Production Management Graduate

apetito UK; Trowbridge; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food supplier is seeking a Production Management Graduate to join their rotational development program. The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience in managing a manufacturing plant and develop their leadership skills across various departments. They will work towards achieving operational efficiency and product quality within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Discretionary annual bonus scheme

Pension scheme with employer matched contributions

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Free parking

Subsidised canteen

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in relevant disciplines.
• Self-motivated and able to manage workload with minimal supervision.
• Experience in a manufacturing or operational environment is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead a departmental team focusing on KPIs and operational standards.
• Assist with NPD Trials and report findings to management.
• Complete manufacturing improvement projects throughout the rotation.

Skills

Leadership skills

Problem-solving

Continuous Improvement

Team motivation

Communication

Education

Degree in Business, Engineering or Science

Job description

Production Management Graduate

The Production Management Graduate role is an important role which will help us achieve our ambitious profit and growth targets. apetito have seen year on year growth for over the past 15 years in sales value, volume and product ranges. Our manufacturing unit now operates 5 days a week from Sunday night to Friday night manufacturing 1.5m units of frozen meals a week across a variety of production lines with maintenance and deep cleaning taking place on the weekend as well as between shifts. It is a fast‑paced environment with several product change‑overs per shift.

Role Overview

You will gain experience of managing a manufacturing plant, process and people through a rotational development program. You will spend 12‑18 months working across a variety of different departments in our Manufacturing and supply chain, for example you will work in areas such as Sweets, Meals, Procurement, Stores and NPD to gain an in‑depth knowledge of our supply chain and apetito processes. You will start your journey in either our Sweets department (where we produce a range of desserts and cakes approx. 300,000 units per week) or our Meals department (1.2 million units per week) to understand the core processes within our manufacturing operation.

Responsibilities

• Learn to lead a departmental team the apetito way with responsibility for KPI’s (e.g. right first time products), Wastage and Giveaway, Plan Attainment, Line Efficiency, Short Interval control, SMED changeovers, 5S and hygiene standards, Health and safety, Leading and Motivating a team and Communication.
• Develop your leadership skills and your ability to co‑ordinate operational activities as your development grows and you progress through the development programme.
• Assist with NPD Trials when conducted in your area/ on your shift and report back to Shift manager how it went.
• Completion of several manufacturing improvement projects during the rotation across departments demonstrating improved product quality, reduction in complaints and reduce the cost of material wastage. To give you a flavour, previous examples of projects include SMED smart changeovers, stock accuracy and cooking capacity projects to improve overall production capacity, AI scanning and digital traceability to eliminate paperwork. The breadth of projects are endless and will be determined nearer to your start date!
• Reduce operational costs, raising quality standards and increase efficiency plus capacity using our current facility and low‑cost investment items.
• Aid the achievement of the production plan reducing labour variance, material variance and overheads through a growth mind‑set.
• Understand all the factors affecting production costs and to act as a role model, advising on and encouraging Continuous Improvement within the business.
• Investigate opportunities for continuous improvement and implement.

Essential Qualifications

• Educated to Degree level, or equivalent, in Business, Engineering or Science discipline at 22 or above.

Essential Leadership and Behaviour Skills

• Upholds ethics and values.
• Encourages organisational and individual responsibility towards the community and the environment.
• Motivates and empowers others to be the best they can be.
• Sets appropriate standards of behaviour.
• Promotion of culture where all employees are engaged and able to raise their suggestions.
• Identifies and organises resources needed to accomplish tasks.
• Monitors performance against deadlines and milestones.
• Self‑motivated and able to own and manage workload with minimal supervision, a proven self‑starter.
• Sets high standards for safety, quality and efficiency.
• Focuses on customer needs and satisfaction through liaison with internal and external customers.
• A completer finisher.
• Seeks opportunities for operational improvement.
• Makes prompt, clear decisions which may involve tough choices or considered tasks.
• Takes responsibility for actions, projects and people.

Desirable

• Mechanical Engineering Degree (22 or above).
• Project Management experience.
• Lean/6 sigma experience.
• 12 months work experience or a placement year in industry.

Benefits and Working Pattern

• You will work a mix of shift patterns (6am-2pm or 2-10pm and occasionally 10pm-6am) to understand the complexities of our environment e.g. staff, material flows and capacity constraints.
• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer.
• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays.
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year.
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme.
• Pension scheme – employer matched contributions up to 4%.
• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary.
• Subsidised canteen.
• Free parking.
• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas.
• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts.

About apetito

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

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well‑being for all our customers. We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people. We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040. Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer. Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future. We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds. Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we’re on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.