Sales Higher Apprenticeship | Kirkham, Lancashire

Sales Higher Apprenticeship – Kirkham | Meatex Jobs

Sales Higher Apprenticeship based in Kirkham, Lancashire, offering a paid two-year programme starting at £20,000, rising to £22,000 in Year 2. Join Kepak Group and build a long-term career in FMCG sales with hands-on experience, mentoring, and progression into a Sales Executive role from September 2026.

Job Overview

Role: Sales Higher Apprentice
Location: Kirkham, Lancashire
Salary: £20,000 (Year 1), rising to £22,000 (Year 2)
Programme Length: 2 years
Hours: Full-time, on-site with travel
Start Date: 7 September 2026
Company: Kepak Group

This Sales Higher Apprenticeship is designed to develop well-rounded commercial professionals with real-world experience across Kepak’s sales and commercial teams. You’ll gain exposure to the full product lifecycle, from production to customer delivery, while developing essential sales, negotiation, and account management skills within a fast-paced FMCG environment.

Key Responsibilities

As a Sales Higher Apprentice, you will:

• Support customer engagement by understanding needs and delivering tailored solutions

• Assist with sales activity from prospecting through to deal support and execution

• Work closely with NPD teams to ensure products meet customer and pricing requirements

• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and customer performance

• Support the delivery of sales and marketing plans and key projects

• Represent the business at industry events as a brand ambassador

• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement across sales and operations

What You’ll Learn During the Programme

You’ll develop skills and experience in:

• Consultative selling and customer relationship management

• Channel and customer strategy

• Commercial analysis, pricing, margins, and costings

• Joint business planning and account management

• Project management and cross-functional collaboration

• Understanding the FMCG food industry and retail landscape

The Ideal Candidate

We’re looking for motivated, ambitious individuals ready to start a career in sales.

You should:

• Be committed to a two-year apprenticeship programme

• Be mobile and willing to travel across the UK and Ireland

• Have a strong interest in sales, food, and FMCG

• Be confident working with data and learning new systems

• Be a strong communicator with a professional, customer-focused approach

• Be adaptable, resilient, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment

Previous experience in food service or FMCG is beneficial but not essential.

Core Values We Look For

Successful apprentices will demonstrate:

• Responsibility: Ownership and accountability

• Ambition: Drive to challenge yourself and succeed

• Passion for Food: Genuine enthusiasm for the industry

• Teamwork: Ability to build strong relationships across teams

Why Join This Apprenticeship?

This programme offers a strong foundation for a long-term commercial career within a leading European food business.

Benefits include:

• Paid higher apprenticeship with clear progression

• Dedicated mentor and structured development programme

• Employee discount scheme and discounted meat products

• Service-related annual leave

• Discounted health insurance

• Educational assistance and learning & development support

• Cycle to work scheme

• Employee assistance programme

Company Information

Kepak Group is one of Europe’s leading food companies, operating manufacturing sites across Ireland and the UK. With a strong portfolio of brands and a people-first culture, Kepak is committed to developing future talent and building sustainable careers in the food industry.

Equal Opportunities

Kepak Group is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.