National Food & Drink Training (NFDT), the training arm of Scottish Bakers, has launched a new industry-led qualification to strengthen leadership capability within the commercial bakery sector. The Level 3 Diploma in Lead Baker is designed to support the Lead Baker Apprenticeship Standard (ST1349) in England and addresses a longstanding gap in structured development for supervisory roles.

Developed in collaboration with the Food & Drink Awarding Organisation (FDQ) and shaped by input from bakery employers, the diploma combines traditional craft skills with essential leadership and compliance training. Course content spans bread, cake, pastry, and biscuit production, alongside workplace modules on food safety, customer service, continuous improvement, and commercial awareness.

Scott Anderson, NFDT’s Training & Development Manager, said:

“This qualification goes beyond the craft—it prepares bakers to lead. It supports the industry’s need for well-rounded team leaders who understand both production and people management.”

Lesley Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish Bakers, called the diploma “a major milestone” in ensuring the workforce is equipped to meet both quality and operational demands in modern bakery settings.

Academy Launch Supports Wider Skills Agenda

The diploma announcement follows the launch of the NFDT Academy on 14 July—an expanded training offer aimed at food and drink manufacturers across the UK. The Academy provides modular, business-focused programmes on technical baking, continuous improvement, team development and internal training delivery.

Key offerings include:

• Practical Baking Skills – Hands-on training in fermentation, lamination, costings and sponge technology.

  
  

• Lean/CI Bite-Sized Chunks – Structured sessions to embed continuous improvement in daily operations.

  
  

• Train the Trainer – Equips supervisors and team leads to deliver internal development effectively.

  
  

All programmes are designed for measurable operational impact and tailored to business needs.

NFDT is an accredited training provider under Skills Development Scotland and has decades of experience delivering workplace-based education across the food and drink industry.

For more information or to enquire about the Lead Baker Diploma or NFDT Academy programmes, contact: Kim@nfdt.org