Proficiency in Baking Industry Skills (1285)

Last Updated: 02 Aug 2022
These qualifications focus on the practical skills and knowledge involved in professional baking .  The learner will be assessed in the workplace and on completion will be able to work confidently in a variety of bakery roles within the industry. 
The Award, Certificate and Diploma for Proficiency in Baking Industry Skills are for anyone new to the baking industry, already working in the baking industry and anyone on a government funded trainee programme.
Available to deliver in the following:
  • England
  • Wales – please check QiW website for available funding
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

You'll cover things like:

  • baking skills
  • retail and service
  • support operations group
  • baking common operations.

You will learn on-the-job in the workplace.

Assessment is in the workplace via direct observation of natural situations, supported by oral and written questions. Other evidence such as work records, product evidence and historical evidence can also be included.

Which Level is right for me?

Level 2
You want to develop your skills further, take on extra responsibility at work and perhaps start to specialise in a specific area of baking skills.

Level 3
You have already developed strong skills and have a lot of knowledge of the baking industry and want to progress further with supervisory/management duties.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

On completion of any of these qualifications, you could go on to any of the following careers:

  • Baker
  • Confectioner
  • Food processing operative
  • Manufacturing production manager
  • Retail assistant.

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

To deliver these qualifications you will need suitably qualified staff to carry out training and assessment.

You will also need suitable facilities to carry out the required training to enable learners to achieve industry standards. The qualifications are taught on-the-job in the workplace.

Assessment is also in the workplace via direct observation of natural situations which can be supported by oral or written questions. Other evidence such as work records, product evidence and historical evidence can also be included.

For further information on the resources required please refer to the qualifications required.

Automatic approval is available for the level 2 1285 qualification for any centre currently approved and delivering the 1245-23, 1245-24 or 1245-92.

Automatic approval is available for the Level 3 1285 qualification for any centre currently approved for 1245-31 or 1245-93.

Centres currently offering Level 2 or 3 1246 Food Manufacturing VRQ are eligible for fast-track approval for the same level of the 1285.

All learners should already be working in the baking industry.

Level 2

This level is ideal if you want to develop your skills further, take on extra responsibility at work and perhaps start to specialise in a specific area of baking skills.

There are three qualifications available at this level. To receive an award, certificate or diploma, you must complete mandatory and optional units from the following areas:

 

  • Baking skills
  • Retail and service
  • Support operations
  • Common operations
  • Baking knowledge.
For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

On completion of any of these qualifications, you could go on to any of the following careers:

  • Baker
  • Confectioner
  • Food processing operative
  • Manufacturing production manager
  • Retail assistant.

Level 2 Diploma for Proficiency in Baking Industry Skills (1285-22)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 2 Diploma for Proficiency in Baking Industry Skills

  • Accreditation No: 501/1638/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 37 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 182 - 348 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 370 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £124.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3

This level is ideal if you have already developed strong skills and have a lot of knowledge of the baking industry and want to progress further with supervisory/management duties.
This level is ideal if you want to develop your skills further, take on extra responsibility at work and perhaps start to specialise in a specific area of baking skills.

There are three qualifications available at this level. To receive an award, certificate or diploma, you must complete mandatory and optional units from the following areas:

  • Specialist bakery skills
  • Retail and sales
  • Support operations
  • Common operations
  • Baking knowledge.
For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

On completion of any of these qualifications, you could go on to any of the following careers:

  • Baker
  • Confectioner
  • Food processing operative
  • Manufacturing production manager
  • Retail assistant.

Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Baking Industry Skills (1285-31)
Last Registration Date: 31 Dec 2023 Supportive services: Learning Assistant

Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Baking Industry Skills

  • Accreditation No: 600/0724/2 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 27 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 132 - 218 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 270 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2026 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £118.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Additional information for centres

Learning Assistant

LEARNING ASSISTANT IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS QUALIFICATION

Learning Assistant is an innovative and cost effective e-portfolio solution that allows colleges and training providers to dramatically improve the delivery of their vocational qualifications.

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Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form