Food Science (R&D) Intern 2026

Position Title: Food Science (R&D) Intern 2026

Position Type: Temporary - Full-Time

Position Location: Scarborough

Requisition ID:38910

This is a placement year opportunity for 2026-2027 and not a grad scheme. This is only suitable for students who are due to finish their second year (doing a sandwich degree) and seeking a placement year opportunity!

About McCain.

At McCain were feeding the world: from French fries to Smiles we contribute to the important role food plays in peoples lives. Thats why were dedicated to ensuring our core valuesFamily Authentic Trusted and Qualityshine through every day. As a privately owned family company with over 60 years of experience a presence in more than 160 countries and a global team of 22000 people our values and culture are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that we can work together along with our business and community partners to bring sustainable growth and positive change today tomorrow and for generations to come. Join us and see how you can MAKE IT at McCain!

Why join the McCain family.

• Your Life were here to help you fulfil your potential flourish and thrive in work and life.
• Your Success work alongside passionate individuals who are committed to supporting your career ambitions drive and success.
• Your Impact we want you to make a meaningful lasting impact for you for your colleagues and for the business.

ABOUT THE ROLE

#TakeABite of life outside of your university studies.

Were recruiting for a R&D Food Science Intern.

Youll join a line of successful interns that have all been in the same shoes who walked through the doors of our HQ to gain valuable experience as part of their University Placement year. Some of which have since returned to continue their careers with us.

When: Join us in July 2026 for an epic 12-month journey with our Global R&D team.

Youll get an insight into what life is like working for one of the largest frozen food companies in the world and experience lots of different elements within R&D from working on new development projects to new ingredient evaluation.

Other projects may include; specific studies on appetiser ingredients and impact to recipes line extension development of our current product portfolios cook direction and abuse studies as well as conducting tastings (our favourite part) to evaluate shelf life samples.

Working on some tasty projects alongside our teams youll also live and breathe the victories that come with working in a professional R&D team whilst also experiencing some of the real-life challenges that go with it.

As an intern youll not only get hands on experience but youll also experience development within a professional environment where youll work towards set objectives with a clear development plan and regular one to ones with your line managers. Youll also build a network both inside and outside of McCain as well as creating connections with other interns across the business.

Leadership Principles.

Our principles each with related practices guide our actions across the organisation. Together they address how McCain interacts with our customers and employees and how we work as individuals and collectively to find success. While each role adheres to the Leadership Principles individual roles may focus more on a specific principle or principles.

We are customer obsessed. Customers are our starting point. By understanding their needs and leveraging data and consumer insights we drive mutual success.

We think big and plan ahead. Through ambition curiosity and smart risks we can accomplish goals refine processes and innovate to scale success.

We bring out the best in our people. We create safe spaces for our people so that trust and empowerment come naturally. Inclusion is about listening first showing humility and working together.

We act like owners. Together we clear obstacles and do the work that makes us all successful and proud to be part of McCain.

ABOUT YOU!

Here at McCain we are go-getters. We are winners. And we work hard.

And thats what we look for in our interns.

But you must also

• Be currently studying a relevant degree in Food Science or equivalent.
• Full clean driving license.
• Have a passion and interest in food.
• Be seeking a 12-month placement year to support your degree studies (which will run from July 2026 to June 2027)
• Must be available to start early July.
• And of course a love of potatoes!

WHATS IN IT FOR ME

Although we do encourage you to taste the goods youll be pleased to know we dont pay you in chips. For working hard youll also get a great salary and some pretty good benefits including:

• Sign on bonus additional to your annual salary to help you get started!
• An excellent pension where we will pay double what you do up to a maximum of 12% of your pay
• Flexible holidays where you can buy & sell up to 5 days holiday per year
• Optional health cash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Chips In Volunteering Day Off - to make a positive impact to the competitiveness resilience and long-term development of McCain communities across the globe

And of course being part of a Global business there are great opportunities to shine/thrive should you wish to relocate in the future. We have an ambitious 5-year growth plan that presents development & progression opportunities for those who seek it out.

WHERE YOULL WORK

Our HQ in Scarborough North Yorkshire.

Were all about flexibility. Its not about where you work but what you achieve. We wont pin you down to a specific number of office days but we do need you to be present for the majority of the week as youll be in the test kitchen on the pilot line or at the factories to ensure you get as much exposure to support your placement year.

The McCain experience

We are McCain: this statement is about our power collectively and our importance individuallyyour impact is a significant part of the business. Our winning culture focuses on authenticity and trust so we can always bring out the best in our people. Here you have the opportunity to learn grow and thrive while being yourself. Join our team to see why were better together.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity resilience and success and makes our business qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race religion color national origin sex age veteran status disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms) please let us knowand we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCains Global Privacy Policyand Global Employee Privacy Policy as applicable. You can understand how your personal information isbeing handled here.

Job Family:Research & Development
Division:Global Research and Development
Department:Potato
Location(s): GB - United Kingdom : England : Scarborough
GB - United Kingdom : England : Bath
GB - United Kingdom : England : Birmingham*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Bradford*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Brighton & Hove
GB - United Kingdom : England : Bristol*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Cambridge
GB - United Kingdom : England : Canterbury*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Carlisle
GB - United Kingdom : England : Chelmsford
GB - United Kingdom : England : Chester*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Chichester
GB - United Kingdom : England : Colchester
GB - United Kingdom : England : Coventry*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Derby
GB - United Kingdom : England : Doncaster
GB - United Kingdom : England : Durham
GB - United Kingdom : England : Ely
GB - United Kingdom : England : Exeter*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Gloucester
GB - United Kingdom : England : Grantham
GB - United Kingdom : England : Hereford
GB - United Kingdom : England : Hull
GB - United Kingdom : England : Kingston-upon-Hull*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Lancaster
GB - United Kingdom : England : Leeds*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Leicester*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Lichfield
GB - United Kingdom : England : Lincoln
GB - United Kingdom : England : Liverpool*
GB - United Kingdom : England : London*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Manchester*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Milton Keynes
GB - United Kingdom : England : Newcastle-upon-Tyne*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Norwich*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Nottingham*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Oxford*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Peterborough
GB - United Kingdom : England : Plymouth*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Portsmouth*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Preston
GB - United Kingdom : England : Ripon
GB - United Kingdom : England : Salford
GB - United Kingdom : England : Salisbury
GB - United Kingdom : England : Sheffield*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Southampton*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Southend-on-Sea
GB - United Kingdom : England : St Albans
GB - United Kingdom : England : Stoke on Trent*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Sunderland
GB - United Kingdom : England : Truro
GB - United Kingdom : England : Wakefield
GB - United Kingdom : England : Wells
GB - United Kingdom : England : Westminster*
GB - United Kingdom : England : Whittlesey
GB - United Kingdom : England : Winchester
GB - United Kingdom : England : Wolverhampton
GB - United Kingdom : England : Wombourne
GB - United Kingdom : England : Worcester
GB - United Kingdom : England : York*

Company:McCain Foods (G.B.) Ltd