Packaging Degree Apprentice

Summary

You will support the design, development, and implementation of sustainable packaging solutions, working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure packaging meets both functional and aesthetic requirements, as well as regulatory standards. You will assist in material validation, trend analysis and packaging specification and industrialisation.

Wage

£20,000 a year

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Training course

Packaging professional (integrated degree) (level 6)

Hours

Monday to Friday, shifts to be confirmed.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

4 years

Positions available

1

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

Support packaging developments from concept to commercialisation
Analyse key packaging trends to identify business priorities
Collaborate with suppliers to bring packaging trends to life
Help validate new materials through trials and testing
Support planning and execution of packaging trials on production lines
Collaborate with teams to troubleshoot technical issues and optimise packaging performance
Report trial outcomes and identify issues, including transit tests and scalability assessments
Assist in translating customers’ sustainability strategies into actionable deliverables
Support in simplifying packaging legislation for the business.
Ensure compliance with quality, functionality, regulatory, and customers' golden standards
Support migration, creation and onboarding of specifications to new systems
Update the cutter guides library and support updates and data entry in SAP and PCP
Check artworks in Flowzone
Build and maintain relationships with packaging suppliers and external agencies

Where you'll work

Wellington Street
Batley
WF17 5JE

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY

Your training course

Packaging professional (integrated degree) (level 6)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Translate customer briefs to determine a technical packaging brief, which considers business, consumer, operational and sustainability requirements.
Identify, design, develop and source packaging solutions demonstrating best value, environmental impact and fitness for purpose to meet briefs.
Critically analyse and apply packaging design options against complex inter-related touchpoints to meet the needs from design to end of life, e.g. environmental impact using life cycle assessment.
Liaise and coordinate with other stakeholders (e.g. supplier, R&D, marketing, finance, technical) to deliver packaging development projects. When appropriate take the lead and drive the project.
Initiate and lead projects, using project management tools and skills to deliver projects to time, cost, specification and quality.
Identify and control project risks through mitigation plans.
Define parameters, design of experiments, success criteria and protocols for projects appropriate to the brief.
Lead the design and management of packaging trials (e.g. prototypes, production of samples, transit, shelf life, sensory, machine-ability).
Document and evaluate trials at different project stages (e.g. laboratory, pilot plant, supplier, filling and packing, transit and distribution) recommending further activities.
Report results and conclusions. Hypothesise and recommend further adaptions and optimisations.
Ensure compliance with packaging and market regulatory requirements.
Demonstrate financial acumen, e.g. managing budget(s); interpreting financial data and evaluating total product costs and their impact throughout the value chain.
Investigate and interpret non-conformance issues related to Packaging. Resolve using root cause analysis and apply change management.
Effectively communicate with stakeholders at different levels, building positive working relationships; influencing and persuading key stakeholders effectively.
Translate business strategy into internal and external capability building programmes (e.g. supplier quality improvement programmes).
Demonstrate critical thinking, analytical and statistical skills to evaluate and interpret complex information and data (e.g. process capability).
Proactively identify opportunities to improve packaging based on an analysis of costs, continuous improvement, environmental impact, waste avoidance and process improvements.
Provide comprehensive technical services to internal colleagues, customers and suppliers.
Coach and/or mentor.
Use visual and digital tools systems, e.g. project management, computer aided engineering, business management systems, palletisation software.

Your training plan

Packaging professional (integrated degree)
Level 6 (Degree with honours)
You will attend Sheffield Hallam University on a series of 4-day study blocks

Requirements

Essential qualifications

A Level in:

Any subject (grade BBC / Distinction Merit Merit)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Initiative

About this company

We are FBC UK, Fox's Burton's Companies! ……And we bake the UK's most incredible biscuits (we might be slightly biased, but we will leave that for you to judge). FBC UK was a match made in heaven, with two of the top UK biscuits manufacturers (Burton's Biscuits and Fox's Biscuits) coming together to create one unique, integrated company. We are home to famous iconic brands, including Maryland, Fox's, Jammie Dodger & Rocky, to name just a few. We are proud manufacturing partners to some of the biggest UK retailers and household names. We bake our incredible biscuits at eight bakeries across the UK, located at Isle of Arran, Livingston, Blackpool, Llantarnam, Edinburgh, Kirkham, Batley & Dorset and our HQ in St Albans. Together, we employ circa 4,000 amazing colleagues across all our locations. We are currently the second biscuit manufacturer in the UK market with a strong ambition of becoming UK Market Leader. Whilst we know that we have delicious products we also know that that the key ingredient to our success is our people, and the passion we have for our brands. You could be the jammy to our dodger, party ring to our Fox’s or the choc-chip to our Maryland?! We knead people with innovative ideas, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the commitment to drive FBC UK to success. We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that feels empowered to build a fulfilling and successful career. By embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) we create a supportive environment for people to thrive and strive to have more positive impact. We understand that having formal and on-the-job learning opportunities is key to our colleagues’ professional and personal growth. We are committed to providing an environment where everyone can learn from each other and grow through a variety of learning experiences. Our colleagues make our business special. With strong community values, we believe FBC UK is a more prosperous and fun place to work when people feel free to be themselves. We believe in the power of being authentic, entrepreneurial, and supporting each other whilst meeting our business goals.

After this apprenticeship

This role is designed to provide you with hands-on experience and prepare you for future roles such as Packaging Technologist and Packaging Development Manager

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