Overview

The SOP Co-ordinator is a key appointment supporting apetito’s regulatory compliance, operational excellence and future growth.

This varied and autonomous role suits an experienced, self-motivated individual who can work independently, set priorities and lead the development and coordination of SOPs and training compliance across manufacturing.

The role will establish, maintain and improve the site’s SOP framework, ensuring procedures are consistently developed, reviewed, controlled and implemented through collaboration with subject matter experts.

The SOP Co-ordinator will own the site’s SOP governance process, templates, standards and training systems, facilitating and assuring quality while process owners retain accountability for content.

A key focus will be ensuring employees are trained and competent against approved SOPs, supporting compliance, consistency, continuous improvement and operational excellence.

The role is full time and site-based in Trowbridge.

Who we are

apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors, serving more than 1,300 care homes, healthcare and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier, cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the site's SOP framework, including document standards, templates, approval processes, ownership requirements and review cycles.
• Facilitate the development, review and maintenance of SOPs and work instructions for production, quality, hygiene, engineering, warehousing and other facility operations, working alongside process owners and subject matter experts to ensure documentation is accurate, standardised and fit for purpose.
• Define and maintain clear ownership and accountability for SOPs across all departments.
• Work collaboratively with teams across the business and colleagues across apetito's network, including team heads and subject matter experts, to identify best practice, apply lean methodology, and ensure SOPs accurately reflect operational requirements and regulatory standards.
• Promote sustainable working practices and waste reduction by ensuring SOPs support efficient use of materials, energy and time, and by embedding agreed waste minimisation controls into standard ways of working.
• Work closely with Continuous Improvement and CQV colleagues to align SOPs to agreed principles, embed standard ways of working, and drive consistent adherence across the operation.
• Develop, coordinate and deliver engaging training programmes relating to SOPs, ensuring employees understand and consistently apply documented processes.
• Use inclusive communication methods appropriate for a diverse workforce, including employees for whom English is not a first language.
• Maintain accurate records of SOP approvals, revisions, training completion, competency assessments and compliance sign-off.
• Monitor training compliance and competency levels across the operation, ensuring all employees remain current with required training.
• Set and maintain KPIs to measure SOP effectiveness, training compliance and process adherence, using data and trends to drive continuous improvement.
• Monitor compliance with procedures through audits, observations and feedback, identifying opportunities for improvement and corrective action.
• Support internal and external audits, ensuring SOPs, training records and competency evidence are maintained, accessible and audit-ready.
• Produce regular reports for management covering SOP status, training compliance, audit findings, KPI performance, risks, actions and improvement opportunities.
• Be responsive to operational change, proactively updating SOP frameworks, training materials and governance processes to support new technology, equipment and automation.
• Stay abreast of industry standards, food manufacturing regulations and customer requirements relevant to the operation.