Sustainability Executive

apetito is a unique business with both a commercial and social purpose.  We are a leading supplier of nutrition-based food and service solutions for some of the most vulnerable people in society.  As the leader in our field, our aim is to “make a real difference” to the consumers and customers we serve in hospitals, care homes, schools, meals on wheels and in the home via Wiltshire Farm Foods. For us “Making a real difference” means:

• Great Food to be Proud of
• Enhancing Health & Wellbeing
• Ethical and Sustainable
• A passion for service

Having created a market leading position in ethics and sustainability in the health and social care sectors, in 2021 apetito announced one of the UK’s strongest Net Zero commitments and with it - an ambition to be seen as one of the UK leaders in sustainability. This role has a key role to play in helping us deliver that and is a hugely exciting opportunity to become involved in the front-line delivery across a breadth of net zero pathways.

In becoming leaders, we aim to create real competitive advantage, getting the support of current and potential customers and helping our business to grow.

We seek an individual with the passion, drive and commitment to share and deliver on our vision.

This role would suit someone looking to kickstart their career in sustainability who has the passion, drive and commitment to share and deliver on our vision. 

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

Strategic Execution:
- Support our execution of the strategic aims below.

Food Waste:
- Support the Food Waste Reduction programme across manufacturing and distribution to deliver on our targeted 50% food waste saving by 2025.
- Build network with WRAP, FDF and other industry bodies to ensure food waste initiatives are at the forefront of industry

Ethical Trade:
- Support our Ethical Trade programme
- Build an Internal Awareness Training programme across apetito and complete training
- Supplier Risk mapping - create proposal for Suppler ethical and risk mapping working with key stakeholders

Zero Waste to Landfill:
- Work to drive ongoing improvements in Waste reduction and recycling through our contract with external providers.

Net Zero:
- Provide support to ensure all mitigation pathways are progressing against project deadlines.
- Support the business across Net Zero initiatives

Packaging:
- Help apetito progress its packaging strategy to be industry leading in the UK

 Stakeholder Management:
- Work with key industry stakeholders and represent apetito with influencing organisations, such as WRAP, FDF, ETI and others

 General:
- Support the development of effective partnerships across the ethical and sustainable sector, that bring real value to apetito and its customers
- Work closely with Director of Corporate Affairs/Public Relations/Marketing to ensure our internal and external communications shares our progress/successes

Essential:

• A degree, or equivalent qualification, related to sustainability.
• Proven sustainability and business knowledge
• Understanding of effective stakeholder management, communication and collaboration.
• Strong influencer with excellent all-round communication skills who inspires and motivates.
• Well organised

Desirable:

• Experience delivering sustainability projects in areas such as Net Zero principles, food sustainability, ethical trade and waste
• Driving licence
• Experience of project management

Personal Qualities:

• High level of intellectual ability
• Thrives in cultivating strong, cross-functional partnerships to deliver through others
• Passionate about ethical and sustainable issues – with real life experience
• Self-starter with initiative in overcoming challenges
• Ability to think strategically and challenge business strategy

• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days annual leave per year
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%
• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
• Subsidised canteen
• Free parking
• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.

We are driven by a passion for service, and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.
Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.