Fresh Futures Apprenticeship - food, fresh produce and agriculture Industry
MDS Ltd
Recruiting nationally
Closes on Tuesday 1 September 2026
Posted on 24 July 2026
Contents
Summary
Start your career without going to university. Earn £21,000 from day one while completing a supply chain apprenticeship and gaining hands-on experience through three placements with leading food, fresh produce and agriculture businesses. Training, support and a recognised qualification included.
- Wage
-
£21,000 a year
- Training course
- Supply chain practitioner (fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG)) (level 3)
- Hours
-
Working hours are determined by the placement company and allocated role. The programme includes placements with different businesses, working patterns may vary throughout the scheme. Full details will be provided for each placement before it begins.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 5 October 2026
- Duration
-
2 years
- Positions available
-
10
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
- Gain hands-on experience through three placements with different businesses
- Support food production, supply chain, logistics, operations and technical teams
- Learn how products move from farm to shelf
- Assist with planning, coordination and day-to-day business activities
- Work alongside experienced colleagues and industry professionals
- Develop practical skills through real responsibilities and projects
- Complete an 18-month Supply Chain apprenticeship alongside work
- Build knowledge of the food, fresh produce and agriculture sectors
- Contribute to team objectives and continuous improvement activities
- Receive training, mentoring and support throughout the programme
Where you'll work
Placements will be based within the South Lincolnshire and West Sussex areas, known as hubs. Three 8-month placements with different businesses within the hubs. Work with leading food and agriculture businesses in your region. Gain valuable, transferable experience across multiple roles. Build a strong network and boost your employability in a vital industry.
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE APPRENTICESHIP COLLEGE LTD
Training course
Supply chain practitioner (fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG)) (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Manage the flow of fast-moving consumer goods products or services based on evolving and changing information.
- Use standard operating procedures.
- Support customers with supply chain enquiries.
- Use IT systems for the supply chain; Company and customer systems. Applies cyber security and GDPR regulations and policies.
- Use continuous improvement techniques in the fast-moving consumer goods supply chain.
- Lead and participate in problem solving activities: 5 whys, fishbone analysis.
- Use capacity planning to inform fast-moving consumer goods supply chain processes.
- Apply team working principles.
- Escalate issues and tasks.
- Analyse data against supply chain key performance indicators to identify trends and themes that affect the fast-moving consumer goods supply chain.
- Plan and adhere to customer lead times.
- Use data analysis outcomes to inform decision making in the supply chain function.
- Develop and implement a supply plan, for example, supply planning, production planning, demand planning, operations planning - logistics, commercial planning.
- Use order management tools to capture customer orders.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Communicate in writing with others for example, internal and external customers, colleagues, and managers.
- Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
- Apply quality assurance procedures.
- Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace. Apply control measures.
- Record or enter information - paper based or electronic; risk assessments, handover documents, work sheets, checklists, and any legal reporting requirements.
- Comply with sustainability principles and regulations including efficient use of resources, recycling, reuse and safe disposal of waste.
- Identify, organise and use resources, including team members, to plan and complete tasks, with consideration for cost and quality.
- Manage the flow of fast-moving consumer goods products or services based on evolving and changing information.
- Use standard operating procedures.
- Support customers with supply chain enquiries.
- Use IT systems for the supply chain; Company and customer systems. Applies cyber security and GDPR regulations and policies.
- Use continuous improvement techniques in the fast-moving consumer goods supply chain.
- Lead and participate in problem solving activities: 5 whys, fishbone analysis.
- Use capacity planning to inform fast-moving consumer goods supply chain processes.
- Apply team working principles.
- Escalate issues and tasks.
- Analyse data against supply chain key performance indicators to identify trends and themes that affect the fast-moving consumer goods supply chain.
- Plan and adhere to customer lead times.
- Use data analysis outcomes to inform decision making in the supply chain function.
- Develop and implement a supply plan, for example, supply planning, production planning, demand planning, operations planning - logistics, commercial planning.
- Use order management tools to capture customer orders.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Communicate in writing with others for example, internal and external customers, colleagues, and managers.
- Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
- Apply quality assurance procedures.
- Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace. Apply control measures.
- Record or enter information - paper based or electronic; risk assessments, handover documents, work sheets, checklists, and any legal reporting requirements.
- Comply with sustainability principles and regulations including efficient use of resources, recycling, reuse and safe disposal of waste.
- Identify, organise and use resources, including team members, to plan and complete tasks, with consideration for cost and quality.
Training schedule
A blend of online learning, workplace training, mentoring and occasional face-to-face training events at UK locations. A full training programme for the duration of the scheme will be provided at induction, with ongoing support from secondment managers, mentors and the MDS team throughout.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
A Level in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Adaptability
- Resiliance
- Curiosity
- Proactive
- Enthusiastic
- Motivated
- Industry Interest
- Desires progression
Other requirements
Fresh Futures is specifically designed for school and college leavers who are completing their A-levels or equivalent Level 3 qualifications in 2026 and are ready to take their first step into full-time employment.
Who we are looking for:
- Have completed (or be on track to complete) 3 A levels or equivalent qualifications
- Enthusiastic and motivated individuals ready to learn and work in practical roles
- A strong interest in the food supply chain and a desire to build a career from day one
- No prior experience in food and agriculture is required - just energy, commitment and a willingness to get stuck in
- Must have, or be working towards, a full UK driving licence, as the programme involves rotational placements across rural locations
About this employer
MDS Ltd is a not-for-profit leader in developing future talent for the UK's food, fresh produce, agriculture and horticulture sectors. Since 1986, we have worked with more than 60 industry-leading businesses, from small growers to major retailers. Through our Fresh Futures programme, school and college leavers gain hands-on experience, structured development and industry-recognised qualifications, helping them build successful careers in the sector.
https://www.mds-ltd.co.uk/careers/fresh-futures/ (opens in new tab)
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
After completing the programme, you'll be well placed to continue your development with MDS or progress into a full-time career with one of our member companies, subject to suitable roles, or elsewhere within the fresh food industry.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
MDS Ltd
Recruitment Team
recruitment@mds-ltd.co.uk
01733595123
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000036977.
Apply now
Closes on Tuesday 1 September 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.