For many centuries, the art of baking fresh bread and pastries has been at the cornerstone of society. This well-respected and traditional occupation is essential to the Australian community, but is currently under threat.
Over the past decade, there has been a widespread shortage of bakers in Australia, with the Department of Employment’s December 2014 Baker report stating that very few vacancies were filled last year. The report cited that one of the main reasons that so few bakers were hired was that many didn’t have the appropriate level of skill or have the backing of an apprenticeship or traineeship.
There are more than 14,000 bakers across Australia, according to the report, but with demand for bread and other baked goods only increasing, this is a skill shortage that needs to be addressed soon. One area that can support this is through apprenticeships and traineeships.
The report cited National Centre for Vocational Education Research statistics which show that the number of Australians engaging in baker apprentices actually dropped 50 per cent between 2008 and 2013. However, as this is the way into the industry, that number is expected to rise in the coming years.
What can a baker apprenticeship teach you?
To have the choice of many careers in the baking industry, apprentices must learn the basics of the occupation. This will include skills such as mixing dough from scratch, hand bread moulding, ingredient identification, troubleshooting and presentation.
Of course, time management is a key part of being a baker too. Not only will you learn optimum baking lengths for particular types of produce, but baker apprentices will often need to be on site at 5 a.m.
What can I bring to an apprenticeship?
As well as being an early riser, employers seeking apprentices want individuals to be punctual, have good communication skills and be physical fit and strong.
Employers are also seeking future bakers that are passionate about the industry and dedicated to forging a successful career path. Check out Apprenticeship Central to learn more about career options of this nature.
Where are the career opportunities?
It is important to note that once you’ve completed an apprenticeship, different baking employers require various skill sets, according to the Department of Employment. For example,independent bakeries required trained individuals who have great dough mixing and moulding skills.
However, supermarkets and bulk production environments demand a slightly smaller skill set, but experience in the baking environment nonetheless.
If you wish to start a baking apprenticeship, get in touch with our team today.
