NPD Technologist Apprenticeship (Food Technologist Level 3)

KINNERTON (CONFECTIONERY) CO. LIMITED

Fakenham (NR21 8AF)

Closes in 13 days (Monday 7 September 2026)

Posted on 24 August 2026

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Summary

As Kinnerton's NPD Technologist Apprentice, you'll play a hands-on role in bringing innovative chocolate concepts to life for major retailers and award-winning brands like NOMO and Kinnerton Kids. The formal learning part of your apprenticeship will be delivered by Lincoln University Centre of Food Manufacturing.

• Wage:

  £15,600 to £24,784.50, depending on your age

  National Minimum Wage

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Earn while you learn on a starting salary of £24,784.76, with earning potential to increase up to £33,000 following successful completion of apprenticeship,

• Training course: Food industry technologist (level 3)
• Hours: Monday- Friday, 08:30- 16:30

  37 hours 30 minutes a week

• Start date:

  Thursday 1 October 2026

• Duration:

  2 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 the development of exciting new confectionery products for NOMO, Kinnerton Kids and retailer-branded ranges
• Assist with projects from initial concept through to launch and post-launch review
• Participate in factory trials, product testing and sensory evaluations
• Work closely with Production, Technical, Quality, Procurement, Commercial and Marketing teams
• Learn how product development balances creativity, food safety, quality, manufacturing capability and cost
• Help review customer feedback, market insights, retailer requirements and industry trends
• Assist with product specifications, project documentation and data analysis
• Attend apprenticeship learning blocks and successfully complete all coursework and assessments
• In this role, you won't just observe, you'll be contributing to real product development projects that end up on retailer shelves across the UK.

You'll learn:

• How new confectionery products are developed, tested and launched
• How ingredients, recipes and manufacturing processes influence product quality and performance
• What different teams across a food manufacturing business do
• How customer feedback, retailer requirements and product performance influence future innovation
• How successful products progress from an initial idea to a finished product in store

You'll gain exposure to the entire product development lifecycle while building relationships with teams across the business and learning from experienced food technologists and product developers.

Where you'll work

Kinnerton Confectionery Co Ltd
Oxborough Lane
Fakenham
NR21 8AF

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 industry technologist (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Implement and maintain risk management systems (for example, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).
• Review and maintain technical procedures for food businesses.
• Use a range of IT systems to analyse and interpret data to identify trends and drive Continuous Improvement (CI).
• Provide and interpret management data and information (reports and presentations).
• Conduct sensory evaluation activities.
• Contribute to Continuous Improvement (CI).
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with customers, suppliers and colleagues.
• Use problem solving techniques and investigation methods, including root cause analysis.
• Influence and negotiate with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders using technical language and methods appropriate to the audience.
• Check raw materials, packaging and finished product quality against legislative requirements and specification.
• Monitor and review manufacturing standards and parameters.
• Support trials on new and existing products.
• Investigate product non-conformance and recommend corrective action.
• Contribute to the development and innovation of new and existing products.
• Plan and produce samples suitable for all stages of the new and existing development process.
• Contribute to the creation of product specifications and label content.
• Contribute to the identification and selection of parameters for sensory analysis and shelf life evaluation.
• Apply agreed standards to compare and evaluate against samples.
• Compile product costings.
• Conduct food product audits against standards and recommend areas for improvement.
• Conduct food process audits against standards and identify non-conformities and recommendations for improvement.
• Measure environmental conditions throughout the food manufacturing process and escalate non-conformities that could impact food safety and product quality.
• Evaluate raw materials against agreed parameters and report non-conformities.
• Measure and evaluate adherence to quality processing systems and standards.
• Identify and communicate products and process issues and make recommendations for corrective action.
• Oversee the implementation of corrective action to address product and process issues.
• Carry out internal audits and participate in external audits.
• Investigate and resolve problems, including customer complaints or quality issues.
• Implement and maintain risk management systems (for example, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).
• Review and maintain technical procedures for food businesses.
• Use a range of IT systems to analyse and interpret data to identify trends and drive Continuous Improvement (CI).
• Provide and interpret management data and information (reports and presentations).
• Conduct sensory evaluation activities.
• Contribute to Continuous Improvement (CI).
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with customers, suppliers and colleagues.
• Use problem solving techniques and investigation methods, including root cause analysis.
• Influence and negotiate with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders using technical language and methods appropriate to the audience.
• Check raw materials, packaging and finished product quality against legislative requirements and specification.
• Monitor and review manufacturing standards and parameters.
• Support trials on new and existing products.
• Investigate product non-conformance and recommend corrective action.

Training schedule

Kinnerton Confectionery Co Ltd, Oxborough Lane, Fakenham, NR21 8AF

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4/C)
• Maths (grade 4/C)

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
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Administrative skills
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Patience

Other requirements

• A genuine interest in food manufacturing and chocolate product development
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Good communication skills and a willingness to learn
• Confidence using Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word and Excel
• Ability to travel to Lincoln for residential study blocks throughout the apprenticeship (accommodation provided by Kinnerton)

About this employer

Kinnerton is far from your typical brand. Pioneering the introduction of character chocolate in the UK in 1978 under the Kinnerton Kids label, we have consistently evolved, securing our position as one of the UK's leading manufacturers of seasonal goods. 

Our Fakenham site operates across three key production areas - Novelty, Nut, and Moulding, each led by a Plant Manager and supported by dedicated Shift Managers working on a 4 on 4 off pattern across days and nights. The site is a 11,000m² facility producing over 8,500 tonnes of confectionery annually, including NOMO – the UK’s #1 free-from chocolate brand. With advanced technology and a nut-safe promise, we supply major retailers and co-manufacture for some of the world’s biggest confectionery brands. Every year, we produce over 5 million advent calendars and 30 million Easter eggs – making this a fast-paced, innovative environment where no two days are the same.  

As a key player in the Zertus UK & Ireland Snacking & Chocolate Market Unit, we collaborate with esteemed food manufacturers nationwide. 

https://www.kinnerton.com/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (33 days in total)
• 4% employer pension contribution
• Life Assurance x4 basic salary
• Health Care Cash Plan via Paycare (Dental, Optical, Chiropody, Professional Therapy, Counselling cover), along with access to Paycare Perks for exclusive high street and retailer discounts
• Excellent career development opportunities within food innovation

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

Once qualified, you will become a trained Food Technologist and can specialise in packaging, ingredients, recipe development with career routes such as NPD Manager. Or, you could move into food quality, innovation or marketing.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

KINNERTON (CONFECTIONERY) CO. LIMITED

Molly Greaves

molly.greaves@zertusuk.com

07766242828

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000049794.

Apply now

Closes in 13 days (Monday 7 September 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.