Packaging Professional Degree Apprenticeship

Summary

This is an opportunity to earn while you learn and become an expert in your field for one of the UK’s leading independent manufacturers of corrugated packaging. We operate within a rapidly growing market, the materials we work with have strong green credentials, and we pride ourselves on our sustainable and innovative products.

Annual wage

£24,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Starting salary of £24,000, rising to £32,000 over the duration of the apprenticeship.

Training course

Packaging professional (integrated degree) (level 6)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm with 30-minute lunch break.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Possible start date

Saturday 1 February

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

The Technical Sales Team is at the heart of our company. Learning within this team will give you exposure to all aspects of working in a manufacturing business. From estimating, design and customer service through to operations.

Key Responsibilities:

Gain knowledge of manufacturing processes involved in the production of corrugated packaging
Utilise our industry-specific software to generate quotations
Use CAD software and plotter to design corrugated packaging solutions
Take project briefs from clients and offer tailored solutions
Develop Account Management skills
Visit customers and suppliers
Gain commercial experience and create pricing proposals
Create print diagrams in Adobe Illustrator
Purchase tooling for new packaging products
Attend trade exhibitions

Where you’ll work

NORTH HOUSE NO 3

BOND AVENUE

BLETCHLEY

MILTON KEYNES

MK1 1JJ

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

Packaging professional (integrated degree) Level 6 (Degree with honours) Apprenticeship Standard:

You will learn through a combination of block study periods at Sheffield Hallam University, online study and work-based projects.
You will have a Reedbut Group mentor who will fully support you throughout your apprenticeship to ensure you achieve your full potential
All costs of attending the degree course will be funded by Reedbut Group

Requirements

Essential qualifications

A Level in:

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

Attention to detail
Team working
Creative
Initiative

About this company

The Reedbut Group designs and manufactures corrugated packaging. The business has three sites; Milton Keynes the head office, Andover and Strood, and is one of the leading independent sheet plants in the UK. The company has an annual turnover of more than £17 million and employs 90 people. The business operates in the rapidly growing corrugated packaging market and the materials the company work with have strong green credentials and are playing a leading role in the war against single use plastic.

After this apprenticeship

On completion of the apprenticeship you would have opportunities to progress to:

Technical Sales Manager
Customer Service Manager
QSHE Manager
Operations Manager
New Business Development Manager

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: