Job type

Food packaging operative

£12.5k - £22k

Typical salary

41 – 43

Hours per week

Food packaging operatives work on production lines to put food and drink products into containers, cans or packets.

More info

  • Work in a food factory, packing, checking and moving products for despatch
  • Repetitive work, but usually in a social team environment
  • Opportunities to progress into supervisory and management roles

DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES

  • Checking products on the production line for quality
  • Keeping machines supplied with packaging materials and labels
  • Reporting machine faults
  • Adjusting machine settings
  • Keeping machines and production areas clean during your shift
  • Moving packaged items around the warehouse using pallet trolleys or a forklift truck

DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT

Factories can be noisy and may be hot or cool, and you may need to wear protective clothing.

You'll need

For this role, you'll need thoroughness and attention to detail, patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations, the ability to work alone as well as with others, knowledge of manufacturing production and processes, the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools, knowledge of maths, and physical skills.

There are no set requirements, but when applying directly it may help if you have previous experience of work on a production line.

You could get this job by doing a food and drink process operator apprenticeship or through a college course such as packaging technology.

You might need a forklift licence for some jobs, if you have to move finished products to factory storage areas.

CAREER PROSPECTS

With experience, you could progress to supervisor or manager.