Project Engineer - Undergraduate Placement 

Overview

Project Engineer - Process Improvement Placement

 

This role is 1 year Fixed Term Contract, working 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 17:00. 

 

You will join the Process Improvement team, supporting strategic initiatives that improve manufacturing performance, increase operational efficiency and help shape future investment decisions across the business. Working at the intersection of Operations, Engineering, Technology and Finance, you will contribute to projects that deliver measurable business value and support the long-term transformation of our manufacturing operations.

This placement offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in analysing manufacturing processes, identifying improvement opportunities and supporting key business decisions.

 

This placement will provide you with:

• Direct exposure to senior leaders across Manufacturing, Engineering and Business Transformation.
• Hands-on experience of process mapping, value stream analysis and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience conducting capacity assessments, feasibility studies and operational performance evaluations.
• Involvement in developing business cases, ROI assessments and investment recommendations for manufacturing improvements and new capabilities.
• Exposure to digital manufacturing, automation, data analytics and emerging technologies that support the future of food manufacturing.
• Ownership of defined projects and workstreams, with the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution from day one.
• Development of analytical, problem-solving, project management and stakeholder management skills that are highly valued across industry.

This placement is ideal for someone who is curious about how businesses make operational and investment decisions and who wants to gain practical experience helping transform a leading UK food manufacturing operation through process improvement, innovation and technology

 

Competitive Salary + Bonus + Benefits 

Who we are

apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors, serving more than 1,300 care homes, healthcare and education settings.

 

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

 

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier, cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Analyse manufacturing processes, production data and operational performance to support business decision-making.
• Develop process maps, operational models and analytical tools to identify improvement opportunities.
• Support capacity planning, forecasting and scenario modelling for strategic projects.
• Research and evaluate manufacturing technologies, digital solutions and emerging industry trends.
• Assist with feasibility studies, option evaluations and business case development for operational and capital investment projects.
• Support the design of future-state processes and manufacturing transformation initiatives.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance and IT.
• Participate in supplier meetings, technology demonstrations and solution evaluations.
• Prepare reports, presentations and recommendations for project teams and senior stakeholders.

Previous placement students have contributed to projects including:

• Production Capacity Modelling: Developing production capacity models and forecasting tools to support long-term manufacturing investment decisions.
• Manufacturing Feasibility Studies: Conducting feasibility assessments and scenario modelling for manufacturing capability and expansion projects.
• Digital Manufacturing Technology Assessments: Evaluating manufacturing systems, planning solutions and emerging digital technologies.
• Technology Horizon Scanning: Researching future manufacturing technologies and engaging with leading industry suppliers.
• Investment Business Cases: Supporting financial modelling, ROI assessments and capital investment recommendations.
• Process Mapping & Operating Model Design: Developing current and future-state process maps to support business transformation initiatives.
• Strategic Data Analysis: Analysing operational data and presenting insights to senior leadership teams.
• Manufacturing & Supply Chain Transformation: Supporting cross-functional projects to improve operational performance and business capability.

 

Qualifications/Personal Qualities

Essential:

• You will be studying towards a degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Computer Science or a related discipline. You should expect to receive a 2:1 or above and be looking to complete a 12-month placement as part of your degree.
• You have a real passion for food and for delivering the best-quality products to our customers.
• You are keen to get involved and learn more about food manufacturing and distribution.
• You are comfortable working with large data sets and able to analyse them to identify patterns or trends that support further investigation or potential solutions.
• You are comfortable taking a hands-on approach and working on the shop floor to understand problems and find solutions. The ability to interact effectively with shop floor colleagues at all levels will be essential to your success in the projects and tasks assigned to you.
• You have strong analytical, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
• You are self-motivated and able to manage your workload effectively with minimal supervision.
• You are a completer-finisher who takes ownership and follows tasks through to completion.
• You can demonstrate a structured and organised approach to work.
• You are comfortable working both independently and within cross-functional teams.
• You are confident communicating with people at all levels of the organisation, both verbally and in writing.

Desirable:

• Experience using data analysis, modelling or data visualisation tools.
• An understanding of manufacturing processes, operations or supply chain principles.
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma or other operational improvement methodologies.
• Experience working on project-based assignments through university, an industry placement or extracurricular activities.
• Basic project management knowledge or experience coordinating tasks, stakeholders and project deliverables.
• Experience using coding, automation or analytical tools such as VBA, MATLAB, Python, Power BI or similar technologies.
• Exposure to simulation, optimisation or statistical analysis techniques would be advantageous.

Company Benefits

• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%
• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
• Subsidised canteen
• Free parking
• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

Our Values

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

 

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.

 

We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.

 

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

 

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.