Bottler Job Information | National Careers Service

Job profiles

Bottler

Hours

37.5-40 per week
Starting salary

£12,000 + per year

Bottlers work in food, drink or bottling factories. Their job is to fill, pack and operate bottling machinery. They also make sure the production lines are loaded. If you're physically fit, and like working in teams on practical tasks, being a bottler might be an ideal job for you.

To become a bottler, you will need to have good practical skills with the ability to operate automated machinery. You will need the ability to solve basic mechanical problems. You’ll also need to be able to follow instructions.

You will not usually need qualifications to start work as a bottler. Some employers may prefer you to have GCSEs.

The work

As a bottler, your main duties would include:

setting up machines and starting the bottling process
sorting out any problems with the production line so bottling is not held up
reporting more serious machinery problems to your line manager or a technician
keeping machinery clean and sterile, to meet high standards of food safety.

You could have quality control duties, making sure bottles or jars are correctly filled and labelled.

With experience, you could progress to operating a variety of machines in different work areas.

Hours

Usually between 37.5 and 40 hours a week, it might include shifts and weekend work. Overtime may be available.

You would mainly work in a factory environment, which could be noisy. This work can involve some heavy lifting.

Income

Starting salaries can be around £12,000 to £15,000 a year.

With experience and supervisory responsibilities, this may rise to between £15,000 and £21,000.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

You will not usually need qualifications to start work as a bottler. Some employers may prefer you to have GCSEs (D-E). Check with employers because other qualifications may also be accepted.

You may be able to become a bottler through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need. The most suitable Apprenticeship for food is the Improve Proficiency Apprenticeship in Food and Drink (Food Industry Skills) and, for non food, the Apprenticeship in Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies. To find out more, visit the Apprenticeships website.

Apprenticeships

Training and development

Once employed, you will usually receive on-the-job training from your employer covering areas such as:

safety and hygiene
basic bottling procedures
operating machinery
managing bottling processes.

You could then work towards Level 2 and 3 Awards, Certificates and Diplomas in Food Industry Skills; Levels 2 and 3 Certificates and Diplomas in Dairy Industry Skills; or Level 2 Award, Certificate and Diploma in Brewing Industry Skills.

If your employer is a member, you may be able to take British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) training programmes.

British Soft Drinks Association

Skills and knowledge

To become a bottler, you will need to have:

a reasonable level of physical fitness to load bottles onto production lines
good practical skills with the ability to operate automated machinery
an awareness of health and safety issues, particularly when using sterilisation fluids and high speed machinery
the ability to work as part of a team
accuracy and good attention to detail
the ability to follow instructions
the ability to solve basic mechanical problems.

More information

Improve Ltd (Opens new window)
Providence House
2 Innovation Close
York
YO10 5ZF
Tel: 0845 644 0448
http://www.improve-skills.co.uk/
www.improveltd.co.uk

Opportunities

You could find work within factories throughout the country, bottling products such as alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, sauces, medicines, cosmetics and baby foods. With experience, you could progress to team supervisor or manager.

Jobs may be advertised through local press, Jobcentre Plus offices and websites such as Directgov (see Jobseekers page).

Directgov - (Jobseekers page)

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The beer industry is part of the food and drink manufacturing and processing sector, represented by Improve Sector Skills Council, which also includes the following industries: bakery; animal feed; confectionery; dairy; fish; meat; and soft drinks. The sector as a whole currently employs 460,000 people in more than 11,100 workplaces and 15,800 retail baker, butcher and fishmonger outlets. 24% of the workforce is employed in the bakery industry and 21% in meat industry. At a regional level, 14% of the workforce is located in the North East, 13% in Yorkshire and Humberside, plus 13% in the East Midlands.

The UK beer industry covers Breweries (making beer and other products) and the manufacture and brewing of: Ale; Beer; Black beer; Lager; Low and non-alcoholic beer; Porter; and Stout. It includes many well-known companies (such as Carlsberg, Scottish & Newcastle and Greene King). The manufacture of beer industry accounts for 37% of the total number employed in the beverages sector in Great Britain.

Key facts:

There are over 13,900 people working in the beer industry, which represents 3% of those employed in Great Britain’s food and drink manufacturing sector.
5% of businesses employ 200 or more staff, 79% employ 10 or less staff.
22% of the workforce is 50 years or older.
38% of the current workforce will be eligible for retirement within the next 20 years.
16% of the workforce has a degree or equivalent qualification.
The highest qualification for majority of the workforce is GCSE grades A-C (27%) or A Levels (25%).
10% of the workforce has no qualifications.
99% of the workforce is permanent.

Jobs in the industry range from: quality assurance manager, multi-skilled engineers, bottling manager, product development manager, brewer, beer controller.

National and regional data

East Midlands – The region accounts for 4% of all industry employees and 9% of all industry workplaces. The meat, other food, bakery, and fruit and vegetable processing industries dominate regional employment in the sector.

East of England – The region accounts for 18% of all industry employees and 11% of all industry workplaces. The meat, and fruit and vegetable processing industries dominate regional employment in the sector.

London – The region accounts for 11% of all industry employees and 2% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and other food industries dominate regional employment in the sector.

North East – The region accounts for 2% of all industry employees and 3% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and meat industries dominate regional employment in the sector.

North West – The region accounts for 11% of all industry employees and 12% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and meat industries dominate regional employment in the sector.

South East – The region accounts for 9% of all industry employees and 11% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and other food industries dominate regional employment in the sector.

South West – The region accounts for 8% of all industry employees and 16% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and meat industries dominate regional employment in the sector.

West Midlands – The region accounts for 12% of all industry employees and 11% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and meat industries dominate regional employment in the sector.

Yorkshire and the Humber – The region accounts for 12% of all industry employees and 10% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and meat industries dominate regional employment in the sector.

[N.B. The following data are for the food and drink manufacturing and processing sector as a whole.]

Northern Ireland – More than 18,900 people are employed in the food and drink manufacturing and processing sector in Northern Ireland, accounting for 5% of the UK sector workforce. The meat industry dominates regional employment in the sector.

Scotland – Around 49,000 people are employed in the food and drink manufacturing and processing sector in Scotland across 1,500 workplaces. The bakery and drinks industries dominate Scottish employment in the sector.

Wales – Around 23,700 people are employed in the food and drink manufacturing and processing sector in Wales across 600 workplaces. The meat and bakery industries dominate Welsh employment in the sector.

[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008 and Annual Business Inquiry, 2007.]