Research & Development Industrial Placement - Environment, Health & Safety 2026

PepsiCo, Inc.; Leicester; On-site; GBP 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global snack and beverage company is seeking enthusiastic undergraduates for a 12-month full-time R&D internship starting in July 2026 at Beaumont Park, Leicester. The role focuses on Health & Safety and involves project management and communication with diverse audiences. The salary is £25,500 with benefits including 25 days of leave and a competitive pension scheme.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Discounted PepsiCo products

Market-leading health benefits

Qualifications

• Expected to pursue a degree in Health & Safety, Engineering, or Construction.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.
• Excellent communication with non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Deliver elements of the R&D EHS Annual Operating Plan.
• Involvement in Project Evolve for safe delivery and compliance.
• Handle day-to-day EHS requirements and investigations.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Organizational skills

Education

Degree in Health & Safety or related discipline

Job description

Overview

We are looking for enthusiastic undergraduates to join our R&D teams on a 12-month placement programme starting in July 2026 on a full-time basis. All our Research & Development opportunities are based out of Beaumont Park, Leicester. Our Global R&D team is at the heart of the action, creating products of the future and healthy choices to meet consumer needs. You will have autonomy to make a difference and develop your skills in a fast-paced, energetic environment.

Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) team at Beaumont Park plays a critical role in ensuring safety and wellbeing of all personnel on site, as well as responsibilities for R&D Associates across Europe. The Site Operations team maintains compliance, provides expert guidance on EHS matters, fosters a proactive safety culture, and manages operational risk related to health, safety and environment. The EHS team supports site-wide initiatives including cultural activities and capital investments, including the multi-million-pound Project Evolve to enhance R&D capabilities on site, with building work commencing in June 2026. The EHS team will play a pivotal role in this development, ensuring safety and compliance throughout the project lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Delivery of elements of the R&D EHS Annual Operating Plan, including KPI analysis and reporting, MESS (Machine & Equipment Safety Standard) programme delivery, and supporting Global R&D Lead for Fire Prevention and Protection.
• Direct involvement in Project Evolve (construction project), focusing on Management of Change (MoC) and Contractor Management to ensure safe delivery and compliance with PepsiCo EHS standards.
• Day-to-day EHS requirements and investigation/response to near misses, minor injuries and incidents.
• Active role within the Site Safety Action Team, including safety campaign design and participation.
• Support the Legal and GEHSMS audits.
• Support the implementation of the "Courage to Care" culture initiative across BP and wider Europe R&D Organisation, including leadership of local events.
• Engage with peers who are penultimate year students expecting a sandwich placement, and pursue a degree path in Health & Safety or a related discipline where EHS is important (e.g., Engineering or Construction).
• Develop good analytical skills to interpret data and identify trends.
• Demonstrate good interpersonal abilities to communicate with a diverse audience.
• Show high motivation, good organisational skills, and ability to convey concise and persuasive information to non-technical audiences.
• Display a passion for safety, care of others and the environment, and the ability to engender this passion in others to engage and gain commitment for safety initiatives.

Qualifications

• Following path to a degree level qualification in Health & Safety, or in a discipline where EHS is an important part (e.g., Engineering or Construction).
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, especially to non-technical audiences.
• Self-motivated with strong organisational skills.

What else you need to know

Our placements start in July 2026 on a full-time basis and will last 12 months. The salary is £25,500. Other benefits include a vibrant culture, development and mentoring, 25 days of annual leave plus 8 bank holidays and birthday leave, discounted PepsiCo products, a competitive pension scheme, and market-leading health and wellbeing benefits (Virtual GP available 24/7, discounted gym membership, and online digital physiotherapy).

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories. Our product portfolio includes brands such as Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) guides our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ through sustainable growth and positive impact.