Coca-Cola’s East Kilbride manufacturing site opens up recruitment for Scottish Apprenticeship Week

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) GB, the largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola globally, is recruiting apprentices to various roles at its East Kilbride site throughout Scottish Apprenticeship Week.

The site is looking for people to apply to the open roles, which include Food & Drink Engineering Maintenance Apprentices and Food and Drink Operations: Food Manufacturing Excellence at SCQF level 6. Overall, the business is currently recruiting 30 positions to take its East Kilbride operations to 230 permanent positions.

Amid the recruitment drive, Mairi Gougeon, MSP for Angus North and Mearns, visited the East Kilbride factory, to meet current apprentices and see first-hand how CCEP is supporting apprenticeships in Scotland.

Mairi met with seven apprentices currently undertaking engineering maintenance or business administration apprentices at the site. She also met five former apprentices who are now employed permanently in engineering roles, of which two are continuing their learning through a degree apprenticeship in Engineering Manufacturing Design.

In Scotland, apprentices make up 5% of CCEP’s workforce.

Seamus Kerrigan, Operations Director at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners in East Kilbride, said:

“We are pleased to welcome Mairi Gougeon to the site and introduce her to some of our highly talented apprentices.

“We are committed to supporting apprenticeships in Scotland, which allow individuals to work, learn and earn, while gaining the skills we need to ensure our business thrives in the future. They’re a hugely valuable part of the work we do, and we’re excited to meet our next cohort following this round of applications.”

The company also is continuing to invest in recruitment in Scotland through a live virtual work experience scheme for Oban High School which is running during Scottish National Apprenticeship Week. The programme will give students a sense of what it’s like to work for one of the world’s leading consumer goods companies, offering experience in a range of roles and industries including field sales, operations and marketing.

The bottler is also working with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to pilot foundation apprenticeships.

CCEP has utilised the Sector Based Work Academy programme in Scotland to provide placement opportunities across commercial, supply chain and head office functions within the business. The East Kilbride site has also supported the UK government’s Kickstarter scheme to employ young people at risk of long-term unemployment, with two of those who took part in the programme having subsequently gained permanent positions. CCEP’s first Kickstarter employee also recently secured a permanent merchandiser role with the business in Edinburgh.

Mairi Gougeon, MSP for Angus North and Mearns, said:

“It was fantastic to meet CCEP’s apprentices and hear more about the work they’re involved in. From improving the production lines to ensure they work safely and sustainably, to championing inclusion within the workplace, they’re all playing a valuable role within our local economy and building important workplace skills that will support their development in the future.”