Graduate Programmes

Proud to build your future with the best

 

To succeed as part of our Graduate Programme requires talent and motivation, together with plenty of drive, grit, and determination. With us, the pace is fast. The energy is exciting. Your potential career success is unlimited.

 

We’ll support you to become future leaders. We’ll introduce you to a network of contacts and we’ll give you real responsibility and encourage you to contribute to Bakkavor’s success from day one.

 

Choose from six core functional programmes in the UK, plus opportunities in China and the US. Whichever path you take, our 6-step Leadership Programme offers vast exposure to our business as you rotate through different roles, departments, locations, products, and customers.

 

Programmes start in September and involve a minimum of two 12-month placements across different locations so flexibility is a must. The exception to this is our Finance programme, which is three placements over three and a half years.

 

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Quality, innovation and insight are at the heart of Product Development.  Working as a Development Technologist with different customers or product categories, you'll turn your passion for food, ingredients and ideas into products to feed the nation.  From idea generation and recipe development to product trials and launches, you'll inspire and be inspired in equal measure.  Your target role will be Senior Development Technologist, progressing to Product Manager.

 

COMMERCIAL SALES AND MANAGEMENT

Our commercial focus drives Bakkavor’s business success. So, learn from the best and develop expert business skills as you work across two customers or product categories. Identifying opportunities to maximise revenue, margins and develop long-term customer partnerships, you’ll focus on enhancing your category management, accounting, and negotiation skills. Your target role will be a Commercial Manager for one of our key customers, progressing to Commercial Controller.
 

HUMAN RESOURCES

Our people are the heart and soul of Bakkavor and you’ll learn how to support and develop colleagues both within a factory location and central HR functions. You’ll gain exposure to Resourcing, Employee Relations, L&D, Performance and Talent Management, HR Analytics, Employment Law, Reward Management and Systems. Importantly, you’ll achieve the career defining CIPD qualification and the experience necessary for a future HR leadership role.
 

FINANCE

Finance at Bakkavor goes beyond basic accountancy to involve wider business decision making. On our CIMA affiliated scheme, you’ll cover skills including, management accounting, financial management, risk management and process evaluation and redesign. In the first two years, you’ll focus on study and core experience. The next year and a half will be spent on higher level experience and personal development. Completing 3 placements at different UK locations, flexibility is a must. Your target role will be a Financial Accountant or Management Accountant, progressing to Financial Controller.
 

MANUFACTURING

We deliver high quality, innovative products to our customers on a massive scale. Based in two factories, in two different locations for most of your time with us, you’ll quickly learn the importance of being a great team manager. This includes things like how to engage with your colleagues and maintain high standards for operational excellence, food safety and health & safety. Your target role will be a Section Leader or Manager, progressing ultimately to a Factory/Operations Manager role.
 

FOOD TECHNOLOGY

We use science to develop and manufacture safe, high-quality products day in, day out. Working in our factories, offices and with our customers, you’ll gain exposure to the Quality, Technical Services, Process or Raw Materials teams as well as our Central Technical team. Making sure the right systems and process are in place, to meet customer and industry standards or codes of practise, your target role will be a QA Supervisor or Senior Technologist, progressing to a Technical Manager.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

 

Quality, innovation and insight are at the heart of Product Development.  Working as a Development Technologist with different customers or product categories, you'll turn your passion for food, ingredients and ideas into products to feed the nation.  From idea generation and recipe development to product trials and launches, you'll inspire and be inspired in equal measure.  Your target role will be Senior Development Technologist, progressing to Product Manager.

COMMERCIAL SALES AND MANAGEMENT

 

Our commercial focus drives Bakkavor’s business success. So, learn from the best and develop expert business skills as you work across two customers or product categories. Identifying opportunities to maximise revenue, margins and develop long-term customer partnerships, you’ll focus on enhancing your category management, accounting, and negotiation skills. Your target role will be a Commercial Manager for one of our key customers, progressing to Commercial Controller.
 

HUMAN RESOURCES

 

Our people are the heart and soul of Bakkavor and you’ll learn how to support and develop colleagues both within a factory location and central HR functions. You’ll gain exposure to Resourcing, Employee Relations, L&D, Performance and Talent Management, HR Analytics, Employment Law, Reward Management and Systems. Importantly, you’ll achieve the career defining CIPD qualification and the experience necessary for a future HR leadership role.
 

FINANCE

 

Finance at Bakkavor goes beyond basic accountancy to involve wider business decision making. On our CIMA affiliated scheme, you’ll cover skills including, management accounting, financial management, risk management and process evaluation and redesign. In the first two years, you’ll focus on study and core experience. The next year and a half will be spent on higher level experience and personal development. Completing 3 placements at different UK locations, flexibility is a must. Your target role will be a Financial Accountant or Management Accountant, progressing to Financial Controller.
 

MANUFACTURING

 

We deliver high quality, innovative products to our customers on a massive scale. Based in two factories, in two different locations for most of your time with us, you’ll quickly learn the importance of being a great team manager. This includes things like how to engage with your colleagues and maintain high standards for operational excellence, food safety and health & safety. Your target role will be a Section Leader or Manager, progressing ultimately to a Factory/Operations Manager role.
 

FOOD TECHNOLOGY

 

We use science to develop and manufacture safe, high-quality products day in, day out. Working in our factories, offices and with our customers, you’ll gain exposure to the Quality, Technical Services, Process or Raw Materials teams as well as our Central Technical team. Making sure the right systems and process are in place, to meet customer and industry standards or codes of practise, your target role will be a QA Supervisor or Senior Technologist, progressing to a Technical Manager.

What we offer you

Proud to get what you deserve

 

Join our Graduate Programme and you’ll enjoy a competitive reward package, a solid support network and some fantastic development opportunities.

 

Competitive reward package

  • Starting Salary - £27,000 + £1,000 one-off signing on bonus, moving to £28,500 in Year 2 (London placements will receive an additional allowance for living costs).
  • Pension Scheme.
  • Relocation Financial Assistance (for each graduate placement).
  • Holiday purchase scheme.
  • Access to employee benefits – such as MyDrive Car Lease scheme.

 

A suite of training and development opportunities

  • Dedicated graduate leadership training events.
  • Programme workshops and exposure to other functions.
  • Rotational placements to broaden your experience.
  • Management skills training.
  • HR and Finance will work towards further study qualifications (CIPD & CIMA respectively).
  • Opportunities to further your development after the programme with Apprenticeship Qualifications.

 

A broad support and development network

  • A dedicated Champion for your functional programme.
  • A Mentor to support and guide your development.
  • A Buddy to help introduce you to the business.
  • A Graduate Team to coordinate the programme and offer advice.
  • A Line Manager who will complete regular performance reviews and support you through a skills chart checklist of experience.
  • You’ll join as part of a global cohort, with up to 25 other graduates plus our China and US graduates, not to mention a wide community of graduates who joined in the years before you.

 

Career progression

The purpose of our Graduate Programme is to accelerate your progress into a management role, and because of our size, scale, and scope, we have an amazing range of career opportunities available. So, we’ll work with you to work out the career path that’s right for you and will lead to a senior leadership role with Bakkavor in the future.

What you need to apply

Ambition. Motivation. The drive to dig deep, stay focused and work hard to achieve success. They’re the sort of qualities that will get you onto our graduate programme and upon completion, into a senior role at Bakkavor.

 

We also look for:

  • Finance, Manufacturing and Commercial: at least a 2:2 honours degree in any discipline, (achieved or expected).
  • Product Development: a food or product related or science-based degree.
  • Food Technology: a technical, food related or science-based degree.
  • At least three months’ work experience gained in a role within the food industry or manufacturing or related to your chosen discipline (for example, a 3-month office internship).
  • An existing and future right to work in the UK to cover the length of the programme.

HOW TO APPLY

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

 

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ABOUT US

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