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Bottler

Alternative titles for this job include Bottling operative

Bottlers fill, pack and operate bottling machinery in food, drink and bottling factories.

Average salary (a year)

£17,000 Starter

to

£23,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

41 to 43 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a bottler

You can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
  • specialist training offered by a professional body

Apprenticeship

You can get into this job through an intermediate apprenticeship as a food and drink process operator, or as a lean manufacturing operative.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More Information

Direct Application

There are no set entry requirements if you want to apply directly for jobs, but some employers may ask for GCSEs in English and maths. Any previous practical experience you have in manufacturing will be useful.

Other Routes

You could do the General Certificate in Packaging offered by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. You'll normally need to be working in a bottling plant or small brewery to do this.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • the ability to operate and control equipment
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • physical skills like movement and coordination
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

  • have a good level of fitness

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In this role you could:

  • set up machines and start the bottling process
  • deal with minor problems on the production line
  • report more serious machinery problems to your line manager or a technician
  • keep machinery clean and sterile to meet high standards of food safety
  • make sure bottles or jars are correctly filled and labelled
  • move finished products to storage areas ready for despatch

Working environment

You could work in a factory.

Your working environment may be noisy.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a production line team leader. You could also train to work as a machinery technician or quality control assistant, or move into warehouse work.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Operator

  • Wage: £174.00 - £328.40 Weekly
  • Location: Hessle

Lean Manufacturing Apprentice

  • Wage: £136.50 Weekly
  • Location: Cannock
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Fabrication & Welding (Performing Manufacturing Operations) - Level 2

  • Provider: LANCASTER AND MORECAMBE COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 August 2022
  • Location: Lancaster

Travel & Tourism level 1

  • Provider: THE OLDHAM COLLEGE
  • Start date: 05 September 2022
  • Location: Oldham
Find courses near you

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