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- Tasks: Support manufacturing team in delivering innovative solutions and improving processes.
- Company: Join apetito, the UK's leading food supplier for health and social care sectors.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days holiday, pension scheme, and free parking.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth with many placements leading to graduate roles.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food manufacturing while gaining valuable engineering experience.
- Qualifications: Studying Engineering/Mathematics/Sciences with a passion for problem-solving.
Competitive Salary + Bonus + Benefits
- Location: UK-Wiltshire-Trowbridge
- Contract type: Placement
- Closing date: 30th January 2026
Overview
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.
You’ll work alongside Engineers, CI specialists, and Operational Teams to:
- 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
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You’ll develop hands‑on experience in manufacturing management, understanding how people, processes, technology, and data interact to drive performance across a complex operational system.
You’ll also build experience in:
- Manufacturing principles and process flows
- Facility and line design
- Production equipment (cooking, dicing, mincing, LEVs, lifting support)
- Refrigeration systems
This placement blends data , technology , and real‑world engineering —perfect for a Computer Science, AI, Engineering or mathematics student who enjoys solving practical problems with smart, structured thinking.
Competitive Salary + Bonus + Benefits
Who we are
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.
Responsibilities
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
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 time
- Designing and implementing solutions to reduce unplanned stoppages
- Working with operators and engineers to improve reliability and process flow
About you
Essential
- Studying towards a degree in Engineering/Mathematics/Sciences/Computer Science, AI or related discipline with the expectation that you will receive a 2:1 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
- Experience of Project Management
- Passion for food
Company Benefits
- 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
Our Values
As a family‑owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.
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
Contact Detail:
apetito 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 former employees on LinkedIn, especially those in the manufacturing or engineering sectors. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might just lead to a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to continuous improvement and lean methodologies. We recommend using the STAR method to structure your answers – it’ll help you showcase your problem-solving skills effectively.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for food and engineering during interviews! Share any relevant projects or experiences that highlight your interest in improving processes. It’s all about connecting your skills with their mission.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, you’ll find more resources and tips to help you stand out in the process.
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 reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Continuous Improvement Engineer role. Highlight any relevant projects or coursework that showcase your engineering, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about food manufacturing and continuous improvement. Share specific examples of how you've applied lean principles or worked on projects that required innovative solutions.
Show Your Data Skills: Since we’re looking for someone confident with large data sets, be sure to mention any experience you have with data analysis. Whether it’s through coursework or personal projects, demonstrate how you can identify patterns and trends.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team at apetito!
How to prepare for a job interview at apetito
✨Know Your Engineering Basics
Brush up on your engineering principles, especially those related to manufacturing processes. Be ready to discuss how techniques like lean and six sigma can be applied to improve efficiency in food manufacturing.
✨Show Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your ability to work with large data sets. Think of examples where you've identified patterns or trends in data, and be ready to explain how you would apply this analysis to real-world problems in the manufacturing process.
✨Get Hands-On Experience
If possible, visit a manufacturing facility or engage in practical projects before your interview. Being able to talk about your hands-on experiences will show your enthusiasm and readiness to tackle challenges on the shop floor.
✨Communicate Effectively
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Since interaction with shop floor staff is crucial, think of ways to showcase your interpersonal skills and how you can effectively communicate with team members at all levels.