The National Skills Academy for Food & Drink

What The National Skills Academy for Food & Drink does

The National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD) is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, founded in 2007 and headquartered in York, UK, that operates as the food and drink manufacturing sector's dedicated skills specialist. It develops and delivers apprenticeships, compliance training, and workforce development programmes for UK food and drink manufacturers of all sizes — from SMEs to large multinationals such as Müller, Nestlé, Kraft Heinz, Mars, Coca-Cola, Carlsberg Britvic, Arla, Bakkavor, Greencore, Hovis, Premier Foods, Britvic, and ABP Food Group — as well as for training providers and government partners including the Welsh Government, the Department for Work and Pensions, and Skills England.

NSAFD's product portfolio centres on three proprietary platforms: the Food & Drink Careers Passport (FDCP), an online training programme for new entrants and job seekers; Tasty Careers, a national outreach programme connecting employers with young talent through UK schools and colleges; and the Occupational Assessment Tool (OAT), a digital platform for tracking apprentice progress against apprenticeship standards. These are supplemented by the NSAFD Online Academy (e-learning available to Employer Services Network members), tiered SME Membership packages priced from £100 to £1,850 per year based on employee headcount, sector-specific compliance courses (HACCP, Allergen Awareness, Food Safety) priced between £330 and £1,295 per delegate, and apprenticeship standards including the Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineer programme co-developed with major employers.

The organisation's revenue model combines subscription-based SME membership, pay-as-you-go compliance courses, Online Academy subscriptions for ESN members, and apprenticeship programme delivery channelled through a network of approved training providers (Verner Wheelock, CQM Training, RelyOn, BMET, Kirklees College, Fuel Learning, Shrewsbury College). Distribution occurs through direct employer engagement via the Employer Services Network, channel partners, and self-serve online platforms. NSAFD also operates a sister company, Occupational Awards Limited (OAL), an end-point assessment organisation that donated £7,500 to support the FDCP scheme, and is regulated by the Skills Funding Agency for apprenticeship and training programme delivery.

Name

The National Skills Academy for Food & Drink

Legal name

National Skills Academy for Food and Drink

Website

https://nsafd.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Skills Academy for Food & Drink is a UK not-for-profit company limited by guarantee that delivers apprenticeships, compliance training, online learning, and workforce development programmes for food and drink manufacturers across the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Skills Training

NAICS

Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Computer Training (61142), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL) (EDANAIAE), Skills Assessment & Talent/Employability Testing Platforms (EDAFADAM)

Keywords

• Food industry training
• Apprenticeship programmes
• Compliance training courses
• Workforce skills development
• Manufacturing sector education

Headquarters

HQ city

York

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. SME Membership Subscriptions: Tiered membership packages based on company size (1-9 employees: £100, 10-24: £350, 25-49: £750, 50-124: £1,250, 125-250: £1,850). Includes access to compliance passport training, workshops, HR meetings, and discounts on products and services.
2. Compliance Courses: Short courses in food safety, health & safety, auditing, HACCP, and other compliance topics. Delivered by approved training providers including Verner Wheelock, CQM Training, RelyOn, and others.
3. Online Academy Subscriptions: E-learning courses available exclusively to Employer Services Network members, covering food safety, health & safety, digital skills, and personal development.
4. Apprenticeship Standards: NSAFD supports delivery of apprenticeship programmes including Food & Drink Engineering, Food Industry Technologist, Baker, and Lead Baker standards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD) is a not-for-profit skills specialist that provides apprenticeship standards, compliance courses, e-learning, and membership-based workforce development services to the UK food and drink manufacturing sector. It delivers these through digital platforms (NSAFD Online Academy, Occupational Assessment Tool, Food & Drink Careers Passport) and a network of approved training providers, complemented by career outreach (Tasty Careers) and employer engagement programmes.

Product overview

The National Skills Academy for Food & Drink operates as a skills and workforce development organization offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services. The core offerings include the Food & Drink Careers Passport (online training for new entrants), Tasty Careers (career outreach programme), and the Occupational Assessment Tool (OAT - digital apprentice tracking platform). These are complemented by the NSAFD Online Academy for e-learning, Compliance Courses for regulatory training, and SME Membership tiers for businesses of all sizes. The products work together to provide a comprehensive pathway from initial training through apprenticeship completion, supporting the entire food and drink manufacturing workforce development lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Food & Drink Careers Passport: An online training programme providing essential knowledge for job seekers and new entrants to UK food and drink manufacturing, developed in partnership with leading employers
• Tasty Careers
• Occupational Assessment Tool (OAT)

Products and services

• Food & Drink Careers Passport (FDCP)
• Tasty Careers
• Occupational Assessment Tool (OAT)
• NSAFD Online Academy
• SME Membership
• Compliance Courses
• NSAFD Developed Courses
• Apprenticeship Standards

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £1m in annual savings delivered through Lean Six Sigma Green Belt programmes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

38 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Occupational Awards LimitedcoreOthers · 13 September 2022OAL announced £7,500 donation to support 100 job hunters with Food & Drink Careers Passport. Jan Richardson-Wilde, OAL CEO, announced the donation at launch event. OAL also operates the Occupational Assessment Tool platform.
• Food and Drink FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development and launch of Food & Drink Careers Passport scheme to address recruitment challenges. FDF CEO Karen Betts participated in launch event at Houses of Parliament. Both organisations have pledged industry support for the Passport scheme.
• Gatsby Charitable FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSAFD partnered with Gatsby Charitable Foundation to develop T Level Toolkit for Employers in the Food & Drink Sector, providing practical guidance for industry placements.
• Gatsby Charitable FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership supporting NSAFD's T Level initiatives and employer engagement with technical education.
• Welsh GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelsh Government is funding nationwide Food & Drink Careers Passport pilot in Wales, with nearly 500 job hunters enrolled. Extended pilot into all six Welsh prisons as pre-release route to employment.
• Careers WalescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership in delivering Tasty Careers Schools Challenge 2026 in Wales, helping raise awareness of food and drink career opportunities among young people.
• Shrewsbury CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShrewsbury College is an Industry Approved Provider in NSAFD's Food & Drink Engineering Network, delivering engineering apprenticeship programmes. Recently secured major apprenticeship partnership with Müller.
• Shrewsbury CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of only seven nationally approved training centres for Food and Drink Engineering apprenticeship standard.
• Department for Work and PensionscoreOthersDWP partnership supporting Kickstart scheme and Food & Drink Careers Passport. Plans underway to extend pilot across England with DWP support.
• Verner WheelockmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved training provider delivering HACCP, auditing, allergen management, and labelling courses for NSAFD.
• CQM Training & ConsultancymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved training provider delivering Lean Six Sigma, CARES, and change management programmes. Specialises in continuous improvement training for food and drink sector.
• RelyOnmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved training provider delivering first aid, abrasive wheels, confined space entry, and PUWER training courses.
• KepakminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Tasty Careers Schools Challenge 2026 as industry partner.
• DunbiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Tasty Careers Schools Challenge 2026 as industry partner.
• LeprinominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Tasty Careers Schools Challenge 2026 as industry partner.
• Castell HowellminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Tasty Careers Schools Challenge 2026 as industry partner.
• Skills EnglandcoreOthersNSAFD works with Skills England on apprenticeship assessment updates and Apprenticeship Units programme, gathering employer insight to represent food and drink sector needs.
• Skills Funding AgencycoreOthersNSAFD is regulated by the Skills Funding Agency for apprenticeship and training programme delivery.
• Kraft HeinzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChaired the Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships, representing industry input into professional benchmarks.
• Arla FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• BakkavorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• BritviccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• GreencorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• HoviscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• Karro FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• Mars Wrigley Confectionery UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• Moy ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• Müller UK & IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• Nestlé UK & IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• Ornua FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• Pladis GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• Premier FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• Saputo Dairy UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Trailblazer apprenticeship standard review group for Industry 4.0 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprenticeships.
• FDQcoreOthersEnd-point assessment organisation mentioned in relation to Food Manufacture Excellence Awards sponsorship.
• Leeds City CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Kraft Heinz and local college to offer Food & Drink Careers Passport to care leavers.
• BMETmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLogo displayed on NSAFD partners page as Industry Approved Training Provider.
• Kirklees CollegemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLogo displayed on NSAFD partners page as Industry Approved Training Provider.
• SiemensmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogo displayed on NSAFD partners page as industry supporter.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Food and Drink Federation (FDF): UK food and drink industry trade association. NSAFD's strategic partner in launching FDCP at the House of Commons and a fellow industry voice, but not a training provider; serves employers with policy, representation and convening rather than skills delivery.
• BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards): Global standards body whose certifications (BRC) are referenced in NSAFD's training endorsements. Adjacent in the food safety ecosystem but operates as a standards owner rather than training provider.
• RSPH (Royal Society for Public Health): Awarding body for many of NSAFD's regulated qualifications (HACCP Levels 2, 3, 4; Food Safety; Allergen). Comparable role in the qualification ecosystem but operates as an awarding organisation rather than training delivery.

Direct peers

• Verner Wheelock Training Services: One of NSAFD's approved training providers, delivering HACCP, allergen management, auditing and labelling courses directly to food and drink manufacturers. Closest direct competitor in specialist food-sector compliance training.
• CQM Training & Consultancy: Approved provider delivering Lean Six Sigma, CARES, and change management programmes for the food and drink sector. Comparable continuous improvement training capability and overlap with NSAFD's Green Belt offerings.
• Highfield Qualifications: UK awarding organisation providing vocational qualifications and end-point assessment across multiple sectors including food safety and HACCP. Comparable role to OAL in apprenticeship assessment and certification.
• RelyOn Nutec: NSAFD-approved provider delivering first aid, abrasive wheels, confined space entry and PUWER training to UK food and drink manufacturers. Direct competitor in operational safety compliance training.
• IGD (Institute of Grocery Distribution): UK grocery industry training and research body delivering workforce development programmes and skills insights to food retailers and manufacturers. Similar industry-led, sector-specialist training proposition.
• Enginuity (formerly Semta): UK Sector Skills Council-style body for the engineering and advanced manufacturing workforce. Closest structural analogue to NSAFD as a sector-specific skills authority, with comparable apprenticeship standards work.
• CITB (Construction Industry Training Board): Statutory industry training board for UK construction. Strong structural parallel to NSAFD's sector-specific, levy-funded skills body model, though operating in a different vertical.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nsafd
• Xx.com/NSAFD

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The National Skills Academy for Food & Drink