Dairy Technologist Apprentice- Arla Foods Oakthorpe- N13 6BU
2 year programme, commencing 31st August 2026
Are you ready to earn while you learn and become an expert in dairy and food manufacturing at one of our cutting-edge dairy sites?
How you will make an impact
Embark on a two-year Dairy Technologist apprenticeship at Arla’s Oakthorpe Dairy and master the craft of producing high-quality, great-tasting products enjoyed by some of the nation’s favourite retailers. Through structured learning blocks with Reaseheath College, you’ll build a strong foundation in food manufacturing, combining practical hands-on experience with dedicated classroom learning.
Throughout the programme, you’ll rotate across key areas of the dairy, gaining insight into production performance, quality assurance, process optimisation, engineering innovation, and site safety. You’ll also develop a commercial mindset and learn how strong customer relationships contribute to our success. As you grow, you’ll help drive continuous improvement and play a meaningful part in our future.
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Support production teams by operating equipment safely and efficiently to maintain excellent manufacturing performance.
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Conduct essential laboratory and quality assurance checks to ensure products meet strict standards.
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Assist in optimising processes and technologies to improve efficiency, accuracy, and consistency.
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Champion Health & Safety practices, helping to maintain a safe working environment for yourself and your colleagues.
What will make you successful
You must be over 18 by 31st August 2026 and ready to step into a practical, hands-on role. You’ll bring a solid educational foundation, with at least 5 GCSE’s at grades 9-4 (A*-C) including Maths and English, or the Scottish equivalent. Importantly, you’ll have a genuine curiosity for how things work and the motivation to learn- whether that’s building new skills on the job, developing your technical knowledge in the classroom, or embracing new challenges as they arise. You’re safety-conscious, a clear communicator, and a team player who collaborates well. Organised and resilient, you can balance structured learning blocks with on-site responsibilities.
What do we offer?
You’ll enjoy a comprehensive rewards package, including 26 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, a pension with matched contributions up to 6%, and life assurance at four times your annual salary. You’ll have access to discounted products through our Staff Shop and access to flexible benefits such as retailer discounts via the My Benefits platform. Accommodation and expenses, including food and travel, are provided for the duration of your study blocks at Reaseheath College.
Year 1 salary: £21,000 per annum (£24,300 per annum for London)
Year 2 salary: £25,484.71 per annum (£28,784.71 for London)
Programme structure and qualifications:
Upon completion of the programme, you will graduate with a Level 5 Foundation Degree in Dairy Technology from Reaseheath College, in partnership with The University of Chester. You’ll also gain a Level 3 award in Health & safety, Food Safety, and HACCP, along with gaining a breadth of experience across all core elements of food manufacturing.
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Would you like to join us?
If this position is of interest, please apply directly via our careers page with your CV and your proof of GCSE certificates. The closing date for applications is the 30th March 2026 and only CV’s sent directly via the link will be considered. If you have any questions, please contact Olivia Pine, Talent Acquisition Partner
Here’s the recruitment process that you will go through:
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CV Shortlisting: We’ll shortlist based on your CV and your motivation for applying, so make sure your personality and drive come through.
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If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to complete an online HireVue video interview.
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Successful candidates will be invited to an in-person assessment centre at our Leeds Head Office, including a competency interview and group task.
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Final-stage candidates will be invited to visit our Oakthorpe Dairy for an interview and site tour with members of our site operations team
