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- Tasks: Join our hands-on programme to lead food safety and quality initiatives.
- Company: Be part of Pilgrim's Europe, a leader in food production with iconic brands.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and learning opportunities.
- Why this job: Grow into a confident technical leader while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: 2:2 degree or completed Degree-Apprenticeship; passion for food safety.
- Other info: Experience three site rotations and gain valuable qualifications.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
This is a contract type, full time vacancy that will close in a month at 17:00 GMT.
Start Date: September 2026
A Triple Award-Winning Graduate & Training Initiative. As a Technical Leadership Graduate Trainee, you'll be right at the heart of how we make safe, high-quality food at scale. This is a hands-on, people-focused, detail-driven programme where you will build strong technical expertise and play a key role in protecting our products, customers and brands.
Are you motivated, ambitious, and hungry to grow into a future leader? Our 18-month Technical Leadership Programme is designed for graduates who want to lead people, drive performance, and make a measurable impact across our business. What matters most is your attitude, curiosity, and ambition to grow.
Programme Overview
- 18-month management development programme
- Three 6-month site rotations across Pilgrim's Europe Technical functions
- Rotation 1: Hyde (Sept-Feb)
- Rotation 2: Ashbourne (Mar-Aug)
- Rotation 3: Bromborough (Sep-Feb)
Your final placement location will be carefully matched to your interests, strengths, and development goals. Whichever site you join, you'll gain real responsibility across fast-paced operations and build a deep understanding of how exceptional food quality is delivered, maintained, and continually improved. This is not an observational role — you'll roll up your sleeves, contribute to meaningful projects, and work closely with experts who will support, challenge, and stretch you throughout the programme.
What You'll Experience
You’ll become part of a high-performing Technical function, championing food safety, quality and authenticity. You’ll help deliver products and services that consistently meet — and exceed — customer and consumer expectations. You will do this by:
- Building a strong understanding of the principles behind safe food production (hazards, prerequisites, allergens, traceability) and how quality standards are set, verified and maintained.
- Supporting day-to-day Technical and Quality activities, including completing checks, capturing data and maintaining accurate records.
- Auditing production processes, identifying opportunities for improvement and supporting structured problem-solving activities.
- Contributing to internal, retailer or customer audits and preparing evidence and documentation.
- Working with cross-functional teams to ensure standards, processes and behaviours deliver Technical Excellence every day.
Along the way, you will gain Food Safety and HACCP qualifications, enabling you to make fact-based, data-driven decisions and influence performance with confidence. By the end of the programme, you'll have a complete understanding of how food is manufactured from end to end — and a clear ability to show how Technical leadership protects our people, processes, products and brands.
Grow Into a Confident Technical Leader
Throughout The Programme, You'll Develop Capability In:
- Technical Knowledge & Expertise
- People Management & Development
- Effective Communication & Influence
- KPI Management & Data Analysis
- Customer & Stakeholder Management
- Root Cause Analysis & Problem Solving
Your Career Pathway After the Programme
After successfully completing the programme, you will progress into a people-leader role within the Pilgrim's Europe Technical team — aligned to your strengths and long-term career ambitions. You will:
- Continue to lead teams while building deeper technical expertise
- Play a critical role in delivering food safety and quality best practice
- Receive ongoing development, coaching and progression support
- Have the opportunity to apply for a fully-funded Mini MBA scholarship
This programme forms part of our Triple Award-Winning Graduate & Training Initiative, designed to develop the leaders who will shape the future of food.
Essential Criteria
You Must Have:
- A minimum 2:2 degree or a completed Degree-Apprenticeship
Plus The Attributes That Make a Future Leader:
- Genuine interest in food safety and quality
- Motivated, resilient and proactive
- Strong communication and organisational skills
- Willingness to rotate across sites
- Full UK driving licence
- Hunger to learn, lead and progress quickly
- Right to work in the UK (sponsorship is not available)
The Company
Pilgrim's Europe produces some of the best-known and most iconic brands in the UK and Ireland, including Fridge Raiders, Rollover, Denny, Richmond, Oakhouse and Moy Park, alongside a diverse range of industry leading own-label products in categories including fresh pork, lamb and chicken, working with all the major retailers and food service outlets. Our portfolio extends to authentic chilled and frozen ready meals, snacking ranges, added value and food service products. Across Pilgrim's Europe we combine 20,000 of the best people in the industry, united by a shared set of core values and a passion for producing the highest quality, most delicious and innovative food, which is enjoyed by millions of people in the UK, Ireland and Europe every day. Our Pilgrim's Europe team are based in our Pilgrim's UK, Moy Park, Pilgrim's Food Masters and Pilgrim's Shared Services businesses.
What We'll Bring to the Table
- Competitive Salary
- Competitive Holiday Entitlement
- Pension Contribution
- Family Friendly Policies
- Learning and Development Opportunities
- Life Assurance
People Matter
Our Values
- Determination
- Simplicity
- Availability
- Humility
- Discipline
- Sincerity
- Ownership
Technical Leadership Graduate Trainee employer: TargetJobs UK
Contact Detail:
TargetJobs UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Leadership Graduate Trainee
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees on LinkedIn or at career fairs. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the Technical Leadership Graduate Trainee role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to food safety and quality. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online resources to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for food safety and quality during interviews. Share personal stories or experiences that highlight your motivation and curiosity in this field. It’s all about making a memorable impression!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, you’ll find all the latest updates and opportunities right there.
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Leadership Graduate Trainee
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food Safety: Make sure to highlight your genuine interest in food safety and quality in your application. We want to see that you're not just looking for a job, but that you're excited about making a difference in the food industry!
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Don’t just send out a generic CV! Tailor it to reflect how your skills and experiences align with the Technical Leadership Graduate Trainee role. We love seeing candidates who take the time to connect their background to what we do.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the heart of your qualifications and motivations. Avoid fluff and focus on what makes you a great fit!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company there!
How to prepare for a job interview at TargetJobs UK
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on food safety principles and quality standards. Familiarise yourself with terms like HACCP and traceability, as these will likely come up in your interview. Showing that you understand the technical aspects of the role will impress the interviewers.
✨Show Your Passion
Demonstrate your genuine interest in food safety and quality during the interview. Share any relevant experiences or projects that highlight your motivation and curiosity. This is a people-focused role, so let your enthusiasm shine through!
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to work in teams. Think of examples from your past where you've successfully tackled challenges or contributed to group projects, especially in fast-paced environments.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few insightful questions ready to ask. Inquire about the team dynamics, the types of projects you'll be involved in, or how success is measured in the programme. This shows your eagerness to engage and learn more about the role.
