Industrial Placement Student

Croda International; Widnes; On-site; GBP 40,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading chemical manufacturer is offering a 12-month Industrial Placement for Chemical Engineering students in Widnes, starting August/September 2026. This role provides hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment, focusing on design and implementation of improvements for safety and operational efficiency. Candidates must be self-motivated, possess excellent communication skills, and preferably, have prior experience in the chemical industry. A competitive salary and benefits package is included.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

25 days paid holiday allowance

Private medical insurance

Access to share plans

Cycle to work scheme

Car leasing scheme

Generous parental leave

Free car parking on sites

Qualifications

• You must be working towards a 2.1 or higher in Chemical Engineering.
• Previous experience in the chemical industry is desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day operations with dynamic problem solving.
• Use technical knowledge for capital investment and process optimisation.
• Improve compliance with HSEQ aspects of the plant.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams of Engineers and Chemists.

Skills

Self-motivated

Strong communication skills

Attention to detail

Problem analysis

Team work

Education

Chemical Engineering undergraduate

Job description

Overview

Location Address: Foundry Lane, Ditton, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 8UB, United Kingdom

Closing Date: 11/02/2026

Croda is a FTSE100 organisation driven around our purpose of Smart Science to Improve Lives™. With over 6,000 employees across 39 countries, we are focused on the research and development of novel and highly sustainable raw materials for the Life Sciences and Consumer Care sectors. We are passionate and excited about how we can develop and utilise new technologies to shape and inspire changes within an ever-growing marketplace. As our business looks to deliver its ambitious strategy of growth, we are looking for an Industrial Placement Student to join our engineering team at Ditton, Cheshire for 12 months from August/September 2026. This placement is an excellent opportunity to experience life on a manufacturing site and gain exposure to a wide variety of typical process plant equipment used in batch-processing as well provide a platform in which to develop technical skills. The main purpose of this role is to design and implement improvements on site to address safety, environmental and operational issues.

Who We’re Looking For

At Croda, we believe our people are the heart of our success. We are committed to fostering an environment where you can grow, make a meaningful impact, and thrive.

• You will need to be a self-motivated individual with the ability to manage and plan your own workload.
• Team work, strong communication skills, attention to detail and problem analysis are essential for this role.
• You will be a Chemical Engineering undergraduate finishing their second or third year working towards 2.1 or higher.
• Previous work experience within the chemical industry is desirable but not essential.

What You’ll Be Doing

Be part of a team that values diversity, sustainability, and continuous innovation, where your ideas and contributions matter.

• Supporting day to day operations keeping business critical assets in operation through dynamic problem solving with pragmatic solutions.
• Using technical knowledge to support a broad capital investment and process optimisation programmes, including project definition, scoping solutions and specification of necessary equipment, working internally and with external partners.
• Tackling complex challenges to improve compliance with safety, health, environment and quality aspects of the plant and manufacturing processes, including continuous improvement and process safety.
• Working closely with a multi-disciplinary team Engineers, Chemists and Operations experts.

What We Offer

Join a global organisation with countless opportunities for growth and leadership. The successful candidate will receive a competitive salary and benefits package including:

• Defined benefit pension scheme
• 25 days paid holiday allowance (plus bank holidays)
• Private medical insurance
• Access to share plans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Car leasing scheme
• Generous parental leave
• Free car parking on Croda sites

Additional Information

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the hiring process or experience any issues with our online application process, please email [e-mail]. Croda recognises employees as our strength and the diversity they bring to our workforce are directly linked to our ongoing success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including age, race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants\' and employees\' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.