A new £500,000 Craft Skills Academy has been opened at Morrisons in Keighley

The revamped Worth Way store will champion the traditional skills of its staff across the butchers, bakers and fishmongers departments.

And it will promote the skills through its in-store apprenticeship scheme.

Among the advocates of the new academy is 22-year-old Chris Ainsley, who completed a bakery apprenticeship with the supermarket two years ago and has now worked his way up to assistant bakery manager.

“I think that learning on the job from someone who really knows what they’re doing is the best experience you can get,” Chris said.

“And it’s good to know that the Craft Skills Academy will encourage other people to learn a proper trade and keep the traditions going.

“The investment in the store has meant that we’ve opened up the counter and put the moulding table right at the front so customers can see us in action.

“We do a lot of hand moulding which is the traditional way of making bread.”

The introduction of the academy has seen an increase in the number of products made from scratch by Morrisons’ craft skills specialists.

The revamp of the premises has also included the provision of a new flower shop and pizza counter and technology to keep fruit and veg fresher for longer.

Store manager John Husarz said: “I think the Craft Skills Academy is a great way to encourage the uptake of traditional skills.

“We have more skilled craftsmen and women on our counters than any other supermarket and pride ourselves on the knowledge and advice that they can offer to customers.

“It’s great to see young people learning a trade.

“All our staff have benefited from training which in turn benefits our customers.”