At a Glance
- Tasks: Dive into food product development and bring your ideas to life!
- Company: Join one of the UK's leading food businesses with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and potential future job opportunities.
- Other info: Supportive environment with real responsibilities from day one.
- Why this job: Turn your passion for food into real products that consumers love.
- Qualifications: A keen interest in food trends and a desire to learn.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
If you're passionate about food, curious about consumer trends and interested in understanding how products make it from ideas to supermarket shelves, our Food Product Development Placement Programme could be for you. This placement has been designed to give you first-hand experience of Product Development within one of the UK's leading food businesses.
Over 12 months, you'll gain exposure to the product development process, from identifying trends and generating ideas through to recipe development, customer presentations, factory trials and product launch. You'll work alongside experienced Product Developers, Chefs and cross-functional teams, gaining valuable insight into the commercial, technical and operational considerations required to develop successful products. Most importantly, you'll be given real responsibility from day one, allowing you to contribute to live projects and develop your skills in a supportive environment.
What You'll Be Doing
- Coordinating product samples and managing courier requirements to support customer requests and submissions.
- Exploring food trends and identifying new product opportunities.
- Product benchmarking and competitor reviews.
- Supporting recipe development and product refinement.
- Supporting factory trials and product launches.
- Assisting with critical path management and project coordination.
- Understanding ingredient sourcing and supplier engagement.
- Supporting product costings and commercial activities.
- Preparing products and supporting documentation for customer presentations.
- Participating in sensory evaluation sessions.
- Building relationships with Technical, Commercial, Process, Procurement and Operations teams.
This is predominantly an office-based Product Development role, rather than a kitchen-based Chef position.
What You'll Learn
- Product Development processes.
- Ingredients and raw materials.
- Food trends and consumer insight.
- Nutrition and product quality.
- Factory manufacturing processes.
- Customer requirements and retailer expectations.
- Project management.
- Commercial awareness and product costings.
- Cross-functional working within a food manufacturing environment.
You'll gain a practical understanding of how successful food products are developed, manufactured and launched within the UK grocery market.
The Support You'll Receive
- Line Manager - You'll work closely with an experienced manager who will provide regular feedback, coaching and development support throughout the placement.
- Structured Development - You'll receive on-the-job training and gain exposure to a broad range of Product Development activities and projects.
- Business Exposure - You'll work with colleagues from across Technical, Commercial, Operations, Procurement and Process teams, helping you build a strong understanding of the wider business.
- Future Opportunities - Successful placement students may be considered for future opportunities within Greencore, including direct-entry roles or places on our Graduate Programme.
Where Could It Take You?
This placement is designed to provide a strong foundation for a future career in Product Development. By the end of the placement, you'll have gained valuable experience within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment, developed a deeper understanding of Product Development, and built skills that will support your future career. Whether your next step is returning to university or applying for one of our Graduate Programmes, you'll leave with practical experience and industry knowledge that will help set you apart.
If you're passionate about food and excited by the idea of developing products enjoyed by consumers across the UK, we'd love to hear from you.
Food Product Development Placement Programme employer: Greencore
Greencore is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture where over 28,000 colleagues contribute to creating high-quality convenience food enjoyed by millions. Located in Wisbech, our team benefits from competitive salaries, comprehensive training, and numerous career development opportunities, all while enjoying a supportive environment that values diversity and individual growth. With additional perks like a matched pension scheme, employee discounts, and a focus on wellbeing, Greencore is dedicated to making every day at work rewarding and fulfilling.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Food Product Development Placement Programme
✨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 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, 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 Food Product Development Placement Programme
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 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’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
✨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!
