TAFE NSW and franchise empire Bakers Delight have trained a considerable number of apprentices into new careers in breadmaking during a partnership spanning many years. Now, the program has been expanded and continues to provide commercial outcomes for franchisees and exciting career pathways for employees.
The TAFE NSW Community Services, Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation Curriculum Centre worked with Bakers Delight to develop a new traineeship in Food Processing (Sales). Entitled Fresh Baked Careers, the program complements the longstanding apprentice and trainee training provided by Sydney and Hunter Institutes. It covers topics including food safety, baking elements, occupational health and safety, and customer service.
Craig King, Group Human Resources and Training Manager, Bakers Delight, said the successful model was piloted in NSW and has now been replicated in other states. It is available to more than 600 franchisees.
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Ken Train, Head Teacher, Tourism and Hospitality (Baking), Sydney Institute, supervises students at the Centre of Excellence at Ultimo. ‘They learn technical, practical skills and get their hands-on techniques progressively developed during training,’ Mr Train said. ‘It's very much about producing a quality baked product which emphasises taste, smell, touch and eating qualities.
‘It's also crucial to get them away from the high-pressure work environment,’ he said. ‘It gives them an opportunity to ask questions, to make mistakes and improve. It's all about providing industry with good skills and good people and perpetuating Bakers Delight's business.’
Troy Carroll is a third-year apprentice, completing his Certificate III in Retail Baking (Breadmaking) at the Ultimo Campus Bakers Delight Skills Centre of Excellence and working at a bakery in Woy Woy.
‘At work we have to keep up the pace,’ he said. ‘At TAFE NSW we have more time to focus on learning and improving.’ Mr Carroll said the training was fun and he had ambitions to become a product manager, and later a manager of his own Bakers Delight business.
Hunter Institute has run three successful pilot online Food Processing Sales Certificate III courses for around 25 students. Now also offered nationally, it's available to potentially thousands of employees, and builds on and formally recognises the existing skills of current sales staff. It also provides gap training where necessary.
Gary Sewell, Head Teacher, Baking, Hunter Institute said the training gave sales staff a good understanding of the product they were selling and a qualification at the same time. ‘Students also learn introductory baking, adding an extra skill set,’ Mr Sewell said. ‘It's a value add for Bakers Delight because they can offer 100 percent of their product throughout the whole day.’
‘Bakers Delight is pleased with its long and successful relationship with TAFE NSW and hopes to continue and expand this into the future,’ Mr King said.
