Despatch Operative Job Description
Are you looking for a varied, active role that draws on your ability to organise and multitask effectively? If so, a Despatch Operative role for Hovis® could be just what you are looking for.
Over 1.3 million Hovis® loaves are made and delivered across the UK, every day. Helping to make this happen are over 2,800 pairs of hands working in bakeries, distribution centres, flour mills and offices.
Hovis® is a values led business with an ethos of quality, trust and accountability, a standard to which all Hovis® staff and representatives are held. Every department throughout the Hovis® operation have their parts to play in meeting KPI’s for Safety, Quality, Service and Cost but Despatch Operatives carry the extra responsibility for ensuring all products despatched are loaded in time in the correct quantities and to highest quality standards.
Blue Arrow recruits Despatch Operative to work in 10 Hovis® locations across the UK including Kent, London, Bristol, Nottingham and Glasgow so wherever you live, there is a good chance there is a Hovis® site and a Despatch Operative opportunity near you.
What are the main duties of a Hovis® Despatch Operative?
Your primary purpose is to ensure the correct products and quantities are accurately received into the Despatch department. This means picking and assembling customer orders, maintaining product coding and quality and utilising machinery such as rola-trucks, forklifts and basketeers. Your role is critical in ensuring the factory meets all of its delivery obligations.
- Operation of plant, equipment and systems for the picking and assembly of individual customer orders.
- Creating effective working relationships with Drivers, Despatch Operatives, Technical Service Operatives and Bakery management
- Working to ensure the correct despatch adjustments are actioned and orders are loaded onto the correct vehicle.
- Being accountable for ensuring all documentation is accurately completed.
An environment like a Hovis® factory can be a hot and loud, bustling with activity so you must be able to work with and around lots of people who all have important jobs to do. Teamwork and communication are vital components to ensure smooth and efficient operations so an easy going manner and great interpersonal skills will go a long way in a role like this.
Any previous experience of working in an operational or logistics type role will help you settle into this role quickly as will an aptitude for problem solving.
Shift commitments
Finding a careful balance between home and work commitments is important in any role so it is always good to understand the shift commitments at the earliest opportunity. With a Despatch Operative role the shifts can vary but you need to be open to working 12 hour shifts day or night.
Qualifications and development
To ensure your safety and ability to carry out your duties you will be required to complete an onsite induction for this role. While you don’t need any official qualifications or licenses to be a Despatch Operative for Hovis® your professional development is important to us so we can support you to gain your Level 1 food hygiene qualification.
What’s in it for you?
You’ll be working as part of the UK’s leading bakery manufacturer in a critical role that helps to keep the outstanding Hovis® quality they have become synonymous with, while ensuring Hovis® products reach stores on time.
- Full paid training
- Overtime opportunities
- Competitive pay rates / Pay progression
- Instant access to Blue Arrow training portal
- Auto enrolment in pension scheme
Essential requirements
- Proof of Right to work - Passport, Biometric Card or Birth Certificate
- Proof of Address dated in last 3 month - Utility Bill
- Proof of National Insurance - NI Card, payslip or P60/P45
- 2 Years referencing details (Blue Arrow will apply for these)
Throughout your career as a Despatch Operative you will gain a vast cross-section of transferable skills such as machinery operation, manual handling, communication, multitasking, problem solving and attention-to-detail that can be utilised in many roles and industries.
If you are looking for your next exciting opportunity, join Hovis® as a Despatch Operative and be a part of something milled from history, kneaded from knowledge and baked in tradition.
If a Despatch Operative role is not for you, why not look at the other Hovis® roles we are recruiting for.
