Kepak Operational Graduate Programme 2027 - Wales

Kepak Group; Merthyr Tydfil; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Discount Scheme

Educational Assistance/ L&D

Cycle to work scheme

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Kepak Merthyr in Wales is launching the Operational Graduate Programme 2027. You will rotate across production, procurement and sales to learn end-to-end processes and contribute to projects on the factory floor.

Starting salary £29,500 with potential rise to £31,000 in Year 2. The 2-year, on-site programme at Merthyr Tydfil includes mentoring and leadership development with learning across UK sites.

Qualifications

• Open to graduates from all disciplines.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Process Learning: Rotate through operational departments to gain hands-on experience of every stage.
• Presentation and Reporting: Present knowledge and insights after each rotation to demonstrate understanding of operations.
• Operational Involvement: Actively participate on the factory floor to learn each work station and processes.
• People Management: Develop skills in leading diverse teams in a high-volume environment.
• Continuous Improvement: Contribute to SOPs, data gathering, and process-improvement projects.

Skills

Communication skills

Education

Open to graduates from all disciplines

Job description

Kepak Operational Graduate Programme 2027 - Wales

We are seeking to recruit for the 2027 Kepak Operational Graduate Programme in our Kepak Merthyr Site, this is our biggest site, with Beef and Lamb processing, as well as Retail operations onsite. We are looking for Operational Graduates the Retail side of the site.

Our Operations Graduates will embark on an intensive learning journey within our business, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the entire production process from procurement to sales. This role is designed to develop future leaders in the meat industry, with a strong emphasis on learning the end-to-end process, understanding the value of each step, and mastering the operations that drive our business. The ultimate goal is for the graduate to be able to articulate the entire process, and to demonstrate this knowledge through presentations and hands‑on experience.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-End Process Learning: Rotate through various operational departments, to gain hands‑on experience of every role and a deep understanding of each stage of the production process.
• Presentation and Reporting: At the end of each rotation, present the acquired knowledge and insights to demonstrate an understanding of the operations.
• Operational Involvement: Actively participate on the factory floor, learning each work station and the processes involved producing our products
• People Management: Develop skills in managing diverse teams, understanding the dynamics of a labour‑intensive industry, and learning how to effectively communicate and lead in a multicultural environment.
• Continuous Improvement: Engage in key projects such as data gathering, writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), process improvement initiatives, and customer‑specific projects to contribute to the overall efficiency of operations.

Key Competencies

• Numerical Proficiency: Strong aptitude for working with numbers, crucial for understanding the yield, value, and financial aspects of meat processing.
• Work Ethic: A strong work ethic is essential. Demonstrating a background in consistent part-time work during studies is an advantage.
• Process Management: Ability to motivate teams in a labour‑intensive environment, with a focus on maintaining calm and effective communication in high‑pressure situations.
• Problem‑Solving: Strong problem‑solving skills, particularly in high‑pressure environments where quick thinking and decision‑making are required.
• Teamwork: Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team, whether through sports, work, or academic projects.

Other Role Information

• Location: Full‑time on‑site at our Merthyr Tydfil Factory, with the possibility of travel to other locations for specialised learning.
• Progression: The program will involve 90% factory floor experience and 10% office‑based work initially, with a gradual increase in office responsibilities as you progress.
• Assessment: You will be assessed through presentations and practical demonstrations of your understanding at each stage of the process. You will also have a Learner Journey to support your progress, this states key competencies that we want you to develop through your programme

Our Operational Graduate programme allows dynamic, motivated, hardworking, and passionate Graduates an opportunity start their career in food manufacturing. The programme lasts 2 years.

What can you expect?

To be fully immersed into our Culture from day 1, working alongside industry experts and Kepak leaders

An opportunity to gain in depth knowledge and skill in various Operational departments across the business, with a rotation plan tailored to your development

Gain real, hands‑on experience in our manufacturing areas, to understand how our teams come together to create our brilliant products

The opportunity to work with the commercial side of the business, through shorter placements, to gain insight into the whole of the business

Gain an in depth understanding of our brands and products, and how they are made, and our relationships with customers and consumers

To learn key aspects of our business, whilst you develop your skills and knowledge

The opportunity to develop personally and professionally through exposure to key projects, tasks and development activities that challenge you, all supported by a detailed learner journey and training plan

A dedicated mentor and development program to support you both on the programme and into a role that best fits your skill

Start date: September 6th 2027

Starting Salary - £29,500 with an up to £1,500 increase at the start of Year 2 to £31,000

Role Location - Kepak Merthyr, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

Read more about our programme and hear from some of our Graduates: https://www.kepak.com/careers/graduates/

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for hardworking and ambitious Graduates, who want to learn and grow in a challenging and fast paced environment, by performing real roles as part of your rotations.

You must be mobile and willing to travel throughout the programme to undertake development activities at any of our sites in the UK and Ireland.

You need to be flexible with working patterns, so you can get to experience all the different parts of manufacturing. Our experts work different shifts, so we will need you to be able to do the same, as you move through your rotations

Education & Skills

• Educational Background: Open to graduates from all disciplines.
• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with people of different nationalities and backgrounds.

Personal Attributes

• Driven and Ambitious: A desire to build a long‑term career in the meat industry, with aspirations to become a manager in operations.
• Eager to Learn: A proactive approach to learning, with a willingness to seek out information, ask questions, and absorb knowledge like a sponge.
• Resilience: Comfortable working in a challenging environment, including exposure to abattoirs and carcass locations.

We will be looking for alignment with our Core Values:

Responsibility – Ability to work on your own initiative and take accountability for your actions

Ambition – You will have the willingness and confidence to challenge yourself to be the best you can be and be driven to succeed

Passion for Food – this is at the heart of everything we do, you must be passionate about every aspect of our industry

Teamwork – ability to build positive relationships quickly with people from all cultures and career stages is pivotal

• Employee Discount Scheme
• Educational Assistance/ L&D
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance programme