Summary
Location
Newtownabbey
Type
internship
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About this role
Quality Assurance Assistant – Placement Opportunity
Attractive Salary & Benefits
36.5 Hour week (Hybrid)
Newtownabbey
12-month Higher Education Placement commencing May/June 2024
Who are we?
Henderson Group are proud to be Northern Ireland’s leading foodservice provider. Our group encompasses Henderson Wholesale, Henderson Retail, Henderson Foodservice and Henderson Group Property. We employ over 5,700 colleagues and have been placed 3rd in Ulster Business Top 100 Companies 2025. We're proud to be an Investors in People accredited employer, and our culture is lived out through our four core values- Ambition, Customer First, Teamwork and Integrity.
Henderson Wholesale is a leading Wholesaler in Northern Ireland and supplies goods to over 450 stores across various brands such as SPAR, EUROSPAR and VIVO. We source from local farmers, growers and producers and are proud to contribute to our local economy and environment.
A look into the role
Our Quality Assurance Assistant placement opportunity is designed to work in partnership with relevant stakeholders ensuring fresh food products and suppliers meet Henderson Group specifications in relation to food safety, legality, quality, freshness and sustainability.
This is an invaluable role in the continued development of the Group’s total quality management agenda with specific focus on fresh food. This position will allow the successful candidate to maintain a quality management system that focuses on delivering customer satisfaction and continuous business improvement, developing their skills within a thriving fresh food department.
This is an ideal placement for an enthusiastic and proactive individual seeking a fast-paced, commercial environment in one of N.I.’s largest and most varied employers.
As Quality Assurance Assistant you will:
• Ensure required specifications from own brand supply are met, and receive standards from all suppliers.
• Develop & manage quality conformance targets and communication of KPI metrics to supply base
• Analyse and challenge supplier performance against KPI’s
• Maintain a record of supplier non-conformances and corrective actions and ensuring these are sufficiently investigated to prevent re-occurrence
• Support New Product Development processes with specification design and supplier conformance targets and liaise with retail and wholesale customers on fresh food quality issues.
Skills for Success
Joining us as Quality Assurance Assistant the minimum criteria you’ll need is:
- Working towards Third level food related qualification.
- Possess Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification.
- Full UK Driving License.
The attributes you’ll need include:
- Strong communication and organisational skills.
- Ability to use initiative.
- Excellent attention to detail .
It is Desirable if you had:
- Possession of allergen training.
- Level 3 Food Hygiene.
- Level 3 HACCP.
- Level 2 Internal Audit.
- Experience working within the food manufacturing industry.
Our Values
Ambition – We always strive to be better. We seek new challenges and look for ways to do things better.
Customer First – We provide exceptional service. We put customers at the heart of everything and support our communities.
Teamwork – We succeed together. We help colleagues to succeed, and we share our knowledge and skills.
Integrity – We are fair, honest and ethical. We treat everyone with dignity and respect. We are inclusive and champion diversity.
The Reward
Our business has been recognised externally for delivering excellence in employment. We value employee development and heavily invest in our people.
Benefits include market competitive salary, contributory pension scheme, healthcare, life assurance, employee assistance programme, social club, Perks Offers/Discount scheme throughout UK/Ireland, staff discount (grocery/fuel) at SPAR/EUROSPAR Henderson Group.
The successful applicant will be working 36.5 hours per week, 8:45am – 4:45pm Monday to Thursday, and 8:45am-3:45pm Friday.
Completed applications must be submitted online by midnight on Tuesday 10th February 2026.
We are an equal opportunities employer.
Other facts
About Henderson Group
Henderson Group are proud to be Northern Ireland’s leading foodservice provider. Our group encompasses Henderson Wholesale, Henderson Retail, Henderson Foodservice and Henderson Group Property. We employ over 5,000 staff and have been placed 4th in Ulster Business Top 100 Companies 2023. Our group have been recognised for excellence through many prestigious awards in recent years. Recently, we were announced as ‘Food Distribution Company of the Year 2023’ at the Export and Freight Transport Awards and were delighted to receive the “Workforce Developer Award” by both the Regional and National Chambers of Commerce in 2023.
We're an Investors in People accredited, family-owned group, and our culture is lived out through our four core values- Ambition, Customer First, Teamwork and Integrity.
We are ambitious in our plans to grow our business, with sustainability and community focus at the heart of what we do. As part of our “Tomorrow Matters Strategy,” which sets out our objectives under the areas of “People, “Place” & “Planet,” we have installed 276 defibrillators across NI, which have saved 20 lives so far.
What you'll do
- The Quality Assurance Assistant will ensure that fresh food products and suppliers meet Henderson Group specifications regarding food safety, legality, quality, freshness, and sustainability. This role involves maintaining a quality management system focused on customer satisfaction and continuous business improvement.
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