help that could kickstart someone’s career. So we created a fund open to all students, aimed to support you with costs of attending baking industry events, courses, and work experiences.

 

Together with our partners, we can help remove barriers for young bakers across the UK.

If you would like to apply for funding, then please complete the form below to provide more details about the event.

Your Information

To apply for funding for an event, travel expenses or course, we need to ensure we know a little more about it so we can ensure we support you in the best way possible. The personal information given in this form will not be used for any other purpose other than establishing your eligibility for funding from the Education Fund.

Before you apply:

To qualify for student funding you need to ensure the following:

  1. All applicants must be in full time bakery education, or as an apprentice day-release for a bakery business

  2. The funding is for work experience, placement, conferences, workshops or courses related to the baking industry.

  3. The funding is for UK visits only.

  4. Successful applicants are required by the CBA to write a short report about their event and how the CBA has helped in this process.

  5. All receipts must be retained in a safe place and sent directly to the CBA.

  6. Application forms must be discussed with your tutor or manager prior to applying for the funding.

Please ensure you have read and understand the important information above and have discussed your application with your tutor or manager before applying.

Please complete the form below – we’ll be in touch soon!

By clicking submit below, you acknowledge that the information you provide is correct and understand that any fraudulent information will result in your application being refused and no further applications will be considered.

Contact & Links

Address

21 Baldock Street
Ware
Hertfordshire
SG12 9DH

Phone

01920 468 061

Email

info@craftbakersassociation.co.uk

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