Food and drink industry qualifications
We are a specialist awarding organisation with a large portfolio of qualifications designed to cover the entire food supply chain.
This portfolio includes qualifications which are designed for the food supply chain workforce, as well as those which have been developed for learners studying in colleges and universities. They range from short one day courses, through to one or two year courses and a huge selection of work-based learning programmes.
Our suite of work-based qualifications is comprehensive and appropriate for the food supply chain workforce - for those looking to build their on-the-job competence. For example, whether staff work in admin, warehousing, retail, transport or cleaning roles we have a qualification which is just right to meet their needs and the needs of business. We also have suitable qualifications for individuals in technical roles, as well as those requiring food safety training.
The qualifications within this suite are known as completence qualifications developing both skills and knowledge on the job. It is important to be aware that these qualifications also sit within several of the apprenticeship frameworks which are most relevant to the food and drink industry, and its component sectors.
To explore our portfolio of supply chain qualifications, please use the menu to the right. For further explanation of qualification types, please click this link.
These qualifications are those which are delivered in colleges, universities or training centres.
Again, at FDQ, we have a generous selection of qualifications available to those keen to build their skills and knowledge of practice in the food and drink industry - be it through full or part time learning. These learners may be intending to use the qualification to gain employment in the food and drink industry, or they may simply wish to have experience of the industry before they make a decision about their future career.
These qualifications are known as vocationally-relevant qualifications (VRQs).
To explore our full suite of vocationally-relevant qualifications, please use the menu to the right. For further explanation of qualification types, please click this link.
Fresh produce for industry
These qualifications are designed for those already working in a fresh produce processing business; in any one of a range of production, sales and processing roles. They are appropriate for various levels of staff from operatives on automated lines, in packaging, distribution and sales ops to team leaders, supervisors and technicians.
Learners have the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge required to prove competence at work. It will also suit learners competent at core activities, looking to expand their existing skills, perhaps to support multi-skilled activities or to develop into specialist areas such as quality assurance.
Key information:
- Units within the qualification cover now cover roles across the fresh produce industry allowing learners access to knowledge specific to their organisation/industry
- Employers can build a qualification to up-skill their employees in the areas which their business needs most
- Wide choice of units allows learners to select those most relevant their employment, learning and progression needs
- Learners will emerge with enhanced practical skills, as well as food technical and scientific underpinning knowledge
- The certificates and diplomas are included in the apprenticeship framework for food and drink
The qualification is made up of units from 2 groups:
- Fresh produce, technical, management and support operations - this group includes occupational skills and knowledge relevant to the fresh produce industry ie. purchasing, ripening, storage, diagnosing problems, quality control, energy efficiency and transportation etc
- Fresh produce knowledge - this group of units is relevant for all learners working in a fresh produce company. It includes: underpinning knowledge around wholesaling, ripening, the supply chain, packing, food safety and risk assessment etc
Qualifications, structures, purposes and units
Below is a full list of the work-based Fresh Produce Industry Skills qualifications available from FDQ. To access more detailed technical information and find out about the huge range of units which can be part of the qualifications, please click this link for our Document Library.
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Level 2 Award for Proficiency in Fresh Produce Industry Skills |
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Level 2 Certificate for Proficiency in Fresh Produce Industry Skills |
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Level 2 Diploma for Proficiency in Fresh Produce Industry Skills |
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Level 3 Award for Proficiency in Fresh Produce Industry Skills |
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Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Fresh Produce Industry Skills |
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Level 3 Diploma for Proficiency in Fresh Produce Industry Skills |
Would you like to speak to us?
If the above qualifications sound just what you are looking for, but you need some guidance around where to start, please give us a call on: 0113 3970 395 or email us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Milling Industry Skills qualifications
This qualification have been designed with the National Association of British and Irish Millers (NABIM) and will also be offered in conjunction with this industry body.
Who is it suitable for?
The qualification is for those operatives who are already working in the milling industry; and is included in the apprenticeship framework for food and drink. Its purpose is to offer learners the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge to prove competence at work. It also suits learners who are competent at core milling industry activities and are looking for ways of developing their existing skills and knowledge, perhaps to support multi-skilled activities or increase productivity at work.
Choice of units
The flexible choice of units, allows learners to select units that are most relevant to their own employment, learning and progression requirements. The choice of units also reflects the wide variety of jobs which people do in different types of companies in the milling industry. This qualification also offers learners the opportunity to develop knowledge in some areas of milling technology.
Key information:
- Units within the qualification cover now cover roles across the milling industry allowing learners access to knowledge specific to their organisation/industry
- Employers can build a qualification to up-skill their employees in the areas which their business needs most
- Learners will emerge with enhanced practical skills, as well as food technical and scientific underpinning knowledge
Qualification purpose, structure and units
Below is the qualification in milling which is offered by FDQ. To access more detailed technical information, including structure, purpose and units please follow this link.
Level 2 Certificate for Proficiency in Milling Industry Skills
Would you like to speak to us?
If the above qualification sounds exactly what you are looking for, but you need some guidance around where to start then please call us 011 3970 395 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Who are the qualifications designed for?
These qualifications are designed for operatives who are working in the brewing industry in manufacture, packaging, distribution or sales.
They offer learners the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge required to prove competence at work. It also suits those who are competent at core brewing industry activities and are looking for ways of developing their existing skills and knowledge, perhaps to support multi-skilled activities or increase productivity at work.
Flexible choice of units
- The flexible choice of units, allows learners to select units that are most relevant to their own employment, learning and progression
- requirements. The choice of units also reflects the wide variety of jobs which people do in different types of companies in the brewing industry. This qualification also offers learners the opportunity to develop knowledge in a range of brewing technology areas.
Key information:
- Units within the qualification cover now cover roles across the brewing industry allowing learners access to knowledge specific to their organisation/industry
- Employers can build a qualification to up-skill their employees in the areas which their business needs most
- Learners will emerge with enhanced practical skills, as well as food technical and scientific underpinning knowledge
- The qualification is made up of units from 3 groups, which includes: brewing skills and support operations; brewing common operations and brewing knowledge
- The award and certificate are included in the apprenticeship framework for food and drink.
Qualification purpose, structure and units
Below is a list of our work-based Brewing Industry Skills qualifications. To access more detailed technical information about these qualifications, please click this link, which will take you to our Regulated Document Library. Once in the library you can search for the technical information you require.
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Level 2 Award for Proficiency in Brewing Industry Skills |
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Level 2 Certificate for Proficiency in Brewing Industry Skills |
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Level 2 Diploma for Proficiency in Brewing Industry Skills |
Would you like to speak to us?
If the above qualifications sound just what you are looking for, but you need some guidance around where to start, please give us a call on: 0113 3970 395 or email us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Food and drink industry qualifications
We have a full portfolio of work-based and vocational qualifications covering all the key industries within food and drink.
- Baking
- Meat and Poultry
- Fish and Shellfish
- Dairy
- Fresh Produce
- Milling
- Brewing
FME: We also have the much heralded Food Manufacturing Excellence (FME), which is a clever qualification designed to upskill those implementing a lean programme to deliver improved efficiency and sustainable growth.
FIS: Another food industry qualification which will be of great interest to food businesses and learning providers is Food Industry Skills (FIS). It is designed to provide the skills for automated and semi-automated food processing, especially convenience foods, snacks and large scale food processing. It is good for multi-skilling of operators and technicians to better tackle the range of maintenance, operative and techncial skills required.
For more detail about the industry qualifications of interest to you, please select the relevant menu option.
Food safety and HACCP qualifications
We also have a range of food safety and HACCP based compliance qualifications. To view our full list of compliance qualifications, click here: Food safety and compliance qualifications. - can also view via menu to left.