Food packaging operative
Food packaging operatives work on production lines, putting food and drink products into containers, cans and packets.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a food packaging operative, you would:
- pack products into boxes, packets and containers
- carry out routine quality checks
- keep machines supplied with packaging materials and labels
- adjust machine settings
- report production line faults to supervisors
- move packaged goods to storage areas and stack them safely
Working environment
You could work in a factory.
Your working environment may be noisy and hot.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a:
- production line leader
- shift supervisor or section manager
- quality control assistant
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- concentration skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to operate and control equipment
- the ability to work well with your hands
- physical skills like bending, lifting and carrying
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and Requirements
You might need forklift truck training for some some jobs, for example, for moving finished products to a factory warehouse.
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
You may be able to apply to do a Food and Drink Process Operator Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
This takes around one year to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
More Information
You can apply directly for jobs. You may not need any qualifications to start as a packaging operative, although it can help if you've worked on a production line before.
Knowledge of food safety can also be useful but employers will normally offer full training for the right candidates.
Related videos
Suggested videos
Coffee With is in early release mode with a limited number of videos. New videos are being added every week, so please check back for updates.
External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.