Continuous Improvement Engineer Undergraduate Placement

apetito; Trowbridge; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food supplier in the UK is offering a 12-month placement for a Continuous Improvement Engineer. This role is ideal for students studying Engineering, Mathematics, Sciences, or Computer Science and aims to enhance manufacturing processes through analysis and digital transformation. Candidates must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with hands-on engagement on the shop floor. This unique opportunity blends data, technology, and real-world engineering in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Discretionary annual bonus

Pension scheme

Free parking

Qualifications

• Expectation of achieving a 2:1 or higher in your degree.
• Able to work with large data sets to uncover patterns.
• Hands-on approach required for shop floor engagement.

Responsibilities

• Analyze datasets to find inefficiencies and opportunities.
• Support design and optimization of manufacturing processes.
• Develop tools to automate workflows.

Skills

Data analysis

Problem-solving

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Studying towards degree in Engineering/Mathematics/Sciences/Computer Science/AI

Job description

Competitive Salary + Bonus + Benefits

• Location: UK-Wiltshire-Trowbridge |
• Contract type: Placement |
• Closing date: 30th January 2026

Overview

Continuous Improvement Engineer – Undergraduate Placement (12 Months)

We’re excited to offer a 12‑month placement for a student passionate about technology, data, and intelligent systems to join our experienced Manufacturing team as a Continuous Improvement Engineer.

This is a unique opportunity to apply your analytical, digital, and problem‑solving skills to real‑world manufacturing challenges. You’ll help us design smarter, more efficient, and more automated processes across our food production facility—using data, logic, and creativity to make a measurable impact, and make a difference on how we operate.

You’ll work alongside Engineers, CI specialists, and Operational Teams to:

• Analyse large datasets to uncover patterns, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities
• Support the design and optimisation of complex manufacturing processes
• Develop digital tools and automated workflows to replace manual processes
• Apply structured problem‑solving methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, and DMAIC
• Contribute to projects that enhance safety, quality, efficiency, and compliance
• Gain hands‑on experience on the shop floor to understand how systems and processes really work
• You’ll develop hands‑on experience in manufacturing management, understanding how people, processes, technology, and data interact to drive performance across a complex operational system.

You’ll also build experience in:

• Manufacturing principles and process flows
• Facility and line design
• Production equipment (cooking, dicing, mincing, LEVs, lifting support)
• Refrigeration systems

This placement blends data, technology, and real‑world engineering—perfect for a Computer Science, AI, Engineering or mathematics student who enjoys solving practical problems with smart, structured thinking.

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, health care and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dietitians 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.

Many of our placement students have gone on to join the company as Graduates on completing their degrees. Full details on the programme can be found on our careers pages at apetito Graduates.

Responsibilities

Continuous Improvement & Lean Projects

• Mapping processes step‑by‑step to identify inefficiencies
• Removing non‑value‑adding activities
• Applying DMAIC, 5S, and root‑cause analysis to deliver measurable improvements

Digital Transformation & Automation

• Creating Power Apps to digitalise manual processes
• Improving compliance through automated workflows and smarter data capture
• Enhancing workforce management with digital tools and real‑time visibility

Multi‑Plus Project

• Supplier sourcing and international visits (e.g., Germany)
• Tray and packaging design
• Production line modifications
• Sourcing new equipment and machinery
• Running trials and gathering customer feedback

Downtime Reduction & Performance Optimisation

• Analysing machine and line‑level data to identify downtime patterns and root causes
• Building dashboards or digital tools to track performance in real time
• Designing and implementing solutions to reduce unplanned stoppages
• Working with operators and engineers to improve reliability and process flow

About you

Essential:

• Studying towards a degree in Engineering/Mathematics/Sciences/Computer Science, AI or related discipline with the expectation that you will receive a 2:1 or above and are looking to complete a 12‑month placement as part of your degree.
• Confident working with large data sets and able to analyse them to determine any patterns or trends to support further work or solution.
• Comfortable of being “hands on” and working on the shop floor to further understand the problem and find solution.
• Interaction with shop floor staff at all levels will be essential to be successful in the various projects and tasks assigned.
• A completer finisher
• Excellent analysis, problem management and interpersonal skills
• Self-motivated and able to own and manage workload with minimal supervision – a proven self‑starter
• Able to demonstrate a structured approach to work as well as being able to work well in team environment and deal with people professionally at all levels
• Is effective at using oral and written forms of communication

Desirable:

• Experience of Project Management
• Passion for food

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
• Access to employee benefits including Perkbox with 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.