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Operations Apprenticeship

Start date: Wednesday 2nd September 2026
Scheme duration: 2.5 years
Salary: Site specific
Location: Various locations across the UK
Work Pattern: Full time, factory based (shifts will vary dependant on site location)
Applications open

technical operator

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.

Explore our Operations Apprenticeship Scheme

What will you do?
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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!

What makes this scheme exciting?
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- Hands-on manufacturing experience: You’ll take on genuine responsibilities that directly contribute to the efficiency and productivity of our manufacturing processes at Nestlé, allowing you to see the results of your efforts firsthand.

- Diverse operational exposure: With varied roles across different aspects of manufacturing operations, each day will present new challenges enabling you to develop a comprehensive understanding of production processes, quality control, and equipment operation.

- Mentorship opportunities: You’ll benefit from the wealth of knowledge within our experienced operations team, fuelling your personal and professional growth through guidance from skilled mentors.

- Collaborative networking: The rotational nature of our scheme provides valuable exposure to leaders in manufacturing, helping you cultivate a broad understanding of operational functions. You’ll also begin to build a lasting, supportive network within our operations team and beyond.

- Career advancement: With a real commitment to your future, we will support your development throughout the scheme, backed by our extensive manufacturing resources and expertise.

What will you learn?
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- 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 University of Lincoln, which typically involves week-long learning blocks. You can understand more about what you will learn on your apprenticeship journey by clicking on the link below to look at the apprenticeship standard:

Food and drink technical operator / Skills England

This is the current apprenticeship programme but could be subject to change by Skills England ahead of your 2026 start date.

Our commitment to you…
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We will support you every step of the way, the following are just some of our offerings to enable you to thrive with us

- Inclusive culture, join our variety of employee run networks!

- Comprehensive benefits

- Pastoral support

- Employee Assistance Programme

- Potential relocation support (£2,000)

- Prayer rooms

- Various rewards and recognition opportunities

*Availability dependent upon site

I’m currently working as a Technical Operator, something I never imagined for myself just eight months ago. This role has been an incredible opportunity to develop new, hands-on skills while being at the heart of the business. Working in the factory and continuously adapting to changes has helped me grow and set me up to succeed.

Amelie Chambers Technical Operator Apprentice

Eligibility requirements

- You will need to have the right to work in the UK that is not time-limited and does not require sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route either at the start of the scheme or on completion.

- You will have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to the start date of this apprenticeship scheme.

- Maths and English Language GCSEs (or equivalent) at grades 9-4 (A*-C if taken before 2017). Original certificates will need to be provided.

- You will need to be 18 by 1st September 2026.

The recruitment journey

After you click “apply” you’ll be prompted to answer a few questions to determine your eligibility for the scheme. If you qualify, we will invite you to complete an online assessment, which you can practice here. Please do not upload a CV, instead we ask you to upload any relevant qualifications to support your application.

Once you have completed this stage, we will notify you if you are selected to attend an assessment day which will be in February, March or April 2026. It may take a little bit of time between assessment stages to get back to you, we really appreciate your patience.

Adjustments

We recognise that each candidate has unique needs, and we are committed to ensuring an inclusive application process. You will have the opportunity to discuss any specific requirements or adjustments you may need as you navigate through our recruitment process.

We may occasionally close job advertisements early in the event we receive sufficient applicants, so please don’t delay in submitting your application.

At Nestlé, our values are rooted in respect – for our employees, our customers and our consumers. That’s why championing diversity and inclusion is so important to us; when we embrace different perspectives and give everyone the chance to be the best they can be, we can think in new, creative ways that grow and enhance our business. We are committed to equal opportunity for all and we may collect relevant data for monitoring purposes during our candidate registration process.