Skip to content
Call

Food Manufacturing Recruitment Agency

Food Manufacturing Recruitment Agency

Sigma Recruitment is a food manufacturing recruitment agency for employers across South Wales and the UK: we fill permanent NPD, process, technical, quality, hygiene, engineering and production management roles for bakery, dairy, chilled, ambient, beverage and ingredient manufacturers, and we have done so since 2005. Most food manufacturing roles reach an accepted offer in about six weeks, four in five clients come back with their next vacancy, and we tell you at the brief whether the role is fillable at the salary on offer.

We also run the careers page for one of our food manufacturing clients: careers at Celtic Oriental.

Why choose a specialist food manufacturing recruiter?

  • Industry insight –  knowledge of production, NPD, quality and supply-chain challenges.

  • Proven sourcing – proprietary 20-year database plus targeted digital campaigns (email, SMS, LinkedIn).

  • Guaranteed attendance – our interview-booking system ensures commitment.

  • Rapid turnaround – most roles reach an accepted offer in about 6 weeks.

Our Food Manufacturing Recruitment Process

  1. Vacancy briefing – define critical skills (e.g. NPD, process, quality) and salary benchmarks.

  2. Digital outreach – “rearview-mirror” sourcing to target past food-science graduates.

  3. Multi-channel campaigns – SEO-optimised adverts, email, SMS and direct mail.

  4. Technical screening – competency interviews, scenario assessments and system-experience checks.

  5. Candidate engagement – tailored job packs, live updates and interview prep.

  6. Seamless handover – notice-period negotiation and onboarding coordination.

    We can recruit food manufacturing candidates in locations such as:

Hiring for a specific role? Our guides to recruiting a production or manufacturing manager, a electrical maintenance technician and a quality engineer cover salaries, time to hire and what to ask at interview.

Case Study (Summary)

  • Role: NPD Technologist for UK retailer supplier

  • Challenge: Acute NPD skills shortage; smaller salaries vs. major manufacturers

  • Solution: “Rearview-mirror” targeting of 3–6-year food-science graduates + multi-channel campaign

  • Result: Hired a local graduate turned technologist who returned home and exceeded expectations

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does a food manufacturing recruitment agency do?
A: It identifies, interviews and places food-production specialists – NPD technologists, process technologists, hygiene managers – using sector expertise and targeted sourcing.

Q: How long does food manufacturing recruitment take?
A: Most food manufacturing roles reach an accepted offer in about 6 weeks, then the candidate’s notice period, typically around 4 weeks.

Q: Which food manufacturing positions can you fill?
A: We place NPD managers/technologists, development managers, hygiene managers, ingredients buyers, process technologists, quality auditors, raw-materials and specifications technologists, and technical managers.

Q: How do you recruit hard-to-find NPD technologists?
A: By “rearview-mirror talent sourcing”- mining our 20-year database for past food-science graduates – and executing targeted email, SMS and mail campaigns.

Q: Which food manufacturing employers do you recruit for?
A: Own-label suppliers to the major retailers, branded manufacturers, ingredient and flavour houses, and contract packers, from family-owned bakeries to multinational sites, anywhere in the UK. Most roles are site-based, so we recruit for the plant rather than the head office, wherever that plant is.

Q: What should we pay a food technologist or NPD manager?
A: As a guide from our own placements, an NPD technologist sits in the £35,000 to £45,000 range and a technical manager in the £50,000 to £60,000 range, higher for retailer-facing roles. Salary benchmarking for your role is part of our process, so you know the going rate before the advert goes out.

Q: Do you recruit engineers for food factories as well as technologists?
A: Yes. Maintenance engineers and technicians, automation and controls engineers, project engineers and engineering managers are a large part of our food manufacturing work, and the hygiene, allergen and audit demands of a food site are part of every brief.

Ready to Hire Food Manufacturing Talent?

 Book Your Free Consultation with our team or call us directly on 02920100790

 

 

Featured Food Manufacturing Candidates

Production Manager
#39755
£40k+
  • Circa 12 years of experience in a variety of food, packaging and FMCG setups
  • Has managed teams of up to 85 via 8 direct reports.
  • Time spent previously in planning, QA and improvements-focused positions giving a good all-round understanding.
  • Holds Level 4 in Food Safety Management, Level 4 in Food Hygiene Management and Level 3 HACCP qualification.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Production Supervisor
#74422
£30K+
  • Highly experienced production leader with a career spanning over four decades across the Food Manufacturing, Packaging and Plastic sectors. 
  • Proven track record in leading teams to achieve on-time delivery targets while maintaining high standards of quality and cost efficiency. 
  • Technically proficient in the setup and adjustment of complex manufacturing equipment, including filling lines, power presses and water jet cutters. 
  • Skilled in managing employee performance through KPIs and identifying training needs to improve team versatility and productivity. 
  • Strong focus on continuous improvement and safety, with practical experience in Six Sigma methodologies and MRP systems like SYSPRO. 
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Maintenance Manager
#47855
£50K
  • Maintenance professional with circa 22 years of industry experience
  • Has worked mainly in Food and FMCG environments
  • Time served and qualified to NVQ Level 3 and HNC level in Electrical Engineering
  • Used to being responsible for a team of 10+ maintenance staff
  • Recent experience of overseeing the setup of a new facility from an engineering perspective
  • Familiar with overseeing maintenance for both production and facilities
  • Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Technical Officer
#72344
£44K+
  • A technical officer with circa 8 years of food manufacturing experience.  
  • Adept at leading a small technical team, taking control of training, work planning and performance management for 7 staff. 
  • Has completed various food-related qualifications, and trained up to level 4 in both HACCP and food safety management. 
  • Strong auditing background, has led both internal and external audits. 
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Production Supervisor
#73907
£35K+
  • An experienced manufacturing professional who’s worked across sectors like food and medical.  
  • Circa 20 years of supervisory experience and holds an ILM level 3 in leadership.  
  • Has managed teams up to 40 staff, taking control of work planning, training, performance, recruitment and return to work interviews.  
  • Able to manage health and safety, chairing meeting, writing risk assessments and rolling out new initiatives to a production team.  
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office and has used software like Oracle and Fusion.  

 

Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Technical Manager
#70173
£40k+
  • An experienced quality professional with over 20 years of experience working in food manufacturing.  
  • Completed a foundation degree in food science and technology and is level 4 qualified in food safety in manufacturing.   
  • Has experience of leading a team of around 7 which covered technical and hygiene.  
  • HACCP level 4 trained, well versed in BRC and RSPO standards. Has held responsibility for both in previous roles. 
  • Comfortable being a point of contact for customers and suppliers, dealing with any investigations and managing relationships.  
  • Available at short notice.  
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Health & Safety Manager
#75550
£60K+
  • Health & safety manager with over 6 years of manufacturing experience gained across medical devices and food.
  • Holds a NEBOSH general certificate and has completed an IEMA foundation certificate.
  • Strong knowledge of ISO 45001, 14001 and 13485, adept at maintaining and improving standards within an organisation.
  • Adept at improving standards through regular meetings, documentation and delegating responsibilities to line managers about new initiatives.
  • Has played a key role in several projects for new equipment, developing new policies, risk assessments, SOPs and rolling out staff training to ensure a seamless transition.
  • Environmental policies form a key part of their role, with a requirement to constantly look for ways to save energy and improve carbon footprint. This has led to projects like solar panel installation and lighting changes.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Laboratory Technician
#47283
£30K+
  • Masters qualified laboratory technician with circa 6 years of industrial experience. 
  • Has gained a good amount of auditing experience, taking responsibility for internal procedures and acting as a lead for external audits.  
  • Good knowledge of ISO 9901 and 13485 standards. 
  • Gained experience in completing a variety of tests for products for food and pharmaceutical sectors.  
  • Adept at taking responsibility for the upkeep of laboratory equipment and ensuring compliance within a small microbiology laboratory. 
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Health & Safety Manager
#12936
£50k+
  • Masters qualified food manufacturing professional with circa 30 years of experience
  • Has worked mainly in food manufacturing environments but has also gained experience in packaging, FMCG and plastic manufacturing setups during their career.
  • The last 12 years have focused mainly on health, safety, environmental and quality management roles but spent time earlier in their career in production/manufacturing management and continuous improvement-focused roles.
  • Holds a Master’s in Safety, Health & Environmental Management, Level 3 HACCP qualification, NEBOSH General Certificate and IOSH Managing Safely certificate.
  • Skilled in using a range of Lean and CI tools including Kaizen, Kanban and 5S.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Mechanical Maintenance Technician
#75766
£45K+
  • Time served as a mechanical maintenance technician, qualified up to HNC level.
  • Over 20 years of experience gained across the food and chemical sectors.
  • Mechanically biased but holds basic electrical skills, able to test motors, troubleshoot and replace parts.
  • Has experience in maintaining pumps, cylinders, compressors, boilers, pipework, automated lines, steam systems and refrigeration plant.
  • IOSH trained.
  • Open to working a day pattern, 2 shift or 3 shift.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Quality Assurance Technician
#62166
£28K+
  • Circa 10 years of experience in quality-focused roles within food manufacturing
  • Most recent role has focused on incoming checks on packaging, ingredients and labels, pre-production hygiene checks, ensuring GMP standards are adhered to and collecting and submitting samples for laboratory testing.
  • Holds a BTEC Diploma in Science
  • Started their career in a laboratory-based role before moving into factory-based quality roles.
  • Holds Level 3 HAACP and Level 3 Food Safety qualifications.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Warehouse Supervisor
#64559
£32k+
  • Circa 30 years of experience in manufacturing environments
  • Started out in production supervisory positions progressing to manager level before moving into warehouse supervisory roles for the last circa 12 years.
  • Has worked mainly in food and FMCG environments.
  • Experience supervising teams ranging from 12 up to 100 across career
  • MRP experience with SAP, SAGE and various other systems
  • Holds NVQ Level 3 qualification in management, Foundation Certificate in HACCP principles and Food Hygiene certificate
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Multi-Skilled Maintenance Technician
#21378
£45K+
  • A maintenance technician with over 30 years of manufacturing experience working in food and heavy industry. 
  • Qualified up to NVQ level 3 in engineering maintenance, they currently rate their technical split as 60:40.  
  • Has experience of maintaining a wide range of equipment, including conveyors, mixers, wrapping machines, packaging lines, ovens, hydraulic systems, dryers, wash plants, motors, drives and control systems. 
  • Holds an advanced diploma in electrical installation so is competent to complete fault finding, replacement work, PPMs and installs.  
  • Open to both days and shifts. 
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Quality Manager
#70672
£45K+
  • Professional and knowledgeable quality professional with circa 15 years of industry experience
  • Has worked within a range of food manufacturing setups, but is happy to consider utilising their skills in other highly regulated environments
  • Looking to move on from their current role to find a new challenge, as the system they have implemented in their current employment is now working very effectively, and they are looking to assist a new employer in implementing similar robust standards
  • Strong knowledge of all food standards and is qualified in HACCP (Level 4), TACCP, VACCP and Food Safety (Level 4)
  • Also holds auditing qualifications and an ILM Level 4 Diploma in Leadership & Management
  • Has worked with pretty much all of the major retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi, Waitrose and Iceland.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Operations Manager
#73621
£65K+
  • A highly experienced operations professional with over a decade of leadership within the food and FMCG sectors.
  • Currently managing a large team of over 100 staff across multiple shifts, with full accountability for production and hygiene.
  • Successfully led a site-wide ERP implementation project, overseeing the installation, culture change and staff training.
  • Expert in driving operational excellence through root cause analysis, process optimisation and mentoring teams.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Multi-Skilled Maintenance Technician
#69860
£46k+
  • A time served maintenance technician that’s qualified up to HNC level.  
  • Electrically biased but has a good mechanical understanding and they rate their technical split as 70:30.  
  • Has covered a range of breakdown, PPM and project work and has maintained equipment like robots, pumps, presses, conveyors, sensors, valves, printers, packaging machines and automated equipment.  
  • Holds a good amount of PLC fault finding experience on Siemens, Mitsubishi and Allen Bradley.  
  • Open to days or a 2-shift pattern.  
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Shift Manager
#14269
£45K+
  • 30+ years of experience in manufacturing environments
  • Around 20 years of experience in supervisory positions
  • Has worked mainly in food manufacturing but has also spent time in heavy industrial and plastic manufacturing settings
  • Used to being responsible for teams of up to 50 staff
  • Holds an NVQ Level 3 qualification in Management, Six Sigma Green Belt, IOSH Managing Safely and is an Internal Auditor for ISO:14001
  • Has also completed training in areas such as process improvement, food hygiene, HACCP and COSHH
  • Achievements have included reducing scrap from 2.9% down to below 1% in one company and bringing waste down to the company expectation of 4.5% in another company via the introduction of stricter daily and hourly reporting
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Warehouse Manager
#35362
£50K+
  • 20 years of experience in food and FMCG manufacturing environments
  • Circa 15 years of experience in managerial and supervisory roles
  • Currently managing multiple facilities with an inventory of circa £5million
  • Holds NVQ Level 3 qualifications in warehousing and IT and is currently completing a diploma level qualification in leadership and management
  • Also holds ISOH Managing Safely, Food Safety Level 3 and HACCP Level 3 qualifications
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Maintenance Manager
#20878
£50k+
  • Degree qualified with circa 25 years of experience in technical and manufacturing environments. 
  • Circa 10 years of experience at a managerial level 
  • Holds a BEng in Mechanical Engineering 
  • Has experience of managing teams ranging in size from 10 staff up to 28 staff in current role.  
  • Used to having responsibility for both production and facilities maintenance. 
  • Previous experience of working for companies that carried out electrical installation work and development of production machinery which gave them exposure to a wide variety of different environments and the challenges that can be faced.  
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Operations Manager
#60377
£60K+
  • Experienced food manufacturing professional with circa 20 years of managerial experience
  • Used to managing large teams of a few hundred staff indirectly
  • Holds ILM Level 5, IOSH Managing Safely and a wide range of industry-relevant qualifications such as Food Safety Level 3 and HACCP Level 4
  • Experienced in producing RAMS and SOPs
  • Started out in early career in engineering-focused roles
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Production Manager
#74215
£40K+
  • A manufacturing professional with circa 6 years of experience gained working in the food sector.  
  • Has gained experience leading both small and large teams ranging from 30 to 100.  
  • HACCP level 3 trained.  
  • Has a keen interest in safety, taking responsibility for driving improvements in standards, reporting and compliance. Holds an IOSH qualification.  
  • Adept at coaching and mentoring staff, providing guidance on aspects like safety and lean principles.  £40K+
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Plant Manager
#66518
£90k+
  • Circa 20 years of manufacturing experience, initially starting off in finance before moving into plant management.  
  • Degree qualified and is a member of the chartered institute of Management Accountants.   
  • Has a wealth of lean experience and has played a fundamental role in reducing inventory requirements by 20%.  
  • Held responsibility for around 200 staff covering operations, H&S, quality, finance, supply chain, engineering and NPI functions.  
  • Holds a good amount of project experience, previous examples the commissioning of two new production lines to aid the business achieving the targets set. 
  • Available immediately.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Production Supervisor
#62789
£33K+
  • Circa 15 years of supervisory experience in multiple food manufacturing setups
  • Recent experience of managing a team of 30 staff
  • Used to ensuring KPIs are being met, leading process improvement initiatives and ensuring health, safety and quality standards are being met.
  • Has completed a range of training courses and qualifications including Level 3 Food Safety and Level 2 HACCP.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Process Engineer
#70868
£35k+
  • A process engineer with circa 7 years of manufacturing experience predominantly gained working in the food sector.  
  • Completed a bachelors in chemical engineering then went on to complete a masters in advanced chemical engineering. 
  • Has a good amount of project experience, both leading and being part of. Achieved an improvement of 30% product yield from optimising cook profiles in a previous role.  
  • Well versed in conducting trials, management of SOPs and carrying out COSHH assessments. 
  • HACCP level 3 trained.  
  • Holds a full UK driving licence and is available for an immediate start. 
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Production Manager
#75727
£50K+
  • An experienced manufacturing professional who’s worked across food and pharmaceutical sectors.
  • Over 30 years of leadership experience, adept at taking control of teams of 20 to 100 staff.
  • Holds an ILM level 5 in business management and has completed relevant industry qualifications like food safety and HACCP.
  • Has been involved in health & safety throughout their career, taking control of risk assessments, safety meetings, investigations and leading new initiatives on site. Holds an IOSH qualification.
  • Familiar with lean manufacturing techniques like 5S, OEE and Kanban.
  • Played a key role in multi-million pound CAPEX projects, delivering innovations on site with minimal production disruption.
  • Available for an immediate start
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Electrical Maintenance Technician
#63807
£40k+
  • Time served electrical maintenance technician that’s qualified up to HND level.  
  • Has maintained a wide range of equipment including automated lines, ovens, wrapping machines, robots, invertors, sensors, motors and drives.  
  • Able to fault find on Allen Bradley and Siemens S7 PLC systems. 
  • Electrically biased but has some mechanical fault-finding skills and currently rates their split as 80:20. 
  • Currently working a 3-shift pattern and would like to move to a day role.  
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Production Manager
#21632
£42K+
  • Food manufacturing professional with over 15 years of industry experience.
  • Strong experience in driving improvements within a business, adept at analysing processes and spends and looking at ways to optimise efficiencies whilst achieving operational cost savings.
  • Well-versed in BRC and HACCP, and achieved AA+ accreditation in a recent audit. Holds a level 3 in food hygiene and safety and is level 2 qualified with HACCP.
  • Comfortable leading small and large production teams, dealing with performance management, disciplinaries, recruitment, future planning and training.
  • A confident communicator, able to develop long-standing relationships with customers and suppliers.
  • Available for an immediate start.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Maintenance Manager
#75204
£60K+
  • Experienced engineering maintenance professional with circa 25 years of industry experience
  • Has worked across multiple sectors, including packaging, food, FMCG and Electronics
  • Recent experience of managing two sites with a team of circa 40 staff reporting in
  • Time served originally completing a HNC in Mechanical Engineering before going on to complete a HNC in Mechatronic Engineering
  • Budget management experience of circa £2million per year and an annual CAPEX budget of up to £2million
  • Has completed Six Sigma Green Belt training and an ILM Level 3 in Management.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Production Supervisor
#74388
£35K+
  • Experienced production supervisor that’s gained a wealth of experience working in the food sector.
  • Has a keen interest in process optimisation and has led several initiatives on-site to improve production efficiency and output.
  • Able to lead production teams of around 20 staff
  • Currently takes control of work planning, training, stock management, recruitment and return to work interviews.
  • Good knowledge of health & safety and takes responsibility for risk assessments and managing compliance within the production area.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Continuous Improvement Specialist
#73305
£64K+
  • A continuous improvement expert who has a wealth of leadership experience in food manufacturing.
  • Over 20 years of experience gained working across quality and production.
  • Comes from a science background and is educated to bachelor’s level.
  • Has completed several food related qualifications including HACCP level 4, and is ISO 22000 auditor trained.
  • Strong background in training and coaching production teams and driving positive change within a business.
  • Adept at developing strategies to reduce waste and improve productivity in a fast-paced environment.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Design Engineer
#75755
£35K+
  • Process engineer who’s educated up to master’s level in chemical engineering.
  • Circa 2 years of post-graduate experience.
  • Experience in managing the design of process equipment for sectors like food and chemical, taking control of P&IDs, analysis and 3D modelling.
  • Good knowledge of process modelling software like Aspen Plus and has used AutoCAD for 3D design work.
  • Strong people management skills gained from managing internal teams and contractors during project work.
  • Comfortable taking a lead in tendering and has managed projects up to £1M for blue-chip companies.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Microbiology Technician
#70155
£35K+
  • Degree-qualified manufacturing professional.  
  • Circa 7 years of technical experience working in the food and drink sector. 
  • Strong background in both analytical and microbiological laboratories.  
  • Comfortable leading shelf life and end-of-life testing.  
  • Good level of internal auditing experience and has been involved in the analysis of processes and rolling out improvements.   
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office and SAP.  
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Production Supervisor
#73578
£40K+
  • A food manufacturing professional with over 3 years of supervisory experience.
  • Holds a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, previously implemented a 5S system and has a track record for driving improvements in production output.
  • Has experience in leading varying team sizes, taking control of work planning, performance, training and disciplinary actions.
  • Adept at taking control of compliance within an area, ensuring that audits are completed and processes are followed.
  • Keen interest in staff development, analysing performance and providing the necessary coaching to be able to allow staff to work more efficiently.

 

Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Manufacturing Manager
#29116
£60K+
  • Circa 20 years of experience in multiple food manufacturing setups
  • Currently managing a large team of 300+ staff
  • Masters qualified holding a MSc in Global Business Management as well as a BSc in Business Management
  • Also holds a Six Sigma Green Belt and an IOSH Managing Safely qualification
  • Achievements have included OEE improvements from 60% up to 98% and Yield improvements from 91% to 97%
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Maintenance Manager
#67616
£48k+
  • Time served mechanical maintenance technician with circa seven years of management experience.
  • Has experience in leading maintenance teams of around 20 covering mechanical, electrical and automation.
  • Able to manage contractors, having negotiated contracts and managed work for a range of areas, including scaffolding, fabrication, pipework and mechanical & electrical.
  • IOSH trained, good knowledge of safety requirements within manufacturing and ensuring safe working practices are in place for the team and contractors.
  • Strong knowledge of the food sector and has worked on equipment like heat exchangers, filling, packaging machines and automated equipment.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Production Supervisor
#64653
£32k+
  • Experienced manufacturing professional with circa 30 years of industry experience
  • Has worked mainly in the food and semiconductor sectors.
  • Currently responsible for a team of 20 staff and has managed teams of up to 70 in previous roles.
  • Holds IOSH and NEBSM supervisory qualifications.
  • Experienced in managing an array of KPIs focused on safety, output and quality.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Electrical Engineer
#76238
£50K+
  • Degree-qualified electrical engineer with a wealth of experience gained across various manufacturing sectors including heavy industry, food, chemical and electronics.
  • Strong PLC experience working with Siemens S7, covering advanced troubleshooting, set up and modification work. Also has knowledge of Omron, ABB and Mitsubishi.
  • Able to lead small engineering teams, planning work, delegating tasks and ensuring a safe working environment for the team.
  • Has maintained a wide range of equipment including control systems, drives, automated lines, motors, HMIs, cranes, furnaces and compressors.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Multi-Skilled Maintenance Engineer
#70460
£50k+
  • HND qualified electrically biased maintenance engineer, currently rate their technical split as 60:40.  
  • Gained experience working across different sectors including heavy industry, food and FMCG.  
  • Has maintained a broad range of equipment including conveyors, robots, sensors, control systems, pulleys, power packs, packaging machines, pumps and automated production lines.  
  • Holds PLC fault finding experience on Siemens S7 and Allen Bradley systems. 
  • Ideally looking for a 4 on 4 off pattern.  
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Purchasing Manager
#16284
£55K+
  • MBA-qualified purchasing professional with circa 30 years of experience
  • Has worked in food, electronics, medical device and FMCG environments.
  • Spend management experience ranging from £2million up to £24million.
  • MRP experience with a range of systems including SAP, Sage200, Syteline and Syspro
  • Recent achievements have included £750K of savings in the first 2 years with an employer and a reduction of stock by circa £200K in a 12-month period.
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Production Manager
#23218
£45k+
  • A manufacturing professional with circa 15 years of experience split across different industries including food, FMCG and packaging. 
  • Has experience of managing varying teams from 30 up to 200.   
  • IOSH trained, well versed completing risk assessments, accident investigations, rolling out improvements and chairing meetings.  
  • Adept analysing methods and performance and making recommendations, setting KPIs and improving the efficiency of the plant to achieve maximum output. 
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Maintenance Supervisor
#71783
£54K+
  • An engineering professional with over 30 years of experience split across manufacturing, plant and HGV maintenance.  
  • Circa 11 years of food manufacturing experience and has been in a shift engineering manager role for the last 2 years responsible for a team of around 26 engineering professionals. 
  • A multi-skilled engineer who’s qualified up to HNC level. 
  • Has experience of maintaining automated systems, cutting equipment, laser scanners, mixers, robotics, invertors, contactors, pumps, gearboxes, valves and conveyor systems.  
  • Led a data driven maintenance transformation recently which resulted in downtime going from 26% to 3%.  
  • Has also focused on continuous improvement and is Yellow Belt trained, has led several initiatives to improve energy efficiency, improve yields and drive down costs for the business
Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info
Engineering Supervisor
#19592
£55K+
  • HNC-qualified engineering professional with over 15 years of experience gained working in the food sector.
  • Comfortable managing a multi-disciplined engineering team, planning work, delegating tasks, training staff and taking control of disciplinaries.
  • Has experience of fault finding and modification work on Siemens, Mitsubishi and GE PLC systems.
  • Maintained a wide range of equipment, including filling machines, sensors, control systems, printers, conveyors, packaging machines and instrumentation.
  • Completed in-house lean courses and has implemented process changes to improve productivity within the engineering department.

 

Book a call Submit a vacancy Request more info

Case Study

The Client

We were asked to work with a local food manufacturing business that supplies product to leading UK retailers.

The Vacancy

NPD – New Product Development Technologist

The Challenges

NPD (New Production Development) technologists are in extremely short supply, but that was just the start of the challenges that came with filling these positions. Salaries for this role have been driven up, and smaller food manufacturing companies are not able to compete against the larger food manufacturers. Plus, Sigma and other recruiters had already explored traditional methods of advertising, database searching and networking.

The Solution

Sigma Recruitment has built up an extensive internal database since 2005, and we leveraged this database using a technique that we call “rearview mirror talent sourcing”. With this technique, we look at where candidates would have worked before taking their current role — in this case, becoming a product development technologist.

Our research showed that most NPD technologists were graduates of food science or food technology-related subjects. We then used our database to target graduates who had earned these degrees in the past three to six years. Then, we developed a digital marketing campaign to target these candidates with emails, SMS and letters.

The Results

A graduate from a local university had moved away to work with a major food manufacturer as an NPD graduate and progressed to being an NPD technologist. This candidate replied to one of our emails and was keen to return home. They were the perfect fit for our food manufacturing client!

Other assignments with the food sector have included manufacturing managers, bakery managers, first-line managers, engineering managers, maintenance managers, warehouse managers, supply chain managers, planners, buyers and development chefs.

About Sigma Recruitment – food manufacturing recruitment agency

Since Sigma Recruitment opened in 2005, we’ve developed an enviable reputation as one of the leading independent manufacturing and engineering recruitment agencies. We’ve recruited for a wide variety of companies, from Fortune 500 firms with sales in the hundreds of billions to niche high-tech start-ups and everything in between; we can recruit across the United Kingdom, including locations such as Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bristol, Bath, Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Cambridge, Gloucester, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Reading and Swindon.

If you’re looking to recruit candidates with engineering or technical skills in the food manufacturing sector, then Sigma Recruitment is ideally placed to help you find the elusive high-calibre talent your business needs. If you’re looking for a food manufacturing recruiter, then please book a call with our founding director today! And we will show you why we are one of the leading food manufacturing recruitment agencies.

Talk to our director and learn how we can help you hire the right people

Book A Call

The Sigma approach takes you from a vacant position to a happy hire

Our Approach

Typical Jobs We Fill

  • Development manager
  • Development technologist
  • Hygiene manager
  • Ingredients buyer
  • NPD manager
  • NPD technician
  • NPD technologist
  • Process technologist
  • Quality auditor
  • Raw materials technologist
  • Specifications technologist
  • Technical manager

Partner with Sigma Recruitment

Employers

How we recruit permanent staff for you

Client Services

Employers

Tell us about the role you need to fill

Submit Your Vacancy

Candidates

Browse our current vacancies

Search Jobs

Candidates

Register for future roles in your field

Submit Your CV

The Sigma Recruitment Agency

The Sigma Recruitment Agency Cardiff is one of the leading manufacturing & engineering recruitment agencies. Executive Search & Contingency recruitment across the UK & Globally.

Sectors we recruit for

Locations we recruit for

Contact (via email or phone)

© 2005–2026 Sigma Recruitment Ltd. Registered in England and Wales, company number 05659374. Registered office: Unit 211, Cardiff Bay Business Centre, Titan Road, Cardiff, CF24 5BS | VAT No: 869514188 | Terms of Service | Cookie Policy | Privacy Policy