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- Tasks: Support manufacturing team in delivering innovative solutions for food production processes.
- Company: Join apetito, the UK's leading food supplier dedicated to health and social care.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 25 days holiday, and a range of perks including discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food manufacturing while gaining hands-on engineering experience.
- Qualifications: Studying Engineering/Mathematics/Sciences with a passion for problem-solving and teamwork.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth with many students transitioning to graduate roles.
Continuous Improvement Engineer – Undergraduate Placement (12 Months)
We’re excited to offer a 12‑month placement for a student passionate about technology, data, and intelligent systems to join our experienced Manufacturing team as a Continuous Improvement Engineer. This is a unique opportunity to apply your analytical, digital, and problem‑solving skills to real‑world manufacturing challenges. You’ll help us design smarter, more efficient, and more automated processes across our food production facility—using data, logic, and creativity to make a measurable impact, and make a difference on how we operate.
Responsibilities
- Analyse large datasets to uncover patterns, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities
- Support the design and optimisation of complex manufacturing processes
- Develop digital tools and automated workflows to replace manual processes
- Apply structured problem‑solving methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, and DMAIC
- Contribute to projects that enhance safety, quality, efficiency, and compliance
- Gain hands‑on experience on the shop floor to understand how systems and processes really work
- Develop hands‑on experience in manufacturing management, understanding how people, processes, technology, and data interact to drive performance across a complex operational system
Experience Building
- Manufacturing principles and process flows
- Facility and line design
- Production equipment (cooking, dicing, mincing, LEVs, lifting support)
- Refrigeration systems
Continuous Improvement & Lean Projects
- Mapping processes step‑by‑step to identify inefficiencies
- Removing non‑value‑adding activities
- Applying DMAIC, 5S, and root‑cause analysis to deliver measurable improvements
Digital Transformation & Automation
- Creating Power Apps to digitalise manual processes
- Improving compliance through automated workflows and smarter data capture
- Enhancing workforce management with digital tools and real‑time visibility
Multi‑Plus Project
- Supplier sourcing and international visits (e.g., Germany)
- Tray and packaging design
- Production line modifications
- Sourcing new equipment and machinery
- Running trials and gathering customer feedback
Downtime Reduction & Performance Optimisation
- Analysing machine and line‑level data to identify downtime patterns and root causes
- Building dashboards or digital tools to track performance in real timeDesigning and implementing solutions to reduce unplanned stoppages
- Working with operators and engineers to improve reliability and process flow
Essential Qualifications
- Studying towards a degree in Engineering/Mathematics/Sciences/Computer Science, AI or related discipline with the expectation that you will receive a 21 or above and are looking to complete a 12‑month placement as part of your degree.
- Confident working with large data sets and able to analyse them to determine any patterns or trends to support further work or solution.
- Comfortable of being “hands on” and working on the shop floor to further understand the problem and find solution.
- Interaction with shop floor staff at all levels will be essential to be successful in the various projects and tasks assigned.A completer finisher
- Excellent analysis, problem management and interpersonal skills
- Self‑motivated and able to own and manage workload with minimal supervision – a proven self‑starter
- Able to demonstrate a structured approach to work as well as being able to work well in team environment and deal with people professionally at all levels
- Is effective at using oral and written forms of communication
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience of Project Management
- Passion for food
- 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
- Access to employee benefits including Perkbox with salary sacrifice options and retail discounts
Benefits
Competitive Salary + Bonus + Benefits
About the Company
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 dietitians 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. Many of our placement students have gone on to join the company as Graduates on completing their degrees. Full details on the programme can be found on our careers pages at apetito Graduates.
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.
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Continuous Improvement Engineer Undergraduate Placement employer: apetito UK
Contact Detail:
apetito UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Continuous Improvement Engineer Undergraduate Placement
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or past placement students at apetito on LinkedIn. They can give you the inside scoop on what it’s really like and might even refer you for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Get hands-on experience! If you can, try to get involved in projects or internships related to manufacturing or engineering. This will not only boost your CV but also give you real-world examples to discuss during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Research common questions for Continuous Improvement Engineer roles and practice your answers. Be ready to showcase your problem-solving skills and how you’ve applied lean techniques in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the placement programme there, so you can tailor your approach.
We think you need these skills to ace Continuous Improvement Engineer Undergraduate Placement
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Continuous Improvement Engineer role. Highlight any relevant projects or experiences that showcase your engineering skills and understanding of manufacturing processes. We want to see how you can add value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about food manufacturing and how your studies align with our goals. Be sure to mention any specific techniques like lean or Six Sigma that you've learned about.
Show Off Your Analytical Skills: Since we’re looking for someone who can work with large data sets, make sure to include examples of how you've analysed data in your studies or previous roles. This will show us that you have the skills to support our complex manufacturing processes.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of success. It’s super easy, and you’ll find all the details you need about the placement. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at apetito UK
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the basics of continuous improvement methodologies like lean and Six Sigma. Brush up on key concepts such as 5S and DMAIC, as these will likely come up in your interview. Being able to discuss how you've applied these techniques in your studies or projects will show you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Show Your Hands-On Experience
Since this role involves working on the shop floor, be prepared to share any practical experiences you have. Whether it's a project from your course or a part-time job, highlight times when you’ve interacted with equipment or processes. This will demonstrate your comfort in a manufacturing environment and your ability to engage with staff at all levels.
✨Data is Key
As the role requires analysing large data sets, be ready to discuss any relevant experience you have with data analysis. Bring examples of how you've identified patterns or trends in your work. If you can, mention specific tools or software you've used, as this will show your technical skills are up to scratch.
✨Be a Team Player
This position will require collaboration with various teams, so emphasise your interpersonal skills. Share examples of how you've worked effectively in teams, resolved conflicts, or contributed to group projects. Showing that you can communicate well and build relationships will make you a strong candidate for the role.
