Welcome to Hovis. We are the proud guardians of over 130 years of baking experience that make up our iconic and much-loved brand. We produce bread and bakery products created with Hovis goodness at the heart of each. We deliver around 1.3million loaves, every day of the week throughout the UK and Ireland, where we also make Mothers Pride and Ormo products. 

We are 2,800 people working within 8 bakeries, 1 flour mill, and 2 regional distribution centres across the UK. Our success is a result of the hard work of our people;  they are experts in their field whether it’s baking, manufacturing, logistics, engineering, or the many departments within the central functions team based in our head office in High Wycombe. We are a values-led business and expect our colleagues to live, breathe, and embed Quality, Accountability, and Trust into their ways of working.

A great opportunity for a talented Technical Assistant  to join our Bakery in ForestGate. 

The purpose of this role is to be responsible for supporting the Technical Department with daily administration and maintenance of all Technical and compliance related data. To support the Site Technical Manager and all site functions in maintaining all technical site systems and teams to ensure the effective delivery of an operationally excellent food manufacturing facility in line with Hovis Ltd business requirements.

Some of the key activities will include: 

• Support the department to ensure the microbiological, finished product and environmental sampling schedules are complied with, including compiling and despatching micro samples as required according to relevant schedules

• Managing the mould free end of life shelf life testing and air quality system – including trending and communicate of information.
• Arrange and send weekly bread samples and any other sample requests for bread or raw materials for evaluation made by Head Office, complete bench marking sessions and feedback results.
• Provide daily and weekly updates on complaints, HQEs and other parameters as required.
• Work closely with the Head Baker on Quality improvement projects and provide support where necessary.
• Investigating customer complaints, completing complaint reports and reporting any trends
• To work within the appropriate H & S procedures and to promote a strong awareness amongst all staff of a safe working environment
• Support Technical department and site with document creation and review which may include records, procedures, and communication boards.
• Complete audits on bakery GMP standards & Technical compliance such as G&HP, CCP, Process controls, Mobile phone audits, paperwork completion etc.
• Lead for Site Traceability exercise.
• Promote and maintain high standards of food safety culture, promote and challenge site GMP standards including Technical, Food Safety, Quality, Compliance and Business values..
• To verify accuracy of hand held temperature probes, temperature controlled storage equipment, weighing scales and metal detectors at a defined frequency.
• Responsible for storage and retrieval of production records to aid traceability.
• Support Compliance Manager and Technical department on ad hoc tasks.
• Represent and Deputise for the Technical department when required.
• Assisting with Operator training as appropriate; including refresher training, CCP competency verification, Critical Control Points, HQE / LCL assessment where required.
• Support with functional and cross functional projects and continuous improvement activities.
• Scanning in of process documents
• Pro-actively participating in achieving Technical and Site wide KPIs

Skills Knowledge and Qulifications:

• Good IT skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Level 3 Food Safety
• Internal Auditing
• Knowledge of HACCP
• IOSH Managing Safely
• Knowledge of food legislation and food safety principles
• Good team player
• Ability to solve problems/offer solutions
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing
• Minimum 1 years experience in working in a similar role within the food industry.
• Flexible in working hours

Why work for us and our benefits:

At Hovis, we understand the importance of looking after our colleagues, so we provide a variety of benefits in addition to their salaries. The benefits we provide at Hovis are as varied as the people who receive them but they are offered with the intention of creating value to them personally over and above their salaries

• There is a range of colleague benefits available, which individuals can select based on their needs.

• Our benefits scheme is called Hovis Choice, which offers a variety of savings and cashback offers on day to day living and much more including eyecare vouchers, and a healthcare scheme to suit everyone.  It also includes our Cycle to Work scheme where you can obtain a brand new bike at a significant saving

• We offer competitive annual leave entitlement and flexibility where possible in order to create a healthy work-life balance

• We celebrate loyalty with our generous long service and colleague recognition schemes

• We offer three levels of pensions

Hovis values diversity and is committed to promoting equal opportunities in the workplace. Every job applicant, employee or worker will be treated fairly and equally with dignity and respect regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, social class, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religious belief, union membership, political opinion, sex, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic.