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CertHE
Food and Drink Operations and Technical Management CertHE
Food and Drink Operations and Technical Management

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Key Information

Campus

Holbeach

Typical Offer

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Part-time

2 Years

Campus

Holbeach

Typical Offer

See More

Part-time

2 Years

Academic Years

Course Overview

The Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) in Food and Drink Operations and Technical Management is a comprehensive programme designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to excel in management positions within the fast-evolving food and drink manufacturing industry. The course offers a balanced blend of theoretical understanding and practical skills, with a current and focused approach to studies.

Designed by an academically engaged and research-led faculty, students are given the opportunity to undertake a period of independent scientific research to enhance their knowledge. The programme prioritises essential transferable skills, ranging from intellectual and critical analysis to project management and professional ethics, helping to prepare students to make a meaningful impact within the food and drink industry.

Course Overview

The Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) in Food and Drink Operations and Technical Management is a comprehensive programme designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to excel in management positions within the fast-evolving food and drink manufacturing industry. The course offers a balanced blend of theoretical understanding and practical skills, with a current and focused approach to studies.

Designed by an academically engaged and research-led faculty, students are given the opportunity to undertake a period of independent scientific research to enhance their knowledge. The programme prioritises essential transferable skills, ranging from intellectual and critical analysis to project management and professional ethics, helping to prepare students to make a meaningful impact within the food and drink industry.

How You Study

This programme is taught through blended part-time distance learning through three study blocks per year at the University of Lincoln's National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) based in Holbeach.

The course is made up of tutorials to apply, investigate, and analyse issues around the core lecture topics, and practical sessions (where applicable) for experimentation and illustration of principles, practices, and techniques. Practical sessions are typically held on campus during a study week, using the microbiology and chemical laboratories, kitchen and sensory suite, and specialist trial factory facilities.

The majority of modules will have a work-based assignment built into the assessment where the students will be able to draw upon their experience or indeed experience new environments related to the subject outcomes of the module.

For those students undertaking this course as an apprentice, an End Point Assessment is required.

How You Study

This programme is taught through blended part-time distance learning through three study blocks per year at the University of Lincoln's National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) based in Holbeach.

The course is made up of tutorials to apply, investigate, and analyse issues around the core lecture topics, and practical sessions (where applicable) for experimentation and illustration of principles, practices, and techniques. Practical sessions are typically held on campus during a study week, using the microbiology and chemical laboratories, kitchen and sensory suite, and specialist trial factory facilities.

The majority of modules will have a work-based assignment built into the assessment where the students will be able to draw upon their experience or indeed experience new environments related to the subject outcomes of the module.

For those students undertaking this course as an apprentice, an End Point Assessment is required.

Modules

              † Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

              Food and Drink Governance, Legislation and Compliance 2025-26FDS1137Level 42025-26This module introduces the importance of food and drink for human growth, emphasising the role of nutrients. Students will go on to explore the food production process, from raw material sourcing to consumer delivery, understanding potential risks like microbiological, physical, and chemical threats. A significant focus is placed on the UK's regulatory framework for ensuring food safety, with comparisons to European standards. Students can study key legislations, including the Food Safety Act and European Food Regulations, and explore fundamental food safety systems like the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, and food safety pre-requisite programmes, including training, hygiene, and supplier assurance. The module also addresses employee rights, health and safety, and environmental impacts of food and drink manufacturing. Emphasis is placed on governance, compliance, and responses to safety deviations, equipping learners with a comprehensive understanding of the food and drink industry’s legal complexities and its broader societal implications.CoreFood and Drink Process Operations Management 2025-26FDS1138Level 42025-26This module is an exploration into the numerous facets of factory design and unit processes within the food and drink industrial context. The module is designed to expose students to the complexity and interconnectedness of multiple process variables, whilst considering food safety, hurdle-technology, potential contaminants and hazards, and the importance of maintaining organoleptic quality. Students can gain a comprehensive understanding of typical food and drink unit processes, from raw material cleaning, sorting, grinding/milling, to subsequent mixing/blending, and heating and onward processing stages, including an understanding of packaging systems and materials.CoreManaging Self and Others in the Food and Drink Industry 2025-26FDS1136Level 42025-26This module aims to introduce students to the concept of work-based personal development, an understanding of effective leadership, and the techniques associated with the effective management of people. Students are expected to consider their own needs through a SWOT (Strengths; Weaknesses; Opportunities; Threats) analysis and the development of a Personal Development Plan (PDP). Students will have the chance to consider the appropriate tools and techniques used in managing teams and how they might implement these strategies at work in the context of their overall organisation. Students will also consider how they and their team members must be prepared for unexpected Customer or Enforcement Authority interaction at any time of the day or night.CoreFood and Drink Business Management 2026-27FDS1139Level 42026-27The module starts with organisational structures and their objectives, touching on both financial and non-financial aspects. It uses foundational management theories like Fayol's and introduces basic business legislation. The course underscores financial literacy, from business accounts to ratio analysis. Business economics essentials, such as supply-demand dynamics and planning hierarchies, are covered. Emphasis is placed on the importance of budgeting, negotiation skills, and performance measurement frameworks. The module explores modern information management, the pivotal role of marketing in understanding customer needs, and strategic tools like gap analysis. Central to the module is the theme of ethics, addressing moral choices, stakeholder considerations, and pressing ethical issues in the food and drink sector.CoreProject Management and Management of Change 2026-27FDS1140Level 42026-27This module provides an exploration into the critical roles of change and project management within an organisation. Beginning with an introduction to the importance of effective change management and the various factors that might instigate a change project, students can develop a thorough understanding of the multidimensional dynamics that influence and shape organisational change. The module underscores the significant impacts that culture, organisational structures, and legal/regulatory frameworks can exert on change projects, demonstrating the necessity of factoring these aspects into change strategy and planning.Core

              Modules

                          † Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

                          Food and Drink Governance, Legislation and Compliance 2024-25FDS1137Level 42024-25This module introduces the importance of food and drink for human growth, emphasising the role of nutrients. Students will go on to explore the food production process, from raw material sourcing to consumer delivery, understanding potential risks like microbiological, physical, and chemical threats. A significant focus is placed on the UK's regulatory framework for ensuring food safety, with comparisons to European standards. Students can study key legislations, including the Food Safety Act and European Food Regulations, and explore fundamental food safety systems like the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, and food safety pre-requisite programmes, including training, hygiene, and supplier assurance. The module also addresses employee rights, health and safety, and environmental impacts of food and drink manufacturing. Emphasis is placed on governance, compliance, and responses to safety deviations, equipping learners with a comprehensive understanding of the food and drink industry’s legal complexities and its broader societal implications.CoreFood and Drink Process Operations Management 2024-25FDS1138Level 42024-25This module is an exploration into the numerous facets of factory design and unit processes within the food and drink industrial context. The module is designed to expose students to the complexity and interconnectedness of multiple process variables, whilst considering food safety, hurdle-technology, potential contaminants and hazards, and the importance of maintaining organoleptic quality. Students can gain a comprehensive understanding of typical food and drink unit processes, from raw material cleaning, sorting, grinding/milling, to subsequent mixing/blending, and heating and onward processing stages, including an understanding of packaging systems and materials.CoreManaging Self and Others in the Food and Drink Industry 2024-25FDS1136Level 42024-25This module aims to introduce students to the concept of work-based personal development, an understanding of effective leadership, and the techniques associated with the effective management of people. Students are expected to consider their own needs through a SWOT (Strengths; Weaknesses; Opportunities; Threats) analysis and the development of a Personal Development Plan (PDP). Students will have the chance to consider the appropriate tools and techniques used in managing teams and how they might implement these strategies at work in the context of their overall organisation. Students will also consider how they and their team members must be prepared for unexpected Customer or Enforcement Authority interaction at any time of the day or night.CoreFood and Drink Business Management 2025-26FDS1139Level 42025-26The module starts with organisational structures and their objectives, touching on both financial and non-financial aspects. It uses foundational management theories like Fayol's and introduces basic business legislation. The course underscores financial literacy, from business accounts to ratio analysis. Business economics essentials, such as supply-demand dynamics and planning hierarchies, are covered. Emphasis is placed on the importance of budgeting, negotiation skills, and performance measurement frameworks. The module explores modern information management, the pivotal role of marketing in understanding customer needs, and strategic tools like gap analysis. Central to the module is the theme of ethics, addressing moral choices, stakeholder considerations, and pressing ethical issues in the food and drink sector.CoreProject Management and Management of Change 2025-26FDS1140Level 42025-26This module provides an exploration into the critical roles of change and project management within an organisation. Beginning with an introduction to the importance of effective change management and the various factors that might instigate a change project, students can develop a thorough understanding of the multidimensional dynamics that influence and shape organisational change. The module underscores the significant impacts that culture, organisational structures, and legal/regulatory frameworks can exert on change projects, demonstrating the necessity of factoring these aspects into change strategy and planning.Core

                          What You Need to Know

                          We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, contact hours, and our return to face-to-face teaching.

                          What You Need to Know

                          We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, contact hours, and our return to face-to-face teaching.

                          How you are assessed

                          The way students are assessed on this course may vary for each module. Examples of assessment methods that are used include written reports, work-based research projects, presentations, case studies and practical assessments.

                          The assessment timetable is planned, as far as is reasonably practical, to take account of busy periods within the industry.

                          The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly - usually within 15 working days after the submission date.

                          How you are assessed

                          The way students are assessed on this course may vary for each module. Examples of assessment methods that are used include written reports, work-based research projects, presentations, case studies and practical assessments.

                          The assessment timetable is planned, as far as is reasonably practical, to take account of busy periods within the industry.

                          The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly - usually within 15 working days after the submission date.

                          Entry Requirements 2025-26

                          Entry Requirements

                          Level 2 English and Maths

                          If on an apprenticeship, this can be achieved on programme prior to end point assessment.

                          Contextual Offers

                          At Lincoln, we recognise that not everybody has had the same advice and support to help them get to higher education. Contextual offers are one of the ways we remove the barriers to higher education, ensuring that we have fair access for all students regardless of background and personal experiences. For more information, including eligibility criteria, visit our Offer Guide pages. If you are applying to a course that has any subject specific requirements, these will still need to be achieved as part of the standard entry criteria.

                          Entry Requirements 2024-25

                          Entry Requirements

                          Level 2 English and Maths

                          If on an apprenticeship, this can be achieved on programme prior to end point assessment.

                          Contextual Offers

                          At Lincoln, we recognise that not everybody has had the same advice and support to help them get to higher education. Contextual offers are one of the ways we remove the barriers to higher education, ensuring that we have fair access for all students regardless of background and personal experiences. For more information, including eligibility criteria, visit our Offer Guide pages. If you are applying to a course that has any subject specific requirements, these will still need to be achieved as part of the standard entry criteria.

                          Fees and Scholarships

                          Going to university is a life-changing step and it's important to understand the costs involved and the funding options available before you start. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found on our course fees pages.

                          Course Fees

                          For eligible undergraduate students going to university for the first time, scholarships and bursaries are available to help cover costs. To help support students from outside of the UK, we are also delighted to offer a number of international scholarships which range from £1,000 up to the value of 50 per cent of tuition fees. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.

                          Fees and Scholarships

                          Going to university is a life-changing step and it's important to understand the costs involved and the funding options available before you start. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found on our course fees pages.

                          Course Fees

                          For eligible undergraduate students going to university for the first time, scholarships and bursaries are available to help cover costs. To help support students from outside of the UK, we are also delighted to offer a number of international scholarships which range from £1,000 up to the value of 50 per cent of tuition fees. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.

                          The University intends to provide its courses as outlined in these pages, although the University may make changes in accordance with the Student Admissions Terms and Conditions.