MoFPI-backed pilot training programme at ITC Trichy combines hands-on industrial learning with assured employment, strengthening India’s food processing workforce.

Key Highlights

• NIFTEM-Thanjavur launches pilot Short-Term Skill Training Programme (STSTP) for Assistant Baking Technician (NSQF Level 3).
• Programme conducted in collaboration with ITC Ltd – Integrated Consumer Goods Manufacturing & Logistics (ICML), Trichy.
• First batch of 18 trainees to undergo industry-integrated training from July 7 to August 20, 2026.
• Practical training conducted inside ITC’s manufacturing facility.
• All trainees are assured employment at ITC Ltd upon successful completion.
• Programme offers nationally recognised NSQF certification under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).
• Initiative supports India’s mission to build a skilled, industry-ready food processing workforce.

NIFTEM-Thanjavur Partners with ITC to Launch Industry-Integrated Baking Skill Programme with Assured Jobs

New Delhi, July 14: In a major step towards strengthening India’s food processing workforce, the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM)-Thanjavur, under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), has launched a pilot Short-Term Skill Training Programme (STSTP) for Assistant Baking Technician (NSQF Level 3) in partnership with ITC Ltd’s Integrated Consumer Goods Manufacturing & Logistics (ICML) facility in Trichy.

The programme was inaugurated by Prof. V. Palanimuthu, Director, NIFTEM-Thanjavur, in the presence of Surjeet Singh Roria, General Manager & Head, ITC-ICML, and Padmanabhan T., Senior HR Manager, ITC-ICML.

The first batch of 18 trainees will undergo industry-integrated practical training from July 7 to August 20, 2026, receiving hands-on experience within ITC’s manufacturing facility. Unlike conventional classroom-based programmes, the initiative focuses on real-world industrial exposure, enabling trainees to develop practical baking and food production skills aligned with industry requirements.

A key highlight of the programme is that all trainees have been assured employment with ITC Ltd, providing a direct pathway from skill development to formal employment.

The training is aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) Level 3, and successful candidates will receive nationally recognised certifications. As an NCVET-recognised Deemed Awarding Body, NIFTEM-Thanjavur continues to deliver industry-focused skill programmes that support the Government of India’s vision of creating an employment-ready workforce for the food processing sector.

The initiative reflects MoFPI’s continued emphasis on strengthening industry-academia collaboration and addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in India’s expanding food processing ecosystem.

Impact on Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Tourism

The programme is expected to benefit the hospitality and food service sectors by creating a pipeline of professionally trained baking technicians equipped with practical industrial experience. Hotels, bakeries, cafés, quick-service restaurants (QSRs), institutional kitchens and food manufacturing companies increasingly require skilled personnel to meet rising consumer demand for quality bakery and packaged food products.

Industry-integrated training with assured employment helps bridge the skill gap in the food processing and hospitality sectors while improving workforce quality. As India’s tourism and hospitality industries continue to expand, initiatives such as this will strengthen the availability of certified professionals for hotels, resorts, airline catering, bakery chains and premium food service establishments, supporting both employment generation and service quality across the sector.