Health, Safety & Environment Manager in Trowbridge

The Health and Safety of our colleagues is the core foundation to how we operate at apetito every day. As part of the HSE Team, the HSE Manager will play a critical role in ensuring that our people and contractors can work in the safest and most effective way possible. This key foundational requirement ensures that our business works within the envelope of the relevant UK legal framework.

apetito is growing, and to support this growth we are introducing this new role into the team. As HSE Manager for Kitchen West, you will manage all HSE aspects of the manufacture and delivery of products from our new factory currently under construction 'Kitchen West' to our Portbury Distribution Centre. You will report directly to the Head of HSE for apetito UK and will have regular communication with senior leaders within our business. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the team that will deliver a safe working environment for all our stakeholders and enable us to achieve our objectives.

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 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.

Responsibilities:

• Before the factory is operational (up to Q2 2027):
• Develop the relevant operational safety processes and systems of work in advance of the factory becoming operational.
• Develop an impactful employee and contractor induction process.
• Any other actions needed to ensure that the factory starts with a high standard of safety and health.
• Once the factory is operational (Q2 2027 onwards):
• Lead and support the Kitchen West team to deliver our planned health, safety, fire and environmental objectives.
• Lead and support multi-functional teams to develop and successfully implement risk assessments to identify and mitigate risks using the hierarchy of control.
• Support multi-functional teams to (1) complete incident investigations, (2) identify the root causes and (3) take appropriate actions to prevent reoccurrence.
• Monitor and report on progress to the HSE Plan, HSE KPIs and performance metrics to senior leaders within the business.
• Engage with shop floor personnel, identify improvement opportunities, and deliver behavioural & cultural improvement.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 45001 & ISO 14001 and other relevant standards.
• Liaise with regulatory bodies as needed.
• Support environmental reporting and sustainability initiatives.
• At least 30% of the time will involve shop floor engagement.

About you:

• Essential:
• NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent HSE qualification.
• Proven experience in a similar HSE role - ideally in manufacturing.
• Demonstrable knowledge of UK HSE legislation and best practices.
• Excellent communication skills and able to build relationships with stakeholders across the organisation.
• Strong leadership skills to engage and lead a HSE team and build a culture of safety.
• Experience in managing ISO 45001 & 14001 certifications.
• Desirable:
• Chartered Membership of IOSH (CMIOSH) or working towards it.
• Environmental qualification (e.g., IEMA).
• Experience in a food manufacturing setting.

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. 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.