Science & Technology Placement

Start date: 15th June 2026

Scheme duration:12 months

Salary: £25,125 per annum + excellent benefits

Location: Nestlé Product Technology Centre, York

What will you do?

If you're eager to gain firsthand experience at the global confectionery innovation hub of the world's largest food and beverage manufacturer, we invite you to join our Science & Technology Placement Scheme.

You will be involved in cutting-edge work relating to the formulation and processing of chocolate as well as other confectionery products. You will plan and execute your own projects, design experiments, analyse sample properties and present findings to stakeholders. A key part of this placement will also give you the opportunity to engage in workplace initiatives focused on sustainability and wellbeing, showcasing the broader impact of your work.

What makes this science & technology placement scheme exciting?

• Hands-on experience: Explore the limits of our technology while gaining valuable experience and skills that will kickstart your scientific career

• Mentorship opportunities: Work alongside experienced professionals who will provide valuable insights and guidance to help you grow your capabilities.

• Impactful contributions: Face the challenge of aligning our commercial goals with important social responsibilities, such as promoting sustainability and helping consumers follow a balanced diet.

• Networking: Build lasting relationships with colleagues across different sites and functions, opening doors for collaborative opportunities.

• Career growth: Completing this placement will equip you with essential skills for a successful career in scientific innovation and provide insights into the company behind beloved brands like KitKat, Aero, and Nescafé.

What will you learn?

• Technical capabilities: Navigate the complexities of a fast-paced FMCG operation, where your decisions will have impact. Develop your technical skills across key scientific methodology.

• Problem-solving: Use the skills you develop during the scheme to respond to challenges while identifying opportunities and implementing solutions for sustainable success.

• Adaptability: Embrace the opportunity to collaborate with diverse teams, cultures, and operational processes as you rotate through the different placements.

• Stakeholder management: Balance the needs of cross-functional stakeholders, honing your interpersonal skills and building your unique professional brand in the process.

• Continuous Learning: Gain firsthand experience of industry trends and external factors that influence Nestlé as you progress through the scheme.

Our commitment to you…

We will support you every step of the way, the following are just some of our offerings to enable you to thrive with us:

• Flexible working options

• Inclusive culture, join our variety of employee run networks

• Comprehensive benefits

• Pastoral support

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Potential relocation support (£2,000)

• Pets at work – bring your dog to work

• Gym facilities

• Prayer rooms

• Various rewards and recognition opportunities

• Availability dependent upon site

Eligibility requirements

You will need to have the right to work in the UK that is not time-limited and does not require sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route either at the start of the scheme or on completion.

You will be in the final or penultimate year of study for a food science, physical sciences (chemistry, physics, or material science), or related engineering degree (e.g. chemical or materials).

The recruitment journey

After you click "apply" you'll be prompted to answer a few questions to determine your eligibility for the scheme. If you qualify, we will invite you to complete an online assessment, which you can practice here. Please do not upload a CV, instead we ask you to upload any relevant qualifications to support your application.

Once you have completed this stage, we will notify you if you are selected to attend an assessment day which will be in February or March 2026. It may take a little bit of time between assessment stages to get back to you; we really appreciate your patience.

Adjustments

We recognise that each candidate has unique needs, and we are committed to ensuring an inclusive application process. You will have the opportunity to discuss any specific requirements or adjustments you may need as you navigate through our recruitment process.

We may occasionally close job advertisements early in the event we receive sufficient applicants, so please don't delay in submitting your application.

At Nestlé, our values are rooted in respect – for our employees, our customers and our consumers. That's why championing diversity and inclusion is so important to us; when we embrace different perspectives and give everyone the chance to be the best they can be, we can think in new, creative ways that grow and enhance our business. We are committed to equal opportunity for all and we may collect relevant data for monitoring purposes during our candidate registration process.