British Sugar is a home-grown success story and one of the most efficient and competitive beet processers in the world. Around 3,500 farmers based in East Anglia and the East Midlands supply our four advanced manufacturing sites with eight million tonnes of sugar beet every year. We, in turn, make this in to over 1 million tonnes of sugar, serving customers across the UK, Ireland and increasingly growing commercially in the EU and world sugar markets.
Applied Science Graduate Programme
Duration: 24-30 months
Location: Bury St Edmunds (home site) with travel across our UK factories
Salary: £38,000 per annum
Apply your science where it matters — at scale.
British Sugar’s factories are among the largest and most advanced food manufacturing sites in the UK. As part of our Applied Science Graduate Programme, you’ll explore how chemistry, process understanding, and data come together to drive efficiency, quality, and sustainability.
You’ll work alongside scientists and engineers to solve real industrial challenges — from improving extraction yields to reducing energy use — in a fast-paced, data-rich environment.
What you will be doing
Work with experts to understand and improve large-scale chemical and physical processes.
Analyse data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for improvement.
Apply your scientific knowledge to challenges in efficiency, quality, and sustainability.
Collaborate with teams across operations, sustainability, and engineering.
Build leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills to prepare for a long-term technical career.
What you will need
A minimum 2:1 degree (or predicted) in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Chemical Engineering.
The ability to interpret scientific or process data and apply this to practical challenges.
Curiosity and a willingness to learn about large-scale manufacturing environments.
Effective communication and teamwork skills to share findings and work collaboratively.
Flexibility to travel across our UK factories — Newark, Bury St Edmunds, Wissington, or Cantley.
The right to work in the United Kingdom.
Alignment with our values: staying safe, driving to action, working together, respecting each other, and being open and flexible.
How to apply
If you’re ready to shape the future of sustainable manufacturing, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply online through our Careers Portal — you’ll complete a short application form (including confirmation of your right to work in the UK) and upload your CV.
Our selection process is designed to be fair, inclusive, and focused on potential. It includes:
An initial CV review
An online ability assessment
A short video interview exploring your motivation
A final face-to-face assessment day, where you’ll meet our teams and experience life at British Sugar
We’re committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace where everyone can thrive. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know