Packaging Developer Commercial Placement

Do you have a passion for developing packaging? Passionate about working as part of a team? And have an ambition to have a long-term career in a commercial environment within the food industry? If this sounds like you, then our Packaging Developer Placement could be the perfect opportunity! Why Greencore? We’re a leading manufacturer of convenience food in the UK and our purpose is to make everyday taste better. We’re a vibrant, fast-paced leading food manufacturer. Employing 13,300 colleagues across 16 manufacturing units and 17 distribution depots across the UK. We supply all the UK’s food retailers with everything from Sandwiches, soups and sushi to cooking sauces, pickles and ready meals, and in FY24, we generated revenues of £1.8bn. Our vast direct-to-store (DTS) distribution network, comprising of 17 depots nationwide, enables us to make over 10,500 daily deliveries of our own chilled and frozen produce and that of third parties. This is a dynamic and innovative field, which brings many commercial challenges relating to market trends, product launches, maintaining relationships with customers, suppliers and internal teams. We’re looking for motivated undergraduates who are completing either a Graphic Design, Product Design or Sustainability related degree and have a keen ambition to gain experience within Packaging Development of a fast-moving consumer good business. This is a 12-month placement aimed at those who elect to complete a ‘year-in-industry’ as part of their degree, with the potential to return to Greencore once you have completed your undergraduate degree. Join us and be part of our great team, committed to making everyday taste better. What you’ll be doing The Greencore Packaging Developer placement is designed to help you gain valuable experience that supports your future career ambitions in the food industry. As the largest sandwich maker in the UK, we partner with both major supermarkets and smaller retailers. During this placement as a Packaging Developer, you will develop new and modify existing packaging concepts, reviewing structure and design, in line with written briefs to meet customer needs. This will include:

• Contribute to creative brainstorming sessions with packaging suppliers to explore new ideas that align with food packaging innovation and enhance competitive advantage.
• Use your creativity to transform concepts into practical, commercially viable packaging solutions that stand out on shelves and represent the brand’s identity.
• Work alongside Group Procurement where appropriate, to find ways to improve efficiency while meeting Greencore’s specifications and business requirements.
• Support feasibility meetings, ensuring they meet manufacturing standards and production expectations.
• Stay informed on current and future sustainability trends and incorporate this knowledge into your design approach, ensuring it aligns with key business goals.
• Ensure packaging samples are ready on time and communicate any delays to the business to keep timelines on track.
• Support customer meetings in the communication of packaging ideas and proposals.
• Create visual mock-ups and mood boards to clearly communicate your ideas and concepts.
• Support factory trials, to help refine designs to ensure the final packaging is functional and meets necessary standards.

At the end of the placement, you will have gained valuable on the job experience while also gaining knowledge of a commercial environment within the food industry. We firmly believe it’s our people who deliver our performance which is why we place so much emphasis on colleague development and career progression. You will be assigned a mentor who will support you in your development throughout the placement. You’ll also get to network with other Early Careers colleagues across the business and attend external events to help you develop your network in the wider industry. What we’re looking for  At Greencore we put our people at the core. We celebrate their differences and help everyone to be themselves at work. Together we make everyday taste better. We are looking for you to have a passion for food, and people. You will also be: 

• Creative, with an eye for structural/ graphic design
• Have an interest in sustainability and the environment
• A general awareness of products, packaging, and consumer trends
• Comfortable working as part of a team and have an ambition to have a long-term career in an innovative creative role.
• Highly motivated to grow your career.
• Resilient, resourceful, proactive and equipped to take change in your stride.
• Curious, organised, and able to use your excellent communication skills to build effective relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Have awareness of Word, Excel, Adobe Illustrator and CAD.

To join our Packaging Developer Commercial Placement programme, you will need:

• The right to live and work in the UK.
• Currently studying

Whilst this role is based in Worksop, to take full advantage of this opportunity, you will be required to travel to other sites when necessary, and therefore a full driving license is preferred. If this sounds like you, join us, grow with Greencore and be a part of driving our future success. What you’ll get in return  Not only will you gain experience across our business; you will also have access to our Greencore colleague benefits including:

• Competitive salary and job-related benefits
• 25 days Holidays, Plus Bank Holidays
• Exclusive Greencore employee discount platform

Applications are due to close on Sunday 9 March 2025, however if there are high volumes of applications, we may close early. Our first stage virtual assessment will take place between Tuesday 8^th – Wednesday 9^th April 2025. The second stage, face to face assessment will take place at one of our Greencore sites, between Wednesday 23^rd April and Thursday 24^th April 2025. You will join Greencore in June 2025 and attend an induction week at the end of August 2025. Grocery Aid – 08088021122 Mind – 03001233393 Samaritans – 116123 Frank – 03001236600