Commercial Graduate in Kirkham

• Kirkham, Lancashire — on-site
• Starting salary: £29,500, with a potential increase of up to £1,500 to £31,000 at the start of Year 2

Discover what it takes to turn a product into a commercial success — from the factory floor to the customer relationship.

A food manufacturing business is recruiting an ambitious graduate for its Commercial Graduate Programme, offering rotations across sales, marketing and new product development.

You’ll start by learning how products are made before moving into office-based and customer-facing roles. Along the way, you’ll build your understanding of pricing, profitability, customer needs and the decisions that drive sales.

Applications are welcomed from all degree disciplines. An interest in food manufacturing and an understanding of the industry’s commercial challenges will help you stand out.

What you’ll be doing

• Build customer relationships: Understand customer needs and help develop tailored products and commercial solutions.
• Develop sales and negotiation skills: Get involved in prospecting, pitching and closing business, working towards revenue and margin targets.
• Collaborate on new products: Work with product development teams to align customer specifications, pricing and commercial viability.
• Understand the market: Research industry trends, competitors and customer behaviour to inform sales activity.
• Deliver commercial projects: Help coordinate sales and marketing plans, keeping activity on schedule and aligned with business goals.
• Represent the business: Attend customer meetings and industry events, building relationships and promoting products.
• Identify improvements: Find ways to make sales processes and operations more effective.

You’ll receive a tailored rotation plan, a dedicated mentor and structured training, with opportunities to learn from experienced colleagues across the business.

The programme offers a foundation for progression into senior commercial roles, with potential to advance towards management within five years, depending on performance.

Your initial placement will be on the factory floor within a meat-processing business. The role also involves regular travel to customers and company locations, including development activities across the UK and Ireland.

Key criteria

• Academic background: Graduates and undergraduates from any degree discipline considered.
• On-site availability: Able to work full-time in Kirkham, Lancashire, from 6 September 2027.
• Mobility: Willing and able to travel regularly to customer locations and company sites across the UK and Ireland.
• Interest in food manufacturing: Motivated to build a commercial career in the meat industry and willing to learn through practical factory experience.
• Commercial understanding: Able to demonstrate an understanding of food industry sales, including pricing, margins and costings.
• Customer focus: Able to understand customer needs and contribute to customer strategy, account management and joint business planning.
• Communication and negotiation: Confident presenting ideas, influencing discussions and communicating assertively while maintaining positive relationships.
• Analytical ability: Comfortable interpreting commercial data, market trends and competitor activity to inform decisions.
• Organisation and resilience: Able to manage projects, competing priorities and a busy workload, including frequent travel.
• Initiative and teamwork: Self-motivated, accountable and adaptable, with the ability to work independently and collaborate across departments.

Useful additional experience

Experience in food service, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) or a related sector would be beneficial, but is not essential. Applicants with general sales experience should demonstrate how their knowledge translates to the food industry.

• Educational assistance and learning opportunities
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Employee assistance programme

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