At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a food production team and learn essential management skills.
- Company: Join a fast-growing business dedicated to nutritious meals for children.
- Benefits: Earn £40,000, enjoy 33 days leave, free meals, and ongoing training.
- Other info: Supportive team environment with great social events and wellbeing resources.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while developing your career in food manufacturing.
- Qualifications: Leadership experience in manufacturing or operations is preferred.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 40000 £ per year.
This is a £40,000 development role for a strong manufacturing or operations leader who wants to grow into a Production Manager role, with full food safety, HACCP and lean manufacturing training provided. You’ll work Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 18:30, with no nights, no weekends and no rotating shifts, helping lead a purpose driven food production team making fresh, nutritious meals for young children.
About Nursery Kitchen: We lovingly prepare fresh, nutritious meals for nurseries, helping children develop healthy tastes that last a lifetime. We are a fast growing business with big ambitions. As we continue to grow, we are looking for a Trainee Production Manager to join our team and develop into a key production leadership role.
About the role: This is a development role, not a requirement to arrive as the finished article. You do not need to come from food manufacturing. We will invest in your development and provide food specific training, including HACCP Level 3, Food Safety Level 3, allergen management, food manufacturing process control and lean manufacturing development such as Six Sigma Green Belt. You will report to our highly experienced Operations Manager, who will support and coach you as you grow into the role. You will also work closely with teams across production, supply chain, technical, food, logistics, facilities and finance.
What matters most is that you are a strong communicator, calm under pressure, practical, organised and able to build trust with a production team. We are looking for someone who cares about people, standards, teamwork, quality, safety and doing things properly. As your skills, training and confidence grow, you will progress towards full Production Manager pay and responsibility.
Our values:
- One Team One Dream - We collaborate, support each other and work creatively together to achieve our goals.
- We Really Care - We care about our team, our partners and the children who eat our food. This drives quality and doing the right thing.
- We’re Hungry for Growth - We are ambitious, always moving forward, and want Nursery Kitchen to deliver amazing healthy food across the UK.
What you will be doing: You will be supported to learn and develop in areas including:
- Supporting the day to day leadership of the production team across prep, cook and packing
- Helping deliver the production plan safely, efficiently and to the required quality standard
- Building strong working relationships with team members and other departments
- Supporting training, communication and accountability on the production floor
- Helping improve workflow, productivity, labour efficiency, waste and quality
- Learning food safety, HACCP, hygiene, traceability and audit ready production controls
- Supporting the development of simple, scalable production systems
- Using production data and KPIs to identify practical improvements
- Supporting continuous improvement projects across the site
- Growing towards full Production Manager responsibility
Who we are looking for: This role would suit someone who has already led people in a manufacturing, production, logistics, engineering, packaging, fulfilment, warehouse operations or similar environment, and is now ready to develop into a broader production management role. You may already be working as a Production Supervisor, Shift Leader, Team Leader, Operations Supervisor, Manufacturing Supervisor or similar. We are looking for someone who is:
- A clear and confident communicator
- Positive, calm and practical
- Fair, approachable and consistent
- Comfortable leading people on a busy production floor
- Able to follow process and improve process
- Interested in continuous improvement
- Organised and able to manage changing priorities
- Motivated by quality, service and team success
- Keen to learn food manufacturing standards
- Excited by the opportunity to grow with a purpose led business
Training and development: We will support the right person with structured training, including:
- HACCP Level 3
- Food Safety Level 3
- Allergen management
- Food manufacturing process control
- Lean manufacturing
- Six Sigma Green Belt
- Production planning and performance management
- Continuous improvement
- Internal systems, standards and processes
What we offer: £40,000 per year, with structured progression towards full Production Manager, 33 days annual leave, free breakfast, lunch and snacks, ongoing training and development opportunities, discounted and tax free nursery places for employees’ children, friendly and supportive team environment, great social events throughout the year, wellbeing resources and support, discounted gym memberships, cycle to work scheme, eyecare vouchers, free life coaching through Dream Academy, free parking.
Why join us? This is manufacturing with a purpose. You will be helping to make safe, nutritious food for young children, while developing your own career in a growing food production business. You will be supported by experienced leaders, surrounded by a team that really cares, and given the opportunity to help shape how our production operation grows. If you care about people, standards, teamwork and making a real difference, we would love to hear from you.
Trainee Production Manager in Basildon employer: Nursery Kitchen
Nursery Kitchen is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its team members, offering structured training in food safety and lean manufacturing while fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment. With no night or weekend shifts, employees enjoy a healthy work-life balance, alongside generous benefits such as free meals, wellbeing resources, and discounted childcare, all while contributing to a meaningful mission of providing nutritious meals for young children.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Trainee Production Manager in Basildon
✨Get Hands-On with Local Manufacturing Events
Dive right into your local manufacturing scene by attending trade shows and expos. These events are goldmines for meeting industry professionals and getting your name out there. Plus, you might even stumble upon trainee opportunities at booths or networking sessions!
✨Join Manufacturing Associations or Groups
Get involved with organisations like the Institute of Mechanical Engineers or the Manufacturing Technologies Association. They often have events for budding trainees and can help connect us with companies looking for fresh talent, like Nursery Kitchen.
✨Leverage Your Educational Resources
If you’re currently studying, don't forget to tap into your university's career services. They often have direct connections with local manufacturers and might even host career fairs where you can chat with representatives from companies like Nursery Kitchen.
✨Apply through Opportunities Like Ours
Don’t miss the chance to apply directly through our website for that trainee role at Nursery Kitchen. We make it easy for you to stay updated on the latest openings and ensure your application lands right where it needs to be.
We think you need these skills to ace Trainee Production Manager in Basildon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Technical Skills:In manufacturing, it's super important to showcase any technical skills you have, like proficiency with machinery or understanding production processes. Make sure to list any relevant coursework, projects, or certifications that demonstrate your hands-on abilities in your CV.
Be Ready to Learn:As a trainee, your eagerness to learn can set you apart. In your cover letter, emphasise your motivation to gain knowledge in the manufacturing field, and don’t forget to mention any previous experiences where you’ve quickly picked up new skills or adapted to new environments.
Keep It Clear and Concise:When crafting your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Use straightforward language and structure to make your application easy to navigate. Employers in manufacturing appreciate directness, so let your experiences and skills shine without any fluff.
Show Team Spirit:Manufacturing is often a team effort, so highlighting your teamwork skills can make a big difference. Include examples from school or previous work where you contributed to a group project or collaborated effectively with others in your CV or cover letter.
How to prepare for a job interview at Nursery Kitchen
✨Know Your Production Processes
Before you head into the interview with Nursery Kitchen, brush up on the key manufacturing processes and methodologies like Lean or Six Sigma. Trainees are expected to show a basic understanding of how production lines operate, so being able to nod your head and engage in conversation about them will score you major points.
✨Highlight Your Hands-On Experience
As a trainee in manufacturing production, showing that you have some hands-on experience—whether from coursework, projects, or part-time work—can really make you stand out. Bring any relevant examples of how you’ve worked with tools or machinery, or any experience you’ve had with health and safety protocols.
✨Prepare for Practical Assessments
Be ready for potential practical assessments during your interview. Companies like Nursery Kitchen often want to see how you might handle real-world tasks, so you might be asked about handling specific machinery or solving on-the-spot production issues. Practising these scenarios can really help you feel confident.
✨Show Your Willingness to Learn
In a trainee role, companies know you're not going to know everything, so emphasise your eagerness to learn and adapt. Share experiences where you've had to quickly pick up new skills or knowledge. This openness to growth will resonate well with the hiring team at Nursery Kitchen.
