Packaging Operative

Harri; St. Austell; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Food discount

Accommodation discount

Career development

Pension scheme

Cycle to work

Company bonus

Health plan

Rewards program

Free parking

Job summary

St Austell Brewery is seeking an experienced Packaging Operator to join our Bottling, Cask Racking & Kegging lines at the St Austell site in Cornwall. You’ll work on modern automated lines, ensuring quality, safety and timely changeovers while supporting a small, collaborative packaging team.

The role requires hands-on line work, problem solving, and clear communication within a tight, quality-driven environment. Shift patterns include early and late starts with periodic night shifts.

Qualifications

• Experience on a production or manufacturing line with exposure to quality standards (BRC/ISO/SALSA or equivalent).
• Strong health & safety understanding and process-driven approach.
• Proven ability to identify problems and respond logically on a live line.

Responsibilities

• Operate modern automated bottling, cask, and kegging lines to production targets.
• Monitor quality and adherence to SOPs, health and safety standards, and procedures.
• Carry out format and product changeovers and respond to line stoppages and quality issues.
• Collaborate with Brewing, Engineering, Quality and Distribution to ensure smooth throughput.

Skills

Production line experience

Quality standards

Health & safety awareness

Problem solving

Clear communication

Job description

There's never been a better time to join us. As demand continues to grow – particularly through our partnership with Harbour Brewery and successes with Proper Job 0.5% – we're expanding our brewing and packaging teams to support this exciting period of growth. We have an exciting opportunity within our Packaging team at our production site in St Austell, Cornwall. This role sits within our Bottling, Cask Racking & Kegging operations, producing our award-winning beers including Korev, Tribute and Proper Job.

Important:This is a skilled production role within a manufacturing environment. It is not suitable for individuals who are new to production work and candidates with Warehouse-only experience without production line exposure (e.g. order picking, dispatch, goods-in/out), are also unlikely to be suitable.

The role:

You will be working on modern, automated small pack (Bottling) and large pack, (Cask & Keg) production lines, operating at pace in a controlled, quality-critical manufacturing environment. The role requires hands‑on involvement with production equipment, adherence to strict procedures, and active participation in problem solving on the line.

You will work closely with Brewing, Engineering, Quality and Distribution, making this a key operational role within the wider brewery. This role suits someone who is already comfortable working on a production line and understands the demands of a manufacturing setting, including monitoring and operating automated machinery, responding to line stoppages and quality issues, carrying out format and product changeovers and working to defined SOPs, health and safety standards and quality systems. Our packaging shift team is relatively small, so the ability to communicate clearly, collaborate effectively and take responsibility is essential.

Working Patterns

You will work 40 hours a week, from Monday to Friday, on a shift pattern that alternates mainly between earlies and lates. You will be expected to work a night shift every 1 in 6 weeks but flexibility is important to meet production requirements.

Shift times are as follows:

• Earlies - 6:00am to 2:30pm
• Lates - 2.00pm to 10:30pm
• Nights – 10:00pm to 06:30am

About You:

To be considered for this role, you must have:

• Previous experience working on a production or manufacturing line (e.g. food & drink, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, or similar)
• Experience working in an environment with formal quality standards (BRC, ISO, SALSA or equivalent)
• A strong understanding of process‑driven working and health & safety
• The ability to identify problems on the line and respond logically
• Confidence communicating within a small team

Desirable (But Not Essential)

• Experience operating and changing formats on automated packaging equipment
• Fork Lift Truck licence (training available for the right candidate)
• Food safety Qualifications (in‑house training will be available)

Important:Individuals who are new to production work and candidates with warehouse‑only experience/no production line exposure (e.g. order picking, dispatch, goods‑in/out), are unlikely to be suitable.

The benefits

• 30% discount on food & drink within the managed estate & visitors centre
• 50% discount on accommodation within the managed estate
• Fantastic training & career development opportunities.
• Pension Scheme - 4% Employee and Employer. Can increase to 5% if required.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Company bonus scheme.
• Westfield Health cash plan – Claim money back for Dental, Eye Care, Physio etc
• Westfield Rewards – Shopping rewards
• Free Parking

Additional Information

St Austell Brewery is an Equal Opportunities employer. We encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity.We also welcome requests for flexible working.

If you would like any further information please email: [e-mail]