Specialist Food Manufacturing Recruitment
ATA Recruitment is a leading food manufacturing recruitment agency with decades of experience supporting the UK's most dynamic and demanding FMCG environments. We’ve built a strong reputation in the food production sector by delivering high-quality permanent and contract candidates who help drive operational success.
Food manufacturing is one of the UK's largest industrial markets. Serving national retailers and food service clients requires exceptional quality, speed, and reliability in operations. Our recruitment experts understand these demands and support businesses in maintaining high OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), meeting compliance standards, and hiring for growth.
Our Approach to Food Manufacturing Recruitment
Our team understands how downtime can impact output and profitability. That’s why we provide fast, accurate recruitment solutions tailored to your operations. Whether you're looking for a permanent team leader or a contract engineer for a peak season ramp-up, we deliver dependable candidates - on time.
We maintain a robust talent pool of engineers, managers, and operational leaders, pre-screened and ready for work across the UK. We offer:
- Contingency recruitment for urgent roles
- Retained search for senior and strategic hires
- Contractor deployment for short- or medium-term projects
OUR AREAS OF EXPERTISE
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Permanent Recruitment
Maintenance Engineer
Maintenance Team Leader
Service Engineer
Controls Engineer
Project Engineer
Project Manager
Continuous Improvement Engineer
Health and Safety Advisor
Production Manager
Production Team Leader
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Contract Recruitment
Maintenance Engineer
Maintenance Team Leader
Controls Engineer
Project Engineer
Project Manager
Continuous Improvement Engineer
Health and Safety Advisor
Production Manager
Production Team Leader
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Interim Recruitment
Maintenance Manager
Engineering Manager
Chief Engineer
Production Manager
Project Manager
Operations Manager
Health and Safety Manager
Plant Manager
Site Director
Engineering Director
Operations Director
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ATA Search
Engineering Manager
Operations Manager
Quality Manager
Production Manager
Plant Manager
General Manager
Engineering Director
Technical Director
Operations Director
Managing Director
Latest Jobs In Food (FMCG)
Maintenance Engineer
£55000 - 60000 per year Training and Overtime
Kingsbury
Role: Maintenance Engineer Location: North London Shifts: 2 days 2 nights 4 off Salary: £55,000 - £60,000, Overtime, progression and more The Role ATA Recruitment is proud to be working in partnership with an industry-leading manufacturer operating across four sites in the UK. Their North London facility is the flagship site, playing a key role in the company’s continued success. With an annual turnover exceeding £50 million, the business supplies many of the UK’s leading supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, and cafés, offering strong job security backed by a company established in the early 1990s.The site operates a high-quality, end-to-end manufacturing process, utilising bespoke equipment throughout. While certain areas are fully automated, the facility also incorporates hand-crafted machinery to add detailed finishing and design elements, ensuring the premium quality of the final product remains consistent. They are now looking to recruit a Maintenance Engineer at their North London site, following the appointment of a new General Manager who is focused on strengthening the engineering function and increasing headcount to drive a more proactive maintenance culture. In the longer term, this approach will create opportunities for engineers to become more involved in improvement projects, continuous improvement (CI) initiatives, and site development work, rather than operating purely in a reactive environment. The Responsibilities As a Maintenance Engineer you will - Be responsible for reacting to breakdowns on site and performing PPMs on all machinery on site - Maintaining all machinery onsite including process machinery, packaging machines, Conveyors, Mills, Metal detectors and more - Mechanical day to day tasks including Bearings, Rollers, Belts, Gearboxes, Shafts, Pulleys and more - Electrically working on Contactors, relays, Three phase motors and more The Requirements As a Maintenance Engineer you need - A recognised engineering qualification - To be able to work as part of an team but also be comfortable lone working when needed to - Experience working in a fast paced environment (FMCG desirable) - Comfortable working safely but efficiently electrically and mechanically The Package As a Maintenance Engineer you will receive - An annual salary of between £55,000 - £60,000 per annum - Potential progression route up into an Engineering Manager role over time - A pension contribution from my client - Onsite training - Chance to gain exposure and looking into projects and CI work - Security within your role ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
Apply now
Maintenance Team Leader
£60108 - 60108 per year 8% pension, private healthcare, training and more!
Spalding
Maintenance Team Leader, £60,108, 8% pension, medical healthcare, share scheme and other great benefits! Shift – 4 on 4 off (Nights) About the company: We’re currently working alongside one of the biggest food manufacturers in the UK, who are ongoing a recruitment drive to supply the demand. Our client is fully committed to the training, as well as the career progression of all of their employees. At the core of their values, they take in to account any business decision they make to ensure the stability and growth of the company as well as all of it’s stakeholders. About the role This is a fantastic opportunity for a Maintenance Team Leader to join one of the largest companies in the FMCG sector. Due to growth and demand from the customers, the opportunity for a Maintenance Team Leader has arisen. The successful Maintenance Team Leader will have the opportunity to grow into more senior positions as well as gain commercial experience in the latest technologies. Responsibilities will include: To ensure the proper maintenance and reliability of the machinery on the shift and to ensure the necessary documentation is up to date Organising job sheets for the Engineers Liaising with all suppliers of stock to ensure that the on-site stock is sufficient and meets the needs of the business. To be the subject matter expert, as well as be capable of leading the engineers reporting into you to company standard as well as to ensure their development as engineers. Motivation, as well as leadership of the Engineers on shift. The ideal candidate will have an electrical bias. About you: To be considered for the Maintenance Team Leader position, you should have the following: Ideally experienced in a team leadership role but would look at up and coming Maintenance Engineers who are heavy on their initiative. Due to the nature of the work, you should be happy to work to food safety as health and safety requirements. Educated to a minimum of a Level 3 in an electrical field. To have initiative as well as leadership skills. Why join our client? To progress through the ranks with tonnes of internal opportunities An employee-first approach with clear routes of progression. Regular salary reviews as well as unlimited overtime opportunities. If you want to hear more about becoming a Maintenance Team Leader at this industry leading group, then please press apply or give Karolis a call on 07796 990 423, alternatively drop me an email on karolis.stenas@ata-recruitment.co.uk ATA Recruitment specialises in Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Civil, Transportation and general Engineering recruitment on both a permanent and contract basis – for more opportunities like this one, visit our website ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
Apply now
Maintenance Engineer
£56086 - 56086 per year profit related pay, private healtchare, 7% pension and more!
Leicester
Shift – Panama Nights About the company: The company we are currently in partnership with is market leading in their sector and operate across the whole of the UK. Established over 100+ years ago, our client is a family business which has now grown to over 12 sites across the country, all operating with a different focus. Our client is constantly looking to increase, improve and initiate positive change fuelled by investment and acquisition to broaden their product portfolio. Our client is community-driven. At the forefront of their mission statement is ensuring that everything local to them thrives to it’s full extent. As well as this, every decision they make business related is taken in mind with the environmental impact it may have. About the role This is a fantastic opportunity for a Maintenance Engineer to join one of the largest as well as one of most stable companies in the FMCG sector. Due to growth and demand from the customers, the opportunity for a Maintenance Engineer has arisen. The successful Maintenance Engineer will have the opportunity to grow into leadership positions, as well as having real recognition for the effort they make in the workplace. Responsibilities will include: Ensuring the smooth running of the factory, by performing reactive and planned maintenance work. Electrical installations. Taking ownership of looking after the workshop. To provide assistance and support to junior engineers as well as production staff. Fault-finding on both the electrical and mechanical components. No programming required but need to have the ability to check I/O’s, read schematics and check HMI Screens. The ideal candidate will have an electrical bias. About you: To be considered for the Maintenance Engineer position, you should have the following: Experience in a multi-skilled environment, being able to work with electrical equipment. Due to the nature of the work, you should be happy to work to food safety as well as health and safety requirements. Educated to a minimum of a Level 3 in an electrical field. Why join our client? Training in any Electrical as well as food safety, health safety and other benefits with training. An employee-first approach with clear routes of progression into leadership positions. 40% of promotions are internal. Regular salary reviews as well as unlimited overtime opportunities. If you want to hear more about becoming a Maintenance Engineer at this industry leading group, then please press apply or give Karolis a call on 07796 990 423, alternatively drop me an email on karolis.stenas@ata-recruitment.co.uk ATA Recruitment specialises in Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Civil, Transportation and general Engineering recruitment on both a permanent and contract basis – for more opportunities like this one, visit our website ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
Apply now
Maintenance Engineer
£44000 - 44200 per year Days Only + Overtime (1.5, 2x)
Scunthorpe
Maintenance Engineer Location: Scunthorpe £44k + Overtime (1.5x, 2x) + Days Only Shifts: Rotating — Mon – Fri Week 1 Mornings, Week 2 Mornings, Week 3 Afternoons We are recruiting a Maintenance Engineer to join a well-established, high-volume manufacturing site. Operating a continuous production environment supplying major retail customers, this business is investing heavily in its facility with a strong 5-year growth and capital expenditure plan. The Maintenance Engineer will report to the Engineering Manager, working on a wide range of automated processing and packaging equipment. This is a varied role combining reactive breakdown work, planned maintenance, and hands-on support to operators. Key Responsibilities: Electrical and mechanical fault finding on production equipment Reactive maintenance and PPM activities Working both independently and as part of a team Requirements: NVQ Level 3 (Electrical, Mechanical, or Multi-Skilled) Experience in manufacturing Strong mechanical and electrical fault-finding skills Ability to read electrical schematics Good communication skills and comfortable working closely with operators Package & Benefits: Circa £44K Overtime paid at 1.5x–2x (ad hoc) Company Pension Weekends typically non-working Training available This is a stable opportunity within a long-standing business offering consistent hours, ongoing investment, and a supportive engineering team environment. If you are a maintenance engineer and are interested in the vacancy, then please apply directly or contact me via email max.carling@ata-recruitment.co.uk to discuss the role in further detail ATA Recruitment specialises in Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Civil, Transportation and general Engineering recruitment on both a permanent and contract basis – for more opportunities like this one, visit our website. By applying you accept the terms of our Privacy Notice which can be found on our website. ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
Apply now
Maintenance Engineer
£50108 - 50108 per year profit related pay, private healtchare, 7% pension and more!
Callington
Maintenance Engineer, £50,108 + profit related pay, 7% pension, private healthcare, life assurance, yearly pay reviews and more benefits! Shift – Normal Start & Finish Time: 06:30 to 18:45 Normal Working Days: Week 1: Friday to Sunday Week 2: Thursday to Sunday About the company: ATA Recruitment are currently partnering with a market-leading food manufacturer. Established over 100+ years ago, our client is still a family business which has a wide range of product portfolio and operate all across the UK. They are now looking for a Maintenance Engineer to join one of their flagship sites and ensure the smooth running of the facility. About the role This is a fantastic opportunity for a Maintenance Engineer to join one of the largest food-to-go sector companies. Due to customer growth and demand, they are now opening their doors to new Engineers. The successful Maintenance Engineer will have the opportunity to work with market leading kit and also have opportunity to train as well as progress into more senior positions. Responsibilities will include: Ensuring the smooth running of the factory, by performing reactive and planned maintenance work. Electrical installations. Taking ownership of looking after the workshop, ensuring all the tools are correctly stored as well as ordering new stock when necessary. Teaching junior members of the engineering team to company standard and to ensure their success where possible. Fault-finding on both the electrical and mechanical components. No programming required but need to have the ability to check I/O’s, read schematics and check HMI Screens. The ideal candidate will have an electrical bias. About you: To be considered for the Maintenance Engineer position, you should have the following: Experience in a multi-skilled environment, being able to work with electrical equipment. Due to the nature of the work, you should be happy to work to food safety as well as health and safety requirements. Educated to a minimum of a Level 3 in an electrical field. Why join our client? Days based opportunity. An employee-first approach with clear routes of progression into leadership positions. 40% of promotions are internal. Regular salary reviews as well as unlimited overtime opportunities. If you want to hear more about becoming a Maintenance Engineer at this industry leading group, then please press apply or give Karolis a call on 07796 990 423, alternatively drop me an email on karolis.stenas@ata-recruitment.co.uk ATA Recruitment specialises in Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Civil, Transportation and general Engineering recruitment on both a permanent and contract basis – for more opportunities like this one, visit our website ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
Apply now
Production Manager
£45000 - 47000 per year Pension + Healthcare
Cornwall
Production Manager - Night shift £45,000 - £47,000 Callington 7% Matched Pension Private Medical Profit-Related Pay 2x available positions - 1st a permanent Friday-Sunday 18:00 - 06:00 & 2nd a permanent Saturday-Monday 18:00-06:00 Leading Performance, People & Output in a High-Volume Manufacturing Environment As a specialist recruitment consultant within the manufacturing and FMCG sector, I’m partnering with a large, well-established UK manufacturing group to appoint a Production Manager. This is a senior operational leadership role within a complex, high-volume manufacturing operation supplying major retail customers. The successful candidate will take full ownership of production performance, people leadership, and daily operational execution. The Opportunity Reporting into senior site leadership, the Production Manager will be responsible for delivering against safety, quality, cost, delivery, and people KPIs. You’ll lead front-line management teams and operators to ensure production plans are achieved efficiently, safely, and to the highest quality standards — while driving a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Key Responsibilities Lead and manage daily production operations within a fast-paced manufacturing environment Deliver production plans in line with customer demand and OTIF targets Drive performance improvements across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale Lead, coach, and develop Production Team Leaders and Supervisors Monitor and improve KPIs including OEE, waste, labour efficiency, and right-first-time Ensure compliance with health & safety, food safety, and quality standards Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Planning, and Supply Chain Support and embed continuous improvement initiatives on the shop floor About You Proven experience as a Production Manager, Team Leader or Supervisor Strong understanding of high-volume, fast-paced production environments Experience managing teams through front-line leadership structures Data-driven approach with the ability to translate KPIs into action Confident decision-maker with strong communication and influencing skills Hands-on leadership style with a visible presence on the factory floor Why This Role? This is an opportunity to join a well-invested, stable manufacturing business where operational leadership is valued and empowered. You’ll have real accountability, strong support from senior leadership, and the platform to make a measurable impact on site performance and culture. If you’re a Production professional looking for a role with genuine responsibility, visibility, and long-term progression, I’d welcome a confidential discussion. If you want to hear more about becoming a Maintenance Engineer at this industry leading group, then please press apply or give Andy a call on 07584204866, alternatively drop me an email on andy.crewe@ata-recruitment.co.uk ATA Recruitment specialises in Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Civil, Transportation and general Engineering recruitment on both a permanent and contract basis – for more opportunities like this one, visit our website ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
Apply now
Maintenance Engineer
£57750 - 57750 per year EXCELLENT BENEFITS + O.T.
Rochester
Role: Maintenance Engineer Shift: 4 on 4 off Salary: Up to £57,750 (+ Overtime available) Location: Rochester The Company Are you interested in a company that actively analyses your skillset, and puts their engineers on college courses to upskill? Would you like to establish yourself as part of a growing maintenance function? Our client is a key industry player who package and distribute wholesale products. They supply their services to the biggest UK supermarkets in the world such as Sainsbury’s, Lidl etc. This company has consistently invested in new production lines, equipment, machinery and Continuous Improvement projects for you to get working on. They are looking for another motivated Maintenance Engineer to get started and make an impression to unlock future development! The Role As a Maintenance Engineer, your responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Fault finding on electrical components such as sensors, relays, contactors, inverters etc. Repairing mechanical components such as bearings, sprockets, shafts, rollers etc. Working on conveyors, flow wrappers, packaging machines, shrink wrappers etc. Operating as a team to confidently perform reactive and planned maintenance Promote and enforce a culture of Continuous Improvement About You The ideal Maintenance Engineer will have the following: A recognised engineering qualification Experience with, or a flexible mindset for, working effectively within a team An open attitude to working in any type of industry A sound understanding of key electrical and mechanical components Company Benefits The company also discloses numerous benefits for the role of Maintenance Engineer which include: Excellent training – be sent to college, travelling abroad for OEM training etc. A healthy matched company pension contribution Retail discounts Company paid for training courses <23 shifts of holiday allowance Free on-site parking ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
Apply now
Maintenance Engineer
£60000 - 65000 per year Security, progression and more
Edgware
Role: Maintenance Engineer Location: North London Shifts: 2 days 2 nights 4 off Salary: £60,000 - £65,000, Overtime, progression and more The Role ATA Recruitment is proud to be working in partnership with an industry-leading manufacturer operating across four sites in the UK. Their North London facility is the flagship site, playing a key role in the company’s continued success. With an annual turnover exceeding £50 million, the business supplies many of the UK’s leading supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, and cafés, offering strong job security backed by a company established in the early 1990s.The site operates a high-quality, end-to-end manufacturing process, utilising bespoke equipment throughout. While certain areas are fully automated, the facility also incorporates hand-crafted machinery to add detailed finishing and design elements, ensuring the premium quality of the final product remains consistent. They are now looking to recruit a Maintenance Engineer at their North London site, following the appointment of a new General Manager who is focused on strengthening the engineering function and increasing headcount to drive a more proactive maintenance culture. In the longer term, this approach will create opportunities for engineers to become more involved in improvement projects, continuous improvement (CI) initiatives, and site development work, rather than operating purely in a reactive environment. The Responsibilities As a Maintenance Engineer you will - Be responsible for reacting to breakdowns on site and performing PPMs on all machinery on site - Maintaining all machinery onsite including process machinery, packaging machines, Conveyors, Mills, Metal detectors and more - Mechanical day to day tasks including Bearings, Rollers, Belts, Gearboxes, Shafts, Pulleys and more - Electrically working on Contactors, relays, Three phase motors and more The Requirements As a Maintenance Engineer you need - A recognised engineering qualification - To be able to work as part of an team but also be comfortable lone working when needed to - Experience working in a fast paced environment (FMCG desirable) - Comfortable working safely but efficiently electrically and mechanically The Package As a Maintenance Engineer you will receive - An annual salary of between £60,000 - £65,000 per annum - Potential progression route up into an Engineering Manager role over time - A pension contribution from my client - Onsite training - Chance to gain exposure and looking into projects and CI work - Security within your role - ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
Apply now
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
"I have been working with ATA Recruitment for the last 5 years on Engineering roles for the Group. This is a challenging market but ATA Recruitment manage to find me some great candidates. I also like their approach which means that I am kept informed and they can provide me with valuable insight into the market that we are working in. Having agencies that you truly can work in partnership with means that we feel well represented and know that we can rely on support when needed."
Engineering Manager, Samworth Brothers
"I know without a doubt that the calibre of candidate that ATA Recruitment puts forward will be outstanding. As well as this, I have been very meticulous and demanding with the person/specification of the Engineers I have asked ATA Recruitment to recruit for me, not only to fit the role from a competency prospective but to have the right attitude. Given a lean market when it comes to Engineers, let alone the requirements I have set, ATA Recruitment always deliver more than expected.”
Engineering Manager, Samworth Brothers