Engineering (Operations) Graduate Programme

Based – Multiple UK locations - you must be prepared to relocate throughout the scheme

Starting Salary: £30,000 plus benefits

Start date will be 9th September 2024

We’re looking for outstanding Engineering graduates to join our 19 month graduate programme, with the drive and passion to make a difference to our business, and who have the potential to become our future leaders.

A responsive and robust supply chain is critical to the ongoing success of Premier Foods. The Operations team are responsible to understand the customer needs and to manage the supply chain response to deliver our products on time and in full. We develop our supply chain to meet the changing needs of consumers, customers and of broader society. We have a common strategic framework that guides development of the supply chain and collaborative culture across our supply network.

Engineering is a key function within the operations team responsible for caring for our assets (manufacturing sites, utilities and production equipment), optimisation of asset performance and for provision of new assets to enable new products and improvements in supply chain performance. Current major strategic themes include achieving greenhouse gas reduction across our operations facilities on our road to Net zero; digitisation of manufacturing; automation; and asset care. All of this sits within the context of the core deliverables of customer service and cost management across our supply chain, requiring close collaboration within sites, between sites and across the wider supply network.

We aim to give you a broad understanding of our business, experience of new challenges and the opportunity to develop leadership skills. In return, we look for candidates to take ownership of their work, engage fully with the organisation, push the performance of our supply chain to new levels and to have fun.

What you will be doing:

Joining our Graduate Development Scheme in Engineering (Operations), you will have a corporate induction before moving to a rotational plan that will include three 6-month placements. The placements will typically be in our manufacturing sites focussed on engineering and operational disciplines.

Induction Programme (up to 4 weeks):

• To gain a broad overview of our company structure; commercial/ finance and procurement functions including introduction to our Brands and Values
• To complete corporate training in procedures and policies (Safety, Quality, Legal, IT, HR).

Engineering placements (three x 6 month placements each at a different location within the UK):

For each placement, your role will have a defined sponsor and regular progress reviews to support you gaining maximum benefit from the experience. The programme, whilst tightly focussed on business priorities, also has a level of flexibility to tailor locations and content to the individuals’ interests and circumstances. There will also possibility for one placement to be in other supply chain disciplines either at a manufacturing site or our Planning, Logistics and Customer Service Centre.

Example placements:

• Sustainability Coordinator: Identifying waste streams & energy losses; Improving data collection and analysis; Engaging organisation to identify and implement improvement projects; Leading cost saving projects; Pilot energy dashboard for group reapplication.
• Smart factory: Support implementation of digital solution to eliminate manual entry of data and record keeping. This will enable the right data to be automatically available for timely decision making. Understand how to the technology works and how to build skills in the operations to maximise the benefit
• Project Engineer: Learn how to define and implement new capabilities in our supply chain. Close collaboration with the operation are key to define the best solutions and build ownership for the solution. Define the business case to justify the investment and lead the delivery of the benefits. Feedback on what you have learnt to continuously improve our project delivery work process
• Continuous Improvement Support: OEE, Waste & Yield improvement projects utilising the Premier Food continuous improvement tools; Define manufacturing issues and measure and analyse data/trends; Create improvement plans and execute them; Put sustainable actions in place​.
• Asset care: Work with our maintenance teams to develop our maintenance strategies to focus the investment in maintenance to greatest effect to deliver improved asset performance and reduced product waste. Tasks may include Implementation of condition based monitoring solutions, develop of our computer based maintenance system, standardisation of maintenance methods, planning of overhauls and optimisation of store room to have the right part at the right time.

What can you expect?

• £30,000 per annum and attractive benefits package including: 25 days holiday plus statutory holidays, pension scheme, life assurance, employee discount scheme including travel, food and shopping discounts.
• Relocation support loan, as you will be required to relocate across the UK throughout the duration of the scheme
• To become part of a graduate community, where diversity is valued
• A Business Mentor to give you guidance and support throughout the scheme
• More than 10 days of off-job development workshops covering such topics as communication, presentation and influencing skills

What we need from you:

• 2.1 (or predicted) degree qualified in an engineering discipline (chemical, electrical/electronic, manufacturing, mechanical)
• The successful candidate must have permission to work in the UK by the start of their employment
• Able to meet the travelling requirements of the role (a UK driving license will be highly desirable)
• Ideally work experience in industry
• An understanding and interest in the UK FMCG/retail sectors
• High level of numeracy and accuracy and strong communication skills, both written and oral
• Desire to undertake formal professional qualification with relevant Chartered Institute/Professional Body.