Production Operative (Confectionery)

About the role

Nestle's York factory is one of the UK's most recognisable confectionery sites, closely associated with KitKat and the city's long Rowntree chocolate-making heritage. Production operatives here work in a fast-moving food-manufacturing environment where hygiene, line discipline and product consistency matter on every shift. This role sits on confectionery production lines covering machine operation, packing support, basic changeovers and quality checks. You'll help keep product moving through forming, coating, cooling, wrapping and case-packing stages while maintaining food-safety and housekeeping standards. It is a good entry point for someone who wants a stable FMCG manufacturing role rather than temporary warehouse work. Reliable operatives can progress into line coordinator, trainer, quality or engineering-support routes once they know the lines and standards well.

Responsibilities

• Operate confectionery line equipment and support basic changeovers between formats
• Complete hourly quality checks including weight, seal, coding, appearance and packaging checks
• Maintain hygiene, GMP and clean-as-you-go standards throughout the shift
• Support material replenishment, waste segregation and end-of-line packing flow
• Escalate jams, quality drift or equipment faults quickly to line coordinators and engineers
• Record production, downtime and quality information accurately on shift paperwork or terminals

Requirements

• BRC food experience preferred
• Comfortable in fast-paced FMCG
• Reliable attendance for rotating 3-shift patterns
• Good basic numeracy and attention to product quality checks
• Able to work in warm, hygiene-controlled confectionery production areas