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
£57000 - 57000 per year
Hayes
Role: Maintenance Engineer Shifts: Monday-Friday (7-3 or 8-4) Location: Hayes Salary: Up To £57,000 + Bonus Benefits: Days Only + Time in Lieu + Training + Progression Opportunities + Bonus The Business: Our Client are a market leading FMCG business that have grown considerably in the last 10 years due to consistent investment in the site to upgrade equipment. Due to the growth of the site and growing orderbook, they have had sign off to add an additional shift engineer into the successful team. Just this year they have invested hundreds of thousands into upgrading the automation in areas of the factory and the Engineers meaning that as a Maintenance Engineer you’ll have the chance to work with some of the latest technology on the market, with reliable machinery and the opportunity to work on projects and make some improvements. The Role: The Role of Maintenance Engineer will include the following responsibilities: Proactive approach on improving efficiency of the machinery Working within a team of Engineers creating solutions to problems that come up day to day Working through re-occurring problems/faults to engineer problems out which will in reliability of the machinery. Creating proposals and ideas for improving efficiency, reducing waste, reducing operator error and working on these ideas to completion Having autonomy within the role, as a Maintenance Engineer with these guys you are trusted to get the job done the right way Will support the wider maintenance team on reactive and PPM The Candidate: The Right Candidate for the role of Maintenance Engineer will have the following: A recognised Engineering qualification Experience working as a Maintenance Engineer on production machinery Be confident fault finding Electrically and Mechanically, ensuring all safety is met Be able to come up with ideas for Continuous Improvement Experience working with a PPM system The Benefits Benefits included for a successful applicant to this Maintenance Engineer position include: A Days Only with no nights! 8% Bonus on top of your salary Time in Lieu with any additional hours worked Autonomy to work on projects and create improvements Training opportunities with local colleges or OEMs Opportunities to progress within the business, the company is growing and historically they have promoted from within. 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
Reliability Engineer
£52000 - 57000 per year Bonus
Hayes
Role: Reliability Engineer Shifts: Monday-Friday (7-3 or 8-4) Location: Hayes Salary: Up To £57,000 + Bonus Benefits: Days Only + Time in Lieu + Training + Progression Opportunities + Bonus The Business: Our Client are a market leading FMCG business that have grown considerably in the last 10 years due to consistent investment in the site to upgrade equipment. Due to the growth of the site and growing orderbook, they have had sign off to add an additional shift engineer into the successful team. Just this year they have invested hundreds of thousands into upgrading the automation in areas of the factory and the Engineers meaning that as a Reliability Engineer you’ll have the chance to work with some of the latest technology on the market, with reliable machinery and the opportunity to work on projects and make some improvements. The Role: The Role of Reliability Engineer will include the following responsibilities: Proactive approach on improving efficiency of the machinery Working within a team of Engineers creating solutions to problems that come up day to day Working through re-occurring problems/faults to engineer problems out which will in reliability of the machinery. Creating proposals and ideas for improving efficiency, reducing waste, reducing operator error and working on these ideas to completion Having autonomy within the role, as a Maintenance Engineer with these guys you are trusted to get the job done the right way Will support the wider maintenance team on reactive and PPM The Candidate: The Right Candidate for the role of Reliability Engineer will have the following: A recognised Engineering qualification Experience working as a Maintenance Engineer on production machinery Be confident fault finding Electrically and Mechanically, ensuring all safety is met Be able to come up with ideas for Continuous Improvement Experience working with a PPM system The Benefits Benefits included for a successful applicant to this Reliability Engineer position include: A Days Only with no nights! 8% Bonus on top of your salary Time in Lieu with any additional hours worked Autonomy to work on projects and create improvements Training opportunities with local colleges or OEMs Opportunities to progress within the business, the company is growing and historically they have promoted from within. 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
Multi-Skilled Maintenance Engineer
£52000 - 56000 per year Bonus + OT + Prospects
Lancashire
Multi-Skilled Maintenance Engineer £52,000-£56,000 + Bonus + Paid OT + Contributory Pension Scheme Based near Preston Shifts: 12 hours days and nights Do you want to in a large engineering department with excellent prospects to progress into more senior roles? This company promotes from within, and maintenance engineers here have moved into supervisory roles, controls engineering roles, project management, and reliability roles. There is a huge amount of positive change happening on site and this is a great time to join the business. The Company: A global FMCG giant that produces instantly recognisable brands. This site benefits from a huge amount of investment every year, on new plant and machinery, plant upgrades, automation projects and the skills development of its engineering department. Due to a department re-structure they are looking to increase the team sizes with an additional maintenance engineer on shift The Role: As a multi-skilled maintenance engineer, you’ll will work within a large team on shift of highly skilled maintenance engineers. You will conduct planned and reactive maintenance across the site, and you will look at engineering out repetitive faults and looking for the root cause of the problem Electrically you will be working on single and 3 phase systems, AC/DC drives, invertors, relays and PLC’s Mechanically there are motors, bearings, conveyors, pneumatics and compressors Required Experience: The multi-skilled maintenance engineer will be NVQ 3 qualified in electrical or mechanical engineering and must have electrical maintenance experience The ideal candidate will come from a fast pace automated manufacturing environment You must have strong communication skills and be happy working in a team environment What’s in it for you? The Salary is very competitive and linked to your skills and experience so there is the opportunity to increase that further Psid OT The shift pattern allows you to get a long weekend off every other week Investment in the site and in your development Prospects to develop your career into more senior roles Bonus scheme To Apply: Interviews can be arranged immediately so apply by following the online instructions or send a CV to Andrew.bairstow@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. 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 Team Leader
£57000 - 57000 per year Profit-Related Bonus - Private Healthcare - 7% Matched Pension - Other Great Benefits
Leicester
Maintenance Team Leader - £57,000 - Profit-Related Bonus - Private Healthcare - 7% Matched Pension – Other Great Benefits Panama Days and Nights (2 Weeks of Days, 2 Weeks of Nights) About the company ATA Recruitment is working with one of the largest manufacturers in the nation to find a motivated and driven maintenance team leader to lead a team in a company with a rich history which remains strong today and developing, highlighted in the company values seen throughout the many sites spread across the country. With a turnover of more than £1.2bn, the chosen maintenance engineer will join a successful and secure business while working in a solid team unit of experienced maintenance engineers from a variety of backgrounds to maintain the site. This role offers fantastic benefits and an opportunity to let your leadership skills shine while working within a fast-paced and a team-focused atmosphere. About the role As a maintenance team leader in this role, you will be maintaining a range of electrical components such as sensors, e-stops, motors and relays, as well as mechanical components such as belts, bearings, pneumatics and hydraulics. As an engineer, you will be expected to: React to breakdowns. Planned Preventative Maintenance. Electrical and Mechanical fault finding. PLC Knowledge. Replace and repair electrical components. Replace mechanical components. As maintenance team leader, you will be expected to: Walk the lines. Mentor Engineers. Manage Downtime. Liaise with production. Support asset care engineers. Lead your team to success. About you To be considered for this maintenance team leader role you should be/have the following: Confident and a team player. Must be strong electrically Be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Be happy to work days and nights. You should hold a recognised level 3 (or above) engineer qualification city and guilds, NVQ, BTEC, HND, HNC. The benefits This role offers the chosen maintenance team leader an exciting and fast-paced job with stand-out benefits, and with fantastic training provided by the company who support their engineers with improvement, such as financially rewarding engineers whose skills have improved. This company is known for its strong values which are visible from the beginning of the manufacturing process all the way to the final product, resulting in happy, experienced and motivated teams of people alongside a successful, secure and expanding company. Apply now and be part of a team shaping the future of FMCG. 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
Multi-skilled Maintenance Engineer
£54000 - 54000 per year OT + Bonus
Preston
Job Title: Maintenance Engineer (Electrical Bias) – FMCG Location: Preston Salary: £54,000 + Scope for Increase Once Established Shifts: 4 on 5 off, 5 on 4 off – Days & Nights (12-hour shifts) Pension: 6% Company Contribution Perks: Big Training Budget | Bonus Scheme | Are you an experienced Maintenance Engineer with an electrical bias looking to join a fast-paced FMCG site with a strong team culture and real investment in people? We are recruiting for a leading FMCG manufacturer in Preston with a 24/7 operation, offering a fantastic opportunity to work on cutting-edge machinery and be part of a supportive, 8-person shift team. This business is led by a hands-on MD who rewards his staff and is passionate about developing internal talent. What’s in it for you? £54,000 starting salary – with scope for increase after settling into the role 6% company pension contribution Excellent training & development budget (regularly used) Unique rotating shift pattern giving a long weekend off every other week Involved in machine installs, upgrades & continuous improvement projects Key Responsibilities: Conduct shift-based PPM and reactive maintenance across a 24/7 site Work as part of an 8-person shift team Electrical/Mechanical split: 70/30 electrical bias Troubleshoot and repair 3-phase control panels, inverters (AC/DC drives), relays, and safety circuits Frontline fault-finding on Siemens PLCs (which cover 99% of the site) Mechanical work includes conveyors, shafts, bearings, motors, gearboxes, and pneumatic systems Support installation of new lines, reliability projects, and machinery upgrades What We’re Looking For: Time-served engineer with strong electrical skills FMCG or manufacturing experience preferred Confident working with Siemens PLCs and a variety of electrical components Flexible and resilient – especially during the tougher 5-night block A team player who thrives in a busy, hands-on environment Apply now to join a thriving business that rewards hard work, invests in training, and serves up a few fun perks along the way. 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
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Interim Engineering Manager
£350 - 400 per day
Cheshire
Interim Engineering Manager Chester Crewe Wrexham Shrewsbury Initial 3 contract - (Outside IR35) Rate £350.00 - £400.00p/d DOE Food / Process / Manufacturing / Management I am currently on the lookout for an Interim Engineering Manager on an initial 3-month contract for a key client within food manufacturing who require support to assist their business on the interim through a busy period. The successful Interim Engineering Manager will conduct the following duties: Managing, overseeing and offering technical engineering support Ensure compliance with site safety and performance standards is met Manage contractors & production to respond to pressures and demands Attend morning meetings Mon-Fri alongside management teams The successful Interim Engineering Manager will need to have the following attributes: Time served mechanical engineer HNC / HND highly desirable Strong appreciation for engineering in a food manufacturing capacity Expert in management and ability to offer technical support Be able to offer hands on support when necessary Good communications at all levels The benefits of the positions: Mon – Fri days (40 hours p/w) Highly reputable organisation Outside IR35 contract I am looking to speak to talented Interim Engineering Managers who are looking for a rewarding and highly challenging position. For more information, please contact Dom Firth 07892789342, Recruitment Consultant at ATA Recruitment. 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
£56000 - 56000 per year overtime, training, £65k OTE
Leicester
Maintenance Engineer, £56,000, profit related pay with bonus increasing year by year, 7% pension contribution, internal training, external qualification training. Shift – 3s and 2s (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, 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. To have initiative, as well as leadership skills when you may be required to if you are the most senior member on shift. Why join our client? Training in PLC’s 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 Supervisor
£54000 - 55000 per year OT
Wrexham
Maintenance Supervisor – £54,000–£55,000 – Wrexham 4 on 4 off (Days & Nights) Are you a hands-on engineer ready to take the next step in your career? We’re looking for a Maintenance Supervisor to join a leading manufacturing business in Wrexham. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with strong engineering experience—especially in FMCG—to step into a leadership role without needing previous supervisory experience. The Role: As Maintenance Supervisor, you’ll lead a team of 3 engineers on a 4 on 4 off shift pattern (days & nights). This is a 90% hands-on role with additional responsibilities that include: Allocating daily jobs and monitoring progress Leading short interval control (SIC) checks Attending and contributing to operations meetings Ensuring smooth running of machinery and reducing downtime You’ll be the go-to person on shift, setting the standard and leading from the front. What We’re Looking For: Level 3 qualified in Engineering (minimum) Strong experience in a fast-paced manufacturing or FMCG environment Confident fault-finder with both mechanical and electrical knowledge A team player who’s ready to take the next step in their career ✅ No previous supervisory experience required – just the right attitude, skills, and the desire to lead by example. What’s in it for you? £54,000–£55,000 salary A clear step into leadership with ongoing support Stable 4 on 4 off shift pattern Join a growing, forward-thinking company investing in its people and equipment Location: Wrexham Shifts: 4 on 4 off rotating days and nights Salary: £54,000–£55,000 Ready to step up and lead from the front? Apply now and take the next step in your engineering career. 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