At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our R&D team to work on exciting food projects and tastings.
- Company: McCain Foods, a leading global frozen food company.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, sign-on bonus, private healthcare, and 25 days annual leave.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and excellent career growth opportunities await you.
- Why this job: Gain hands-on experience in food science while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Studying Food Science or equivalent, with a passion for food.
The predicted salary is between 19350 - 23650 £ per year.
This is a placement year opportunity for 2027-2028, and not a grad scheme. This is only suitable for students who are due to finish their second year (doing a sandwich degree) and seeking a placement year opportunity!
In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.
About the role:
- We’re recruiting for a R&D Food Science Intern.
- You’ll join a line of successful interns that have all been in the same shoes, who walked through the doors of our HQ to gain valuable experience as part of their University Placement year.
- When: Join us in July 2027 for an epic 12-month journey with our Global R&D team.
- You’ll get an insight into what life is like working for one of the largest frozen food companies in the world, and experience lots of different elements within R&D, from working on new development projects to new ingredient evaluation.
- Other projects may include specific studies on appetiser ingredients and impact to recipes, line extension development of our current product portfolios, cook direction and abuse studies as well as conducting tastings to evaluate shelf life samples.
What you’ll be doing:
- Working on some tasty projects alongside our teams, you’ll also live and breathe the victories that come with working in a professional R&D team, whilst also experiencing some of the real-life challenges that go with it.
- As an intern, you’ll not only get hands-on experience, but you’ll also experience development within a professional environment where you’ll work towards set objectives, with a clear development plan and regular one-to-ones with your line managers.
- You’ll also build a network both inside and outside of McCain as well as creating connections with other interns across the business.
What you’ll need to be successful:
- Be currently studying a relevant degree in Food Science or equivalent.
- Full clean driving license.
- Have a passion and interest in food.
- Be seeking a 12-month placement year to support your degree studies (which will run from July 2026 to June 2027).
- Must be available to start early July.
- And of course, a love of potatoes!
Benefits:
- Sign on bonus additional to your annual salary – to help you get started!
- Private healthcare.
- An excellent salary sacrifice pension scheme where we'll contribute double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your salary.
- 25 days' annual leave from day one plus bank holidays (increasing with service), giving you plenty of time to recharge with the opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days holiday per year.
- Life insurance cover providing peace of mind for you and your family.
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay, because the moments that matter outside of work matter to us too.
- Medicash health cash plan, helping you claim money back on everyday healthcare costs, with access to a virtual GP and wellbeing support.
- TELUS Health employee and family assistance programme offering full wellbeing support - including a 24/7 confidential counselling line, legal and financial guidance, and a range of employee discounts.
- Salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.
- A paid 'Chips In' Volunteering Day, giving you the opportunity to support projects that make a positive impact in our communities.
- Flexible/hybrid working arrangements where the role allows.
And because you're joining a global business, your career opportunities don't stop at the factory gate. Whether you're looking to deepen your expertise, step into leadership, or even explore opportunities internationally, we'll support your growth. With ambitious plans for the future, there's plenty of scope to develop your career with us.
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.
R&D Food Science Placement Year in Scarborough employer: McCain Foods
At McCain Foods, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration. As an Agronomist, Research & Technology Lead in Leeds, you'll benefit from a supportive work environment that prioritises employee growth, offering extensive training and development opportunities alongside a competitive benefits package, including private healthcare and flexible working arrangements. Join us to make a meaningful impact in sustainable agriculture while enjoying a fulfilling career with a global family-owned company that values your contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land R&D Food Science Placement Year in Scarborough
✨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 McCain Foods 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 McCain Foods, 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 R&D Food Science Placement Year in Scarborough
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 McCain Foods 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 McCain Foods’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 McCain Foods
✨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!
