Continuous Improvement Graduate - 2025

targetjobs UK; Trowbridge; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food supplier in the UK seeks a continuous improvement specialist to enhance manufacturing performance. The role involves coaching teams, driving efficiency, and ensuring quality standards while fostering a culture of improvement. Ideal candidates will have a relevant degree and strong analytical skills, with a passion for food manufacturing.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Discretionary bonus scheme

Employer-matched pension contributions up to 4%

Life assurance

Subsidized canteen

Free parking

Christmas vouchers

Employee perks

Qualifications

• Expected to graduate by August 2025.
• Experience working with large data sets.
• Hands-on approach with shop floor experience.

Responsibilities

• Support front-line management in medium to long-term issues.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing processes.
• Coach staff using continuous improvement methodologies.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Sciences, or related discipline

Job description

Overview

The role is to assist in leading a continuous improvement program throughout Manufacturing. You will actively develop our employees to ensure they have the appropriate skills and tools to implement improvements, delivering a positive step change in manufacturing performance. This includes ensuring departments operate at maximum efficiency with right-first-time quality, driving a positive culture change, being visible on the shop floor, acting with energy and pace, engaging with senior leadership and operational staff, and leading the change journey.

We seek someone experienced and capable of training and coaching individuals and teams in Lean and process improvement tools and techniques. The role involves assisting in reducing production costs while delivering world-class customer service, maintaining high quality standards, and increasing production capacity. It is a challenging, stimulating, and varied role that offers a good level of autonomy. This role is suited for an experienced, self-starting individual who can define their strategic direction in liaison with the leadership team.

An ability to influence at all levels is essential, along with collaboration with peers to support overall business results focusing on Safety, Quality, Delivery, Costs, Innovation, and People. This role will be hands-on, requiring you to lead, influence, coach, and support a diverse team in experience and competency to produce right-first-time quality products safely and efficiently.

Who We Are

apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors, serving over 1,300 care homes, healthcare, and education settings. Our meals are crafted by dieticians and chefs, then frozen to preserve quality. Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier, delivering over 330 different frozen meals across the UK.

Responsibilities

1. Support front-line management in addressing medium to long-term issues through root cause analysis and resolution.
2. Identify, implement, and support solutions to potential manufacturing issues.
3. Analyze process capabilities, liaise with support functions to ensure process stability and consistency.
4. Drive continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing processes.
5. Help create a performance culture by motivating and aligning staff towards business excellence.
6. Make data-driven recommendations for improvements.
7. Ensure food safety, authenticity, legality, and quality standards are met, including corrective actions and customer complaint resolution.
8. Assist in developing and maintaining tools and techniques for operational improvements.
9. Coach staff using continuous improvement methodologies to foster cultural change.

Essential Qualifications and Skills

• Degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Sciences, or related discipline with a 2:2 or higher, expected to graduate by August 2025.
• Experience working with large data sets and analyzing patterns or trends.
• Hands-on approach and experience working on the shop floor.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for engaging with staff at all levels.
• Strong organizational, time management, and record-keeping skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to collaborate effectively.
• Passion for food manufacturing.

Desirable Skills

• Project management experience.
• Experience in food production environments.

Personal Qualities

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated, organized, and a proactive self-starter.
• Effective communication skills, both oral and written.

Company Benefits

• Competitive salary, accredited Living Wage employer.
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with options to purchase additional days.
• Discretionary bonus scheme.
• Employer-matched pension contributions up to 4%.
• Life assurance, subsidized canteen, free parking, Christmas vouchers, and employee perks.

Our Values

As a family-owned business, we are committed to making a difference through outstanding meals that promote health and well-being. We support British food and farming, aim for Net Zero by 2040, and uphold high ethical standards recognized by the ETI. We are dedicated to inclusivity and empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds to reach their full potential.