Operations Graduate | Northern Ireland

Operations Graduate 2026 – Shropshire | Meatex Jobs

Operations Graduate role based in Shropshire
, offering a £32,000–£34,000 salary in a full-time, permanent position. Join ABP UK on a structured graduate programme gaining hands-on experience across operations, production, and commercial functions within a leading FMCG food business.

• Role: Operations Graduate (2026 Intake)
• Location: Shropshire, UK
• Salary: £32,000 – £34,000 per annum
• Hours: Full-time, permanent
• Company: ABP UK
• Sector: FMCG / Operations

ABP UK is recruiting an Operations Graduate to support the operational running of the business while developing future leaders within the organisation. This role offers exposure across production, process improvement, commercial projects, and people management, providing a strong foundation for a long-term career in food manufacturing and operations.

In your first year
, you will:

• Support day-to-day operational performance across the site
• Oversee process flow and production efficiency
• Assist with commercial and operational projects
• Investigate waste management and identify efficiency improvements
• Begin taking responsibility for teams to develop leadership and problem-solving skills
• Gain a strong understanding of meat processing, retail production, manufacturing, procurement, and freezing processes

In your second year
, you will:

• Gain hands-on experience in butchery operations
• Learn costings, business strategy, and commercial development
• Develop people management and leadership capability
• Complete modules in sustainability and supply chain management
• Broaden your understanding of end-to-end food manufacturing operations

• As an Operations Graduate, you will:
• Support operational planning and execution
• Assist with continuous improvement initiatives
• Analyse data to identify inefficiencies and improvement opportunities
• Support production teams to meet quality, safety, and performance standards
• Contribute to cross-functional projects across operations and commercial teams
• Develop leadership capability through team supervision and problem-solving

• We’re looking for hands-on graduates with a strong interest in operations and food manufacturing.

You should:

• Hold a degree in Agriculture, Food Science, Business, or Management
• Achieve a 2:2 or above (or be on track to do so)
• Be enthusiastic, motivated, and keen to learn
• Be numerate and confident working with data and complex information
• Have strong IT skills, particularly Excel
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail and pride in high standards of work
• Have excellent interpersonal skills and enjoy working as part of a team
• Be resilient, proactive, and comfortable working at pace
• A full UK driving licence is desirable.

This graduate programme offers accelerated development within a growing, market-leading FMCG business.

• Benefits include:
• Structured learning and development pathway
• Exposure to senior leaders and real operational responsibility
• Long-term career progression opportunities
• Experience across sustainability, supply chain, and commercial operations

ABP UK is part of the ABP Food Group
, one of Europe’s leading beef processors. The business has doubled in size over the past decade and continues to grow through innovation, sustainability initiatives, and strategic investment. ABP is committed to full traceability, high standards of food safety, and reducing environmental impact across the supply chain.

ABP UK is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.