Learn on the job
Gain valuable experience and learn on the job in a role with real responsibility.
If you are on a four-year degree course where you are expected to spend a year in industry, then our 12-month Industrial Placement Scheme could be just the experience you are looking for.
From the moment you join, you can expect challenge, responsibility and variety, because we expect you to make a full contribution to the business.
The Journey
During your time with us you can expect to:
- Develop core workplace skills to complement your academic knowledge (e.g. project management, prioritising a busy workload, managing key stakeholders, professional communication and solution-focussed thinking)
- Gain practical experience of working within the food industry, and a valuable insight into the different functions and roles within it
- Progress your career development journey. By using the feedback and experience gained on placement, you will gain a deeper appreciation of your personal strengths and development needs and be given the support the shape your action plan
Our IP students complete two separate 6-month placement roles, at a variety of locations across the UK, so flexibility is a must.
Our aim is to provide you with a valuable breadth of experience, working with different departments, products and customers. You will also have the chance to deliver project work and get involved with the Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
Our different pathways
Operations
From our planning teams through to operational line management, or in specialist support teams such as Engineering or Health & Safety, everyone works together with energy and drive to ensure we deliver great quality food, on time, with the minimum of waste.
Food Technical
Once a new product has been developed in our test kitchens, our Technical teams are responsible for development of the production process, ingredient specifications and product life, packaging information and important ongoing management of the quality and safety of our food throughout the manufacturing process.
Commercial Management
From understanding shopper behaviour and market trends, through to development and launch of new products, our Commercial teams must maintain close relationships with our retail customers, suppliers, and internal teams to manage our product portfolio, procurement, sales and promotional plans to achieve the best possible results.
The Selection Process
Once you send your application to us, the selection process has a number of steps:
- Application received, acknowledged and screened
- Video Interview
- Individual Profiling (online)
- Recruitment Day
- Feedback and/or offer
What to expect
Two placements
You will be allocated two six-month placements at two different sites within the Group. You can expect to have a real job with real responsibility. You’ll also be required to deliver a number of projects, so you definitely won’t be in a ‘shadowing’ role during your time with us. You will also have the opportunity to get involved in the Group’s CSR activities.
There is a wide range of placements typically offered in a number of different functions, including:
- Process
- Quality Assurance
- Product Development
- Production
- Engineering
- Marketing
- Commercial
- IT
- Finance
- Personnel
Future opportunities
At the end of your placement, you will have gained invaluable on-the-job experience and will also have a good commercial understanding of how a business in the food industry works.
We encourage our IP students to return to Samworth Brothers after graduation, providing our businesses with the talent, commitment and expertise we need to ensure our continued success.
Ongoing support
When you join us, you will be assigned a mentor who will work with you on a confidential one-to-one basis. Your mentor will be there to encourage and support you, so you can make the most of your opportunity with us.
Their role is to offer guidance and to respond to your needs by providing useful insights for you based on their own experiences.
Our IP Students
Now you have an overview of the scheme and hopefully a flavour of exactly what it’s like to be an Industrial Placement student with Samworth Brothers, you can gain a little more insight from some of our IP students who chose to join our scheme.