Apprenticeship Programmes

 

Proud to earn while you learn

 

As the leading provider of fresh prepared food in the UK, we believe in investing in the future by bringing new talent into our organisation. Our apprentices are key to that talent pipeline!

 

As a Bakkavor apprentice, you will get access to a wide range of career pathways in different areas of our business. From Engineering and Manufacturing Operations to Business, HR, Finance, Supply Chain or Health and Safety, you’ll get your future off to a flying start. We will invest in your future with us, by supporting you to gain a recognised qualification and earn a competitive salary for doing a real job from day one, with great on and off the job training. At the end of your programme, if you have successfully completed your apprenticeship and achieved the performance targets that we’ve set for you then you are guaranteed a permanent role with us.  So, what are you waiting for? Come and start your career journey with us! 

 

Opportunities Available

Our applications are now currently closed and will re-open February 2026

Human Resources

At Bakkavor, we know that our people are our greatest asset, so the support that HR delivers to frontline managers and employees is invaluable. As an HR Apprentice, you’ll receive hands-on training in a range of HR processes, employee engagement, employment law, reward, and much more. Working closely with every area of our business you’ll help to recruit and develop the very best people for Bakkavor. Both the Level 3 Advanced HR Support Apprenticeship standard and the Level 5 Higher HR Business Partner Apprenticeship standard are 2-year programmes.

Finance

Finance underpins everything we do at Bakkavor. As a Finance Apprentice you’ll receive hands-on training in management accounting, accounts, transactional processing and other key areas. Working closely with all business areas, you’ll support with budgeting, project financing, governance, and overheads. Both the Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship standard and the Level 4 Higher Professional Accounting Technician Apprenticeship standards are 2-year programmes.

Continuous Improvement

Bakkavor is continually looking to improve its manufacturing systems and processes. This exciting opportunity will expose you to all areas of the business where you will learn about Continuous Improvement tools and techniques, including Root Cause Analysis, Lean Methodologies, as well as various methods of data analysis. This continuous improvement programme is a great opportunity to develop skills that are highly sought after, by Bakkavor, in today’s competitive environment. 

Supply Chain

At Bakkavor, production never stops. We need to plan, manufacture, and deliver onto shelves as quickly as possible so our customers are never disappointed. Our Supply Chain apprentices play a crucial role, supporting you to develop strong relationship building, influencing, stakeholder management skills and the ability to analyse information quickly. You’ll have a passion for analysis and be keen to develop and innovate our supply chain model. The Advanced Level 3 Supply Chain Practitioner Apprenticeship standard and Higher Level 4 Process Leader Apprenticeship standard are 2-year programmes. 

SAFETY, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

At Bakkavor, the safety of our people is our number one priority. As a part of the health & safety team, you will work to help prevent workplace accidents and injuries as well as recognise and mitigate risks to protect our employees. You will support the team to develop, review and check on the implementation of safe systems of work, deliver training, investigate incidents, analyse data and present findings to the management team. This is a 2-year programme, during which time you will study the Level 3 Safety, Health & Environment Technician Apprenticeship standard.

Food Technology

As a Food Technologist you’ll make sure the food on consumers plates is safe to eat. You’ll receive training in process design and food science focused on food safety legislation and quality standards. You’ll cover the smooth transition of food products from factory to fork ensuring that technical and quality standards are achieved. This is a 2-year Apprenticeship. Advanced Apprentices will complete a Level 3 Food Technologist apprenticeship standard and higher apprentices will complete either Level 4 Quality Practitioner Apprenticeship standard or Level 5 Operations/Departmental Manager Apprenticeship standard.

Information Technology

IT plays a vital role in the Bakkavor infrastructure. Keeping our systems operating enables our factories to run and our colleagues to stay connected. As an IT Apprentice you’ll receive training specific to the team you’re working with, but you’ll communicate with all areas of the business, at all levels. You will do one of the following standards, according to which team you join. The Level 4 Cyber Security Technologist Apprenticeship standard The Level 4 Network Engineer Apprenticeship standard..

Business Administration

Business Administrators across the organisation develop, implement, maintain and improve administrative services. Our administrators contribute to the efficiency of our organisation through support of functional areas, working across teams, interacting with internal and/ or external customers, and resolving issues as requested. This is a 2-year Advanced Apprenticeship Programme. Advanced apprentices will complete a Level 3 Business Administrator standard.

Human Resources

 

At Bakkavor, we know that our people are our greatest asset, so the support that HR delivers to frontline managers and employees is invaluable. As an HR Apprentice, you’ll receive hands-on training in a range of HR processes, employee engagement, employment law, reward, and much more. Working closely with every area of our business you’ll help to recruit and develop the very best people for Bakkavor. Both the Level 3 Advanced HR Support Apprenticeship standard and the Level 5 Higher HR Business Partner Apprenticeship standard are 2-year programmes.

Finance

 

Finance underpins everything we do at Bakkavor. As a Finance Apprentice you’ll receive hands-on training in management accounting, accounts, transactional processing and other key areas. Working closely with all business areas, you’ll support with budgeting, project financing, governance, and overheads. Both the Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship standard and the Level 4 Higher Professional Accounting Technician Apprenticeship standards are 2-year programmes.

Continuous Improvement

 

Bakkavor is continually looking to improve its manufacturing systems and processes. This exciting opportunity will expose you to all areas of the business where you will learn about Continuous Improvement tools and techniques, including Root Cause Analysis, Lean Methodologies, as well as various methods of data analysis. This continuous improvement programme is a great opportunity to develop skills that are highly sought after, by Bakkavor, in today’s competitive environment.

Supply Chain

 

At Bakkavor, production never stops. We need to plan, manufacture, and deliver onto shelves as quickly as possible so our customers are never disappointed. Our Supply Chain apprentices play a crucial role, supporting you to develop strong relationship building, influencing, stakeholder management skills and the ability to analyse information quickly. You’ll have a passion for analysis and be keen to develop and innovate our supply chain model. The Advanced Level 3 Supply Chain Practitioner Apprenticeship standard and Higher Level 4 Process Leader Apprenticeship standard are 2-year programmes.

Safety, Health & Environment

 

At Bakkavor, the safety of our people is our number one priority. As a part of the health & safety team, you will work to help prevent workplace accidents and injuries as well as recognise and mitigate risks to protect our employees. You will support the team to develop, review and check on the implementation of safe systems of work, deliver training, investigate incidents, analyse data and present findings to the management team. This is a 2-year programme, during which time you will study the Level 3 Safety, Health & Environment Technician Apprenticeship standard.

Food Technology

 

As a Food Technologist you’ll make sure the food on consumers plates is safe to eat. You’ll receive training in process design and food science focused on food safety legislation and quality standards. You’ll cover the smooth transition of food products from factory to fork ensuring that technical and quality standards are achieved. This is a 2-year Apprenticeship. Advanced Apprentices will complete a Level 3 Food Technologist apprenticeship standard and higher apprentices will complete either Level 4 Quality Practitioner Apprenticeship standard or Level 5 Operations/Departmental Manager Apprenticeship standard.

Information Technology

 

IT plays a vital role in the Bakkavor infrastructure. Keeping our systems operating enables our factories to run and our colleagues to stay connected. As an IT Apprentice you’ll receive training specific to the team you’re working with, but you’ll communicate with all areas of the business, at all levels. You will do one of the following standards, according to which team you join. The Level 4 Cyber Security Technologist Apprenticeship standard The Level 4 Network Engineer Apprenticeship standard.

Business Administration

 

Business Administrators across the organisation develop, implement, maintain and improve administrative services. Our administrators contribute to the efficiency of our organisation through support of functional areas, working across teams, interacting with internal and/ or external customers, and resolving issues as requested. This is a 2-year Advanced Apprenticeship Programme. Advanced apprentices will complete a Level 3 Business Administrator standard.

More Information

 

Proud to know your stuff

 

Available Apprenticeships:
 

Advanced (Level 3) Apprenticeships:
 

Qualifications Required:

  • 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, including Maths & English. (For Engineering, a minimum grade 5/C in Maths is required) or equivalent 

Pay Scale:

  • Start at £19,000, rising to £22,000 in year 2. 
  • Engineering Advanced Apprentices: 4-year pay scale: 
    • ​​​​Year 1: £22,000. Year 2: £28,000. Year 3: £34,000. Year 4: £40,000 

 

Higher (Level 4 or 5) Apprenticeships:
 

Qualifications Required:

  • 3 A levels at grade A* - C or equivalent 
  • Maths and English GCSEs at A* - C/9 - 5 or equivalent 

Pay Scale:

  • Start at £20,670, rising to £23,670 in year 2.

 

For our Scottish based Apprenticeships (SCQF level 6 or 7)
 

  • 5x National 5s grade A-C including English and Maths for Advanced Apprenticeships
  • 3x National Highers grade A-C for Higher Apprenticeships
     

Due to the Government’s apprenticeship funding requirements, you will need to provide relevant documentation to prove that you have the right to work in the UK and have been a UK resident over the past 3 years. Please make sure that you can easily get to your selected site.  

 

Recruitment Process:
 

  • Application: Submit an online application.
  • Assessment Centre: If successful, you'll be invited to a half-day onsite assessment centre at one of Bakkavor's sites.
  • Outcome Notification: You will be informed of the outcome within 5 working days via email or phone.
  • Rescheduling: Assessment Centre dates are fixed and cannot be rearranged, so it’s important to keep the date available if you are invited.
     

Application Tips:
 

  • Highlight Your Motivation: Clearly express why you’re interested in a career in the food industry and how this placement aligns with your career goals.
  • Show Flexibility: Emphasize your willingness to relocate and adapt to different work locations.
  • Demonstrate Business Acumen: Showcase any relevant experience or skills that highlight your understanding of the commercial aspects of the industry.
     

Additional FAQs:
 

College/Training Provider: Determined by the apprenticeship programme and location. Bakkavor will select the most suitable training provider for you.
 

Off-the-Job Training: Varies depending on the apprenticeship and provider. Options include:

  • One day per week
  • One week per month
  • Block release.

 

Training Costs: Fully covered by Bakkavor; no cost to the apprentice.
 

Job Guarantee: Yes, provided you successfully complete your qualification and perform well in your role.
 

Site Location:

  • You will remain at one site during your apprenticeship.
  • After completion, you may apply to move to a different site.
     

Qualifications Awarded:

  • The apprenticeship itself is a qualification.
  • Some programs include additional certifications like CIPD, CIMA, AAT, or HEC’s.


If you need more specific details or have any other questions, feel free to ask! Contact us via email: EarlyCareers@bakkavor.com

HOW TO APPLY

Find out more about applying with us and the process we follow.

 

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ABOUT US

Discover what we believe in, what we stand for and what makes us proud.

 

READ MORE

OUR PEOPLE

Meet the people behind the products and learn why they’re the secret to our success.

 

READ MORE

HOW TO APPLY

Find out more about applying with us and the process we follow.

 

READ MORE

ABOUT US

Discover what we believe in, what we stand for and what makes us proud.

 

READ MORE

 

OUR PEOPLE

Meet the people behind the products and learn why they’re the secret to our success.

 

READ MORE

 

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