Are you passionate about food and ready to take your first step into the world of food manufacturing? This is a fantastic opportunity to kick-start your culinary career as a Trainee Development Chef, working at the heart of innovation with one of the UK’s leading food producers. We’re looking for someone with a genuine love for food, creativity, and curiosity — someone who wants to bring great-tasting ideas to life. The Role As a Trainee Development Chef, you’ll play a key role in turning culinary inspiration into real products that delight our customers. You’ll work closely with our Innovation and NPD teams to develop delicious, commercially viable recipes — learning how to balance creativity with technical and operational realities. You’ll get hands-on experience across the entire product development journey — from concept and customer presentations to factory trials and launch — helping to create food that meets the highest standards of quality, value, and taste. This could be your first role in food manufacturing — what matters most is your passion, ambition, and willingness to learn. What You’ll Be Doing * Working closely with our Innovation and NPD teams to deliver exciting new food concepts. * Understanding customer and retailer strategies to create food that truly connects with their consumers. * Supporting the full development process — from idea generation to product launch — ensuring all timelines, costs, and standards are met. * Creating and managing product samples and presentations. * Attending factory trials and learning how ideas come to life on the production line. * Keeping up to date with food trends, ingredients, and techniques to inspire fresh innovation. * Presenting your creations passionately and knowledgeably to internal teams and customers. About You We’re looking for someone who is: * Passionate about food — curious, creative, and eager to learn. * A strong communicator, able to work collaboratively with chefs, NPD teams, and commercial colleagues. * Detail-oriented, understanding the importance of ingredients, process, and cost. * Resilient and proactive, comfortable managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment. * Excited to grow — this role will give you exposure to leading retailers, food innovation, and the inner workings of a major food manufacturer. A culinary background or formal chef training would be an advantage, but we’ll provide full support and mentorship for the right person who shows passion, drive, and potential