Operations Apprenticeship
NESTLE UK LTD.
Buxton, West Yorkshire, Wisbech, York
Closes on Sunday 22 February 2026
Posted on 18 December 2025
Contents
Summary
Just finishing school or thinking about a career change? As a Operator Apprentice at Nestlé, you’ll develop the skills you need for a secure and fulfilling career in manufacturing, with opportunities for growth that you just don’t find elsewhere.
- Wage
-
£21,961 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
The minimum salary for this opportunity is £21,961, please see the online application form for each sites individual salary
- Training course
- Food and drink technical operator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Days and shifts are to be confirmed, differ between each factory site.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 2 September 2026
- Duration
-
2 years 6 months
- Positions available
-
9
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Join Nestlé as an Operations Apprentice and start a rewarding career in manufacturing with fantastic growth opportunities. As the largest food and drink manufacturer in the world, we are a hub of expertise in the industry, and we’re committed to helping you build a solid foundation for a successful career.
Over the course of two and a half years, you will receive comprehensive training from dedicated mentors who will guide you in supporting food and drink production in our state-of-the-art factories. You will gain hands-on experience in operating machinery, utilising advanced automation technology and diagnosing and solving production issues, ensuring our manufacturing processes run smoothly.
Step into our vibrant, multi-sensory factory environment, where you will contribute to innovation and creativity every day. With support at every step, you will gain confidence to excel. Join our team and start your journey in the exciting world of manufacturing!
Where you'll work
You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- Nestle UK Ltd, Waterswallows Lane, Buxton, SK17 7JS
- Nestlé UK Ltd, Albion Mills, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX3 9XT
- Nestlé Purina PetCare, Cromwell Road, Wisbech, PE13 2RG
- Nestlé UK Factory, Haxby Road, York, YO91 1XY
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN
Training course
Food and drink technical operator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Interpret, follow and implement food and drink production SOPs.
- Interpret, follow and implement quality assurance procedures.
- Monitor production performance, stock usage and rotation.
- Operate or use food and drink production tools and equipment.
- Identify hazards (Critical Control Points) and control measures to mitigate risks.
- Comply with food safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with environment and sustainability regulations and procedures. Segregate, recycle and dispose of waste.
- Monitor and inspect production machinery.
- Apply basic maintenance practices. For example, check levels, parts wear, pressure, and sensors, and grease and lubricate.
- Select and use maintenance hand tools.
- Follow food safe engineering standards and practices. For example, use of food safe chemicals, check out and in of components.
- Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout).
- Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
- Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
- Collect and interpret information. Use data to apply changes
- Record information - paper based or electronic.
- Use information technology. Comply with GDPR.
- Plan and organise self, others and resources.
- Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders visually and verbally.
- Communicate in writing.
- Identify training needs. Train and buddy team members in the workplace.
- Interpret, follow and implement food and drink production SOPs.
- Interpret, follow and implement quality assurance procedures.
- Monitor production performance, stock usage and rotation.
- Operate or use food and drink production tools and equipment.
- Identify hazards (Critical Control Points) and control measures to mitigate risks.
- Comply with food safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with environment and sustainability regulations and procedures. Segregate, recycle and dispose of waste.
- Monitor and inspect production machinery.
- Apply basic maintenance practices. For example, check levels, parts wear, pressure, and sensors, and grease and lubricate.
- Select and use maintenance hand tools.
- Follow food safe engineering standards and practices. For example, use of food safe chemicals, check out and in of components.
- Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout).
- Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
- Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
- Collect and interpret information. Use data to apply changes
- Record information - paper based or electronic.
- Use information technology. Comply with GDPR.
- Plan and organise self, others and resources.
- Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders visually and verbally.
- Communicate in writing.
- Identify training needs. Train and buddy team members in the workplace.
Training schedule
- Operational excellence: Navigate the complexities of a fast-paced manufacturing environment, where your decisions will impact production efficiency and product quality.
- Innovative problem-solving: Leverage the skills you develop during the scheme to address real-time challenges in manufacturing processes. Identify opportunities and implement creative solutions for sustainable operational success.
- Agility and adaptability: Embrace the challenge of collaborating with diverse teams and adapting to various manufacturing strategies as you rotate through different roles.
- Effective team engagement: Balance the needs of various cross-functional teams, enhancing your interpersonal skills and building your unique professional brand within the manufacturing landscape.
- Continuous industry insight: Gain firsthand experience of emerging trends and external factors that influence manufacturing operations, deepening your understanding of the ever-evolving industrial landscape.
You’ll experience student life at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing, part of the University of Lincoln, which typically involves week-long learning blocks.
This is the current apprenticeship programme, but it could be subject to change by Skills England ahead of your 2026 start date.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
- English Language (grade 9 - 4)
- Maths (grade 9 - 4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Problem solving skills
- Initiative
- Ambitious
About this employer
Good food nourishes and delights the senses. It helps pets to thrive, children to grow healthily and parents to age gracefully. It helps all of us to live life to the fullest. Good food also respects our planet and protects resources for future generations. But times are changing fast. And we know that what’s good today won’t be good enough tomorrow. Consider the challenge of satisfying the needs of 10 billion people by 2050 in a responsible and sustainable way. This will demand innovation and change. At Nestlé, we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with food, drink and nutritional health solutions. That way we can enhance quality of life and contribute to a healthier future for all. Today, our business has around 275,000 employees, more than 2,000 brands and a presence in 188 countries.
https://www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/nestle-academy (opens in new tab)
After this apprenticeship
We are looking to set you up for an exciting and varied career at Nestlé with extensive opportunities to continue your learning and development following completion of your apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000293553.
Apply now
Closes on Sunday 22 February 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.