Food, Drink & Tobacco Process Operatives

Food, drink and tobacco process operatives set, operate and attend machinery to bake, freeze, heat, crush, mix, blend and otherwise process foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco leaves.

Tasks

  • Sets, operates and attends machinery and ovens to mix, bake and otherwise prepare bread and flour confectionery products
  • Operates machinery to crush, mix, malt, cook and ferment grains and fruits to produce beer, wines, malt liquors, vinegar, yeast and related products
  • Attends equipment to make jam, toffee, cheese, processed cheese, margarine, syrup, ice, pasta, ice-cream, sausages, chocolate, maize starch, edible fats and dextrin
  • Operates equipment to cool, heat, dry, roast, blanch, pasteurise, smoke, sterilise, freeze, evaporate and concentrate foodstuffs and liquids used in food processing
  • Mixes, pulps, grinds, blends and separates foodstuffs and liquids with churning, pressing, sieving, grinding and filtering equipment
  • Processes tobacco leaves by hand or machine to make cigarettes, cigars, pipe and other tobacco products.

Entry Requirements

There are no formal academic entry requirements, though some GCSEs/S grades can be an advantage. Off- and on-the-job training is available. NVQs/ SVQs in Food and Drink Manufacturing Operations are available at Levels 1, 2 and 3. NVQs/SVQs in Tobacco Processing are available at Level 2.

What could I earn?

Salaries for this occupation tend to start at £21,000 per annum and can progress up to £25,000 per annum.

Is it in growth or decline?

There are currently 13,591 employed Food, Drink & Tobacco Process Operatives in the region.