Food packaging operative
Help to prepare food and drink for sale in the shops by keeping production lines running smoothly.
Also known as: packer
About the job
A day in the life – Food packaging operative
What it's like
You would help to prepare food and drink for sale in the shops by keeping production lines running smoothly.You’d work on the machines and production lines that put finished food and drink products into containers, cans or packets.You could be packaging:
Meat
Fish
Fruit
Vegetables
Pre-cooked meals
Soft drinks
Confectionary
You’d work quickly and accurately to meet production targets. You’d need to have good observational skills and patience to do repetitive tasks.You would:
Check the quality of products for quality and remove defective items
Keep machines supplied with packaging materials and labels
Report machine faults to shift supervisors and maintenance staff
Make minor adjustments to machine settings to changes from one product or container to another
Keep the machines and production areas clean
Put the products into boxes or crates to be sent to shops and supermarkets
You might also move the packaged items around the warehouse using pallet trollies or a forklift truck.It’s important to follow strict health and safety guidelines, and have good standards of personal hygiene.
Hours
You would typically work 37 to 40 hours a week on a shift system, often including evenings and weekends. Overtime is common during busy times. Part-time work is usually available.
Environment
Factories are usually noisy and can be hot or cool, depending on the product being packed. You would wear protective clothing.
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Food and drink
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- warehousing
- development environment
- food safety and sanitation
- manual handling
- production line
- palletizing
- machinery
- transferable skills analysis
- manufacturing processes
- quality monitoring
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- reliable
- time management
- attention to detail
- observation
- working with numbers
- problem solving
- reading
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Health and Food Technology (Home economics)
Practical Craft Skills
There are no formal qualifications required to enter this role.
Experience of working on a production line.
Qualifications that show understanding of the manufacturing industry and health and saftey standards such as Skills for Work Food and Drink (SCQF level 5) or a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Food and Drink Operations (SVQ level 2/3).
A forklift licence may also be advantageous.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Food packaging operative'
