Packaging Management Degree Apprenticeship Programme

Summary

Kite Packaging are running their very own Management Apprenticeship Programme starting in September 2025. We are looking for exceptional candidates who have the potential and ambition to become managers of the future. Kite is a Sunday Times Top 100 business with the fastest growth in the packaging distribution industry.

Annual wage

£20,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

All successful candidates will be provided with starting basic salary of £20,000, rising to £28,000 over the length of the programme.

Training course

Packaging professional (integrated degree) (level 6)

Hours

Monday to Friday, shifts to be confirmed.

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 1 September

Duration

4 years

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

We are looking for exceptional candidates who have the potential and ambition to become managers of the future specialising in; Commercial/Purchasing, Customer Service, Sales, Operations and Logistics.

The programme will give you a unique opportunity to experience working in all parts of the business with professional development training and support along the way. You will be mentored by and report to a Kite Managing Partner, who will provide insight into the operational side of Kite Packaging and support your learning.

You could be working on:

· Working with the commercial and purchasing teams assisting with the customer enquiries, supply chain management, sourcing of new product and pricing.

· Supporting account managers with customer service, communicating with Kite’s vast customer portfolio, and helping manage customer projects.

· Working with the sales team targeting prospective customers, helping generate and manage enquiries, learning about Kite’s product and solution offering.

· Supporting the warehouse operations, learning the warehouse management processes and distribution logistics planning.

· Assisting branch manager with the office administration, data management and special project execution.

The apprentices will have the opportunity to participate in and learn about every business function of their local branch and will ultimately be able to shape their own career in the business function most suited to them within Kite.

Successful candidates will obtain a BSc (hons.) degree which will include:

· Identifying opportunities for technological improvement, selecting products from suppliers

· Working with market research professionals to translate consumer insight into packaging design features

· Identifying packaging opportunities and championing them to stakeholders

· Identifying and optimising solutions that improve sustainability and minimise environmental impact

· Managing complex projects to time and budget

· Generating new packaging products in response to briefs ensuring that packaging developed meets set requirements, legislation and specifications

· Producing samples to optimise the end product; different materials, formats and designs

· Running trials to check packaging for suitability and performance under various conditions

· Controlling specifications, production and quality standards undertaking technical evaluations, selections, and negotiating with suppliers

Where you’ll work

15D Follingsby Close

Gateshead

NE10 8YG

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY

Your training course

Packaging professional (integrated degree) (level 6)

Equal to degree

Course contents

Translate customer briefs to determine a technical packaging brief, which considers business, consumer, operational and sustainability requirements.
Identify, design, develop and source packaging solutions demonstrating best value, environmental impact and fitness for purpose to meet briefs.
Critically analyse and apply packaging design options against complex inter-related touchpoints to meet the needs from design to end of life, e.g. environmental impact using life cycle assessment.
Liaise and coordinate with other stakeholders (e.g. supplier, R&D, marketing, finance, technical) to deliver packaging development projects. When appropriate take the lead and drive the project.
Initiate and lead projects, using project management tools and skills to deliver projects to time, cost, specification and quality.
Identify and control project risks through mitigation plans.
Define parameters, design of experiments, success criteria and protocols for projects appropriate to the brief.
Lead the design and management of packaging trials (e.g. prototypes, production of samples, transit, shelf life, sensory, machine-ability).
Document and evaluate trials at different project stages (e.g. laboratory, pilot plant, supplier, filling and packing, transit and distribution) recommending further activities.
Report results and conclusions. Hypothesise and recommend further adaptions and optimisations.
Ensure compliance with packaging and market regulatory requirements.
Demonstrate financial acumen, e.g. managing budget(s); interpreting financial data and evaluating total product costs and their impact throughout the value chain.
Investigate and interpret non-conformance issues related to Packaging. Resolve using root cause analysis and apply change management.
Effectively communicate with stakeholders at different levels, building positive working relationships; influencing and persuading key stakeholders effectively.
Translate business strategy into internal and external capability building programmes (e.g. supplier quality improvement programmes).
Demonstrate critical thinking, analytical and statistical skills to evaluate and interpret complex information and data (e.g. process capability).
Proactively identify opportunities to improve packaging based on an analysis of costs, continuous improvement, environmental impact, waste avoidance and process improvements.
Provide comprehensive technical services to internal colleagues, customers and suppliers.
Coach and/or mentor.
Use visual and digital tools systems, e.g. project management, computer aided engineering, business management systems, palletisation software.

Your training plan

This is a 4-year programme integrating a professional, business degree (BSc. Hons.) focusing specifically on the Packaging Industry in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University. The degree starts in January 2026 and involves attending Sheffield Hallam University on block study for a total of 20-25 days each year. All costs of attending the degree course, as well as the time off work required, will be covered by Kite Packaging.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Maths and English (grade 6/B or above)
Any subject (grade BBC / Distinction Merit Merit)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Organisation skills
Team working
Initiative

About this company

Kite Packaging was founded from scratch in 2001 with a unique vision - To be the premier packaging supplier in the UK with a philosophy of employee-ownership. At Kite we believe that “customer satisfaction matters so much more when you own the business”, and so, from the moment Kite Packaging was founded, we established it as an employee owned business so that every single employee could share in the benefits that come from giving great customer service. Our belief in employee ownership is a key founding principle of Kite Packaging because at the heart of every good long term relationship there has to be a sense of partnership. With our employee partners, our customer partners and our supplier partners there is the simple truth that what is in the long term good of one has to be in the long term good of the other. This has allowed us to invest in our business to build a truly great platform from which to service our customers, support our suppliers and grow our employees. From our earliest days Kite has not only offered its employees the opportunity to become owners, it has been a place where we have nurtured and grown our own talent. When we were less than 1 year old we started our first graduate programme and apprentice scheme and have continued to run both programmes all the way up to the present day. Since 2001, and with our vision at the forefront of everything we do, Kite has grown quickly to be one of the largest distributors in the UK. We now have 10 sites around the UK which are fully integrated into our national and international supply chain, ensuring that we can deliver the right product on time, at the right price, every time. As the business has grown, we have made sure that no customer is left behind – supplying stock product and basic packaging equipment through our website, and offering a bespoke service to large packaging users, and those who need specialist solutions. Whatever problem or issue you may have, when it comes to packaging, Kite is here to help.

Company benefits

• The option to become a shareholder in the business after 6 months employment • After 6 months a range of benefits: life insurance, optional healthcare scheme, retail discounts, cycle to work scheme

After this apprenticeship

Upon completion of the programme, successful candidates would take up a position to further develop their skills with an opportunity to become a Team Leader or Manager.

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