Bottling operative

Bottling operatives monitor machines that wash, fill and label bottles. They make sure that the machines are set up correctly and loaded with the correct materials.

Also known as:

• Bottler

Work activities

Bottling operatives operate bottling machinery on a production line. The machinery washes and sterilises the bottles. This protects them from harmful micro-organisms. Then, the machinery fills, labels and packages them. The operative makes sure their piece of machinery is set up properly and constantly supplied with raw materials. They also do routine maintenance and manual cleaning routines. Some operatives also carry and load bottles to and from lorries.

Personal qualities and skills

To be a bottling operative, you will need to:

• Have some mechanical understanding to work with machinery.
• Be good with your hands.
• Have an awareness of health and safety, as some of the chemicals used in bottle washing can be dangerous.
• Be reasonably fit, as there may be some heavy lifting involved. You may also have to stand for long periods of time at machines.
• In large, automated plants, operatives need to have IT and fault-finding skills and are likely to be more highly trained than those in smaller plants.
• This job might not be suitable for people who have skin conditions, such as eczema, or breathing complaints, such as asthma.

The following future skills shortages have been identified within the food and drink industry as a whole:

• Managerial skills.
• Technical skills.
• Quality assurance skills.
• Written and oral communication skills.
• Team working skills.
• Literacy and numeracy skills.

Pay and opportunities

The pay rates given are approximate. Bottling operatives earn in the range of £17,000, rising to £23,000 with experience.

Shift work, including weekends may be required. Overtime and part-time work may be available. Temporary, casual and seasonal work is often available.

Employers are firms involved in bottling drinks such as wines, spirits, beer, soft drinks or milk. Some plants may bottle other products such as sauces, medicines or perfumes. Opportunities for bottling operatives occur in bottling plants in towns and cities throughout the UK.

What’s happening in this work area?

The overall number of people employed in the food and drink industry is expected to fall as more processes are automated. However, projections suggest that employment levels will remain high due to the high staff turnover levels of the industry, and also because over a third of the current workforce is due to retire over the next 20 years. The food and drink industry is an important part of the UK’s manufacturing industry.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

You don’t usually need any qualifications to become a bottling operative.

You could do a level 2 (intermediate) apprenticeship in the role of food and drink process operator.

Whether or not you do an apprenticeship, your training will be on-the-job by experienced workers. For bottling operatives who reach higher level positions within a company, it may be possible to enrol on a packaging course from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD). Scholarships are available, plus extra awards for those who do well in the final examination.

Progression could be to supervisory positions.

Qualifications

You do not usually need any qualifications to enter this work. However, to do an intermediate apprenticeship, you will need GCSEs in English and maths, although you may be able to work towards these alongside your programme.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Applicants with skills gained in manufacturing industry, e.g., in assembly or packing work, have an advantage.

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