About
Employer description
DS Smith are the leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions, paper products and recycling services. We’ve been around for over eighty years and operate in over thirty countries across the UK, Europe, and the United States. From food and beverage packaging in your local supermarket to every Amazon parcel which arrives at your door, DS Smith has created packaging, which is innovative, secure, and kinder to our planet.
Main description
Our Chartered Manager Degree Level 6 Programme is all about developing the skills required to become a rounded professional in your chosen discipline. From day one, you'll take on real responsibility within a supportive culture that helps you get the most out of your time during the programme. You will work with other professionals and stakeholders and be involved in a variety of projects that will give you the exposure and skill set to progress your career at DS Smith.
Over the course you’ll rotate through roles within teams at your home site. You can expect to spend time in different areas so that you can really appreciate our business in full. Dependent on your chosen pathway – Sales or Operations, your programme will be tailored to ensure you get the deep knowledge and experience to support your development. Gaining hands-on experience in the manufacturing process in Operations and a strong understanding of Sales key activities, including building the basis of a commercial foundation
Operations Pathway:
You’ll begin the programme in one of our UK Packaging sites where you’ll be learning first-hand how to keep our packaging machines running and understand the fundamentals of the business. You’ll be involved in projects that help maintain the machines, investigating plant and machine performance, predicting potential issues, and overcoming problems which would result in a costly pause in our operations. You’ll get involved in continuous improvement projects and will contribute to business success through finding ways to increase productivity, reduce waste, whilst adhering to health and safety practices and build on our sustainability targets. You’ll also be an ambassador for the way we do things using our well-developed methodologies, reviewing processes, and ensuring we work in the most productive way. As you progress through the programme, you will get exposure to other parts of the business, such as Supply chain, HR, Finance, Sales and be involved in leading projects and teams.
Sales, Marketing & Innovation Pathway:
During the programme you will learn the fundamentals of the business. You will rotate through different roles within our Sales, Marketing, and Innovation function, gaining hands-on experience in SMI excellence and a strong understanding of key activities. You will experience how customers’ orders are generated, processed, manufactured, and supplied to the customer, whilst adhering to health and safety practices. You will get exposure to what great customer experience means, and how we reach our customers.
We’re always looking for new and exciting ways to innovate. You will work with new and existing customers to understand their packaging requirements, together work with our design teams to establish creative solutions to provide sustainable, robust, and cost-effective packaging, establishing the art of the possible.
As you progress through the programme, you will get exposure to other parts of the business, such as Supply Chain, HR, Finance, Operations and be involved in leading projects, and managing your own portfolio of accounts.
Training to be provided
Training Provider
Nottingham Trent University
Training standard
Chartered Manager Degree Level 6 Programme
During the 48 months structured programme with Nottingham Trent University, you will cover the areas below and many more:
Effectiveness and Integrity
Understanding Business Functions
Developing effective work relationships
Strategic Management
Stakeholder Management
From day one, you'll take on real responsibility within a supportive culture that helps you get the most out of your time during the programme. You will work with other professionals and stakeholders and be involved in a variety of projects that will give you the exposure and skill set to progress your career at DS Smith.
Entry requirements
- Applicants should have a minimum of 104 UCAS points at A-level (grades BCC) or an equivalent (eg BTEC DMM) or completion of a Level 3 Apprenticeship/Professional qualification in a relevant discipline
- You must have achieved G.C.S.E.s in Mathematics and English with Grade C and above/4-9 or have a achieved Level 2 Functional skills in both English and Mathematics
- As part of the Chartered Manager Degree Level 6 Apprenticeship, you must have lived in the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) for the last 3 consecutive years as it is a government funded apprenticeship programme
Other requirements
To be considered for this role you must have as a minimum:
- Be able to start in the business full time on 8th/15th September 2025
- Hold the relevant right to work within the UK.
- Be fully flexible and geographically mobile as there will be placements across the country.
Benefits
- Company pension
- Life insurance
- Income protection
- Cycle to work scheme
Closing Date
The closing date for this job offer is on 30/04/2025
Salary
£23,975 per year
Location
This job is located in Fordham, Ely, Cambs
How to Apply
About West Suffolk College
West Suffolk College is an ambitious vocational and academic College, with a stunning main campus set in the heart of Bury St Edmunds. We are committed to providing outstanding education to all our students.
