Research & Development Apprentice - Desserts
Premier Foods
Lifton (PL16 0BB)
Closes in 14 days (Saturday 9 August 2025)
Posted on 25 July 2025
Contents
Summary
Are you passionate about food and science? Do you want to help shape the future of iconic British brands like Ambrosia? This is a unique opportunity to start or expand your career in food science, gaining hands-on experience and formal qualifications while contributing to the development of dairy products enjoyed across the UK.
- Wage
-
£23,809 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
A competitive salary, increasing each year based on successful academic and practical progress
- Training course
- Dairy technologist (level 5)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, shifts to be confirmed.
35 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 8 September 2025
- Duration
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3 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
- Using a range of science-based techniques to research and fully understand the functionality of new and existing dairy-based ingredients and processes.
- Participate in the implementation of opportunities to improve costs and quality of products and processes and other site initiatives.
- Work with suppliers to come up with innovative solutions.
- Support the wider development team and site team with knowledge of ingredient functionality and processes.
- Support during factory trials and product launches.
- Source, co-ordinate and maintain adequate supplies of raw materials, ingredients and key equipment as required.
- Ensure appropriate storage of finished products and accessibility of samples for sensory research, marketing/approval meetings, and sales force.
- Provide ingredient information and technical data for specifications, costings, labels as required.
- Operate Pilot Plant equipment as and when required.
- Ensure all samples for shelf-life evaluations are stored correctly, available for examination at key stages, and results are documented.
- Follow Good Manufacturing Practice and all necessary food product safety guidelines to ensure high quality trial samples.
Where you'll work
Station Road
Lifton
PL16 0BB
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
REASEHEATH COLLEGE
Training course
Dairy technologist (level 5)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Apply food safety management systems.
- Apply food and dairy hygiene practice principles.
- Comply with food safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with health and safety regulations, guidelines, and procedures.
- Comply with environmental regulations, guidelines, and procedures.
- Apply sustainable working practices. For example, efficient use of resources, waste minimisation.
- Apply quality control processes.
- Apply extended knowledge of underlying dairy concepts.
- Identify, review and evaluate, and select scientific techniques, procedures, and methods in the context of new and different areas of work.
- Apply scientific techniques, procedures, and methods to undertake tasks.
- Apply engineering concepts and principles to analyse dairy performance.
- Collect data. Analyse, interpret, and evaluate data, scientific and technology information, concepts, and ideas including use of statistical methods.
- Apply changes to dairy processing unit operations.
- Apply problem solving techniques, identifying issues. Propose solutions to problems.
- Use continuous improvement techniques and make recommendations.
- Apply project management techniques: planning and prioritising tasks, organising resources, managing stakeholders and risk management.
- Conduct environmental impact assessments.
- Develop technical written content. For example, operating procedures, working instructions, and reports.
- Communicate with others for example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders. Use industry terminology where appropriate.
- Create and deliver presentations.
- Negotiate with and influence colleagues or stakeholders; manage conflict.
- Use information and digital technology.
- Identify training needs. Coach individuals.
- Apply food safety management systems.
- Apply food and dairy hygiene practice principles.
- Comply with food safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with health and safety regulations, guidelines, and procedures.
- Comply with environmental regulations, guidelines, and procedures.
- Apply sustainable working practices. For example, efficient use of resources, waste minimisation.
- Apply quality control processes.
- Apply extended knowledge of underlying dairy concepts.
- Identify, review and evaluate, and select scientific techniques, procedures, and methods in the context of new and different areas of work.
- Apply scientific techniques, procedures, and methods to undertake tasks.
- Apply engineering concepts and principles to analyse dairy performance.
- Collect data. Analyse, interpret, and evaluate data, scientific and technology information, concepts, and ideas including use of statistical methods.
- Apply changes to dairy processing unit operations.
- Apply problem solving techniques, identifying issues. Propose solutions to problems.
- Use continuous improvement techniques and make recommendations.
- Apply project management techniques: planning and prioritising tasks, organising resources, managing stakeholders and risk management.
- Conduct environmental impact assessments.
- Develop technical written content. For example, operating procedures, working instructions, and reports.
- Communicate with others for example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders. Use industry terminology where appropriate.
- Create and deliver presentations.
- Negotiate with and influence colleagues or stakeholders; manage conflict.
- Use information and digital technology.
- Identify training needs. Coach individuals.
Training schedule
As an apprentice, you’ll work towards completing the Level 5 Dairy Technologist programme through Reaseheath College (on block release), combining academic learning with real-world experience in a development unit located within the Ambrosia Creamery.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4 or above)
- Maths (grade 4 or above)
- Science (grade 4 or above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Team working
- Initiative
Other requirements
Aged 18 and above for travel reasons.
About this employer
Premier Foods is one of Britain’s biggest listed food companies, employing over 4,500 colleagues at 13 manufacturing sites and offices up and down the country. Many of our brands have been part of UK life for more than a century and you’ll find them in 94% of British households. At Premier Foods we believe in inclusion, authenticity and individuality. We aim to ensure all existing and future colleagues are given equitable opportunities and are respected, valued and encouraged to bring their true authentic selves to work no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love or what they believe in. Our culture is one where everyone is welcome.
Company benefits
Company pension 5 weeks’ holiday + bank holidays Staff discount scheme Onsite subsidised canteen Company shop ShareSave scheme Cycle to Work scheme Employee assistance programme BOOST – our Apprentice Skills Development Network
After this apprenticeship
Many of our apprentices have gone on to become R&D Technologists or even R&D Managers after completing their programmes. Others have gained valuable experience that’s helped them move into different roles across the business.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
REASEHEATH COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000333918.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Saturday 9 August 2025)
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