At a Glance
- Tasks: Join us to learn about food safety, quality assurance, and technical systems in a factory environment.
- Company: Greencore, a leading UK convenience food creator with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, relocation assistance, and access to exclusive employee discounts.
- Other info: Gain hands-on experience and mentorship while exploring exciting career opportunities.
- Why this job: Kickstart your career in food tech and make a real impact on delicious products.
- Qualifications: Studying a food-related or science-based degree; team player with attention to detail.
The predicted salary is between 26850 - 26850 £ per year.
Salary: £26,850 per annum. An additional uplift is also provided for employees based at a London site.
Benefits: Relocation Financial Assistance - Any relocation payments made will be paid back in July 2027! Access to Greencore benefits such as a discount platform.
Location: Greencore site TBC could be London, South-West, Cheshire, Lincolnshire.
Ways of Working: Site-based.
Start Date: End of June 2027.
Contract Type: 12-Month FTC.
Assessment Centre Date/Location: Thursday 10th December 2026 at our Spalding site.
Why Greencore? Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we are one of the UK's leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make every day taste better. As a vibrant and fast-moving business, we are proud to employ over 28,000 talented colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and the US. Together, we bring delicious food to life. Our products cover every meal occasion from breakfast through to dinner and dessert, with lunch and snacking in between. In FY25, our shared passion helped us achieve combined revenues of approximately £4bn. Our extensive direct to store (DTS) network, with 17 depots across the UK, allows us to deliver fresh and frozen food both our own and from trusted partners to thousands of stores every day, ensuring consumers enjoy the very best, whenever and wherever they shop.
What you'll be doing: If you share our passion for great food, this placement offers you opportunities, development, and guidance to help you learn and grow. You will gain skills in areas such as food safety, microbiology, internal auditing, raw materials, technical systems and factory hygiene. This entry level placement is ideal for those studying a food-related or food science degree, aiming to enter this field upon graduation. You will be based at one of our manufacturing sites engaging in a broad range of activities and projects. The placement structure includes working within different functions within the technical department, these may include:
- Technical Factory QA: Collaborate with our manufacturing operations to ensure high quality and food safety as part of the Quality Assurance team. You'll engage in technical tasks such as GMP audits, taste panels, and micro-sampling while working within the factory environment.
- Technical Systems: Working with our technical systems team to help develop robust technical systems that comply with food safety, legal and customer requirements. This could include tasks around HACCP, code of practice reviews, quality management systems and KPIs.
- Raw Materials and Specifications: Working in the raw material or specifications team to monitor and evaluate raw material safety through risk assessments and generate product specifications, including artwork and legal compliance checks.
- Process: Working within our process teams to ensure the smooth transition of products from concept to launch. You will engage in factory trials, organoleptic sampling, shelf-life reviews, verifying data and product quality attribute generation.
Food technology placement roles will require you to spend a high proportion of your day within a factory environment.
What we're looking for: Undergraduate currently studying a food science (Food related) or science-based degree (Must be mid degree, not mid masters). Experience working as part of a team. Existing right to work in the UK (we are unable to sponsor visas for this placement). A clear motivation to learn more about the food industry. A desire to learn how food manufacturing works and to get into detail of: What makes food safe? How factories consistently produce great quality food time after time? An ability to demonstrate good attention to detail. A full UK drivers licence and own transport is preferred, as our locations and suppliers are not always readily accessible by public transport. A curiosity to explore, learn, and show initiative.
At Greencore we put our people at the core. We celebrate their differences and help everyone to be themselves at work. Together we make every day taste better. All placements are subject to successful right to work checks, and eligibility to work in the UK. If this sounds like you, join us and grow with Greencore, and be a part of driving our future success.
What you'll get in return: You will work with an experienced line manager, early careers manager and technical champion who will conduct regular performance reviews and support you through a skills checklist to ensure your development. Assuming everything progresses as planned, Greencore will assist you in identifying the right career opportunities upon completing your degree. This could include direct entry roles or positions within our Graduate programmes. From day one, you will take responsibility for your work area and personal development, with comprehensive on-the-job training and development opportunities to further your career.
What's next: Once you have submitted your online application, it will be reviewed to ensure you meet the required criteria. If you meet all the requirements and are selected to progress, you will move on to Stages 2 and 3: an automated online video interview and online aptitude testing. Once both stages have been completed and reviewed, successful candidates will progress to the final stage: an in-person assessment day, held at one of our sites or another designated venue. We reserve the right to close this advertisement before the stated closing date.
D&T Food Tech in Derby employer: Greencore Group plc
Greencore Group plc is an excellent employer for those seeking a dynamic role in accounts payable within the UK. With a strong emphasis on employee development, you will benefit from structured training and a supportive work culture that values accuracy and communication. Join us to thrive in a fast-paced environment where your contributions are recognised and rewarded.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land D&T Food Tech in Derby
✨Get Involved in Industry Events
Don’t miss out on food science and technology conferences or local meetups! These events are prime opportunities to meet industry professionals, learn about the latest trends, and maybe even impress potential employers like Greencore Group plc with your knowledge and enthusiasm.
✨Join Food Tech Communities
Dive into online communities and forums specifically for food science and technology. Platforms like Food Science & Technology Association or even LinkedIn groups can provide access to job postings and insider tips that are tailored to our field. It's a great way to get noticed by actual hiring managers!
✨Utilise University Resources
As you’re aiming for a placement, make the most of your university's career services. They often have relationships with companies looking to hire students for placements—keep an eye out for those connections and specific application windows!
✨Make Your Passion Visible
Showcase your passion for food science and technology through projects or research you’ve done, even if they're just class assignments. Create a simple portfolio or blog to put your work out there. When you apply to Greencore Group plc, these can really help you stand out as not just a candidate, but someone who truly loves the field.
We think you need these skills to ace D&T Food Tech in Derby
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Foodie Knowledge!:For a food science technology placement, we need to see your passion for all things food-related. Use your cover letter to highlight relevant projects or coursework, like food safety or product development. Let your enthusiasm for food innovation shine through!
Get Technical with Your CV:Make sure your CV includes specific technical skills relevant to food science technology, like analytical techniques or laboratory skills. If you’ve worked with any food processing software or have hands-on experience with food quality testing, shout about it – it's what sets you apart!
Highlight Your Team Work and Communication Skills:In the food science field, teamwork is crucial! Make sure you mention any group projects or experiences you’ve had in labs or classes. Employers like Greencore Group plc want to see you can communicate effectively – especially when collaborating on projects.
Tailor Your Application for the Role:Every placement is different, so we should tailor your application to Greencore Group plc’s specific needs. Take some time to research their work and values; then weave that understanding into your cover letter and CV. It’ll show them you’re genuinely interested in contributing to their team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Greencore Group plc
✨Show Off Your Lab Skills
In the food science and technology field, hands-on lab skills are super valuable. Be ready to discuss specific techniques you've used or experiments you've conducted during your studies. If you have any relevant lab experience from your coursework, definitely bring that up!
✨Know Your Food Safety Standards
Interviews in food science often touch on regulations and safety standards like HACCP or ISO 22000. Brush up on these as they might ask you how you've applied or would apply these in your work. Showing that you're familiar with these concepts can really set us apart from other candidates!
✨Demonstrate Your Learning Agility
With this being a placement, the interviewers are likely to focus on your willingness to learn and adapt. Be ready to talk about how you've tackled challenges in your studies and how you approach new topics. We want to give them the confidence that you’ll be eager to soak up all the knowledge you can!
✨Prepare Case Studies on Food Innovation
Having a couple of real-world examples ready about recent innovations or technologies in food science can be a game-changer in your interview. Think about trends like plant-based alternatives or food preservation techniques. This shows you’re not just book smart but also up to date with industry developments, which is crucial for us in a placement role!
