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  4. Work and Learning

Work and Learning

Apprenticeship Vacancies, BBL Programmes and Training Courses in Food && Dairy at Henri Willig Cheese Factory

Are you looking for a job, an apprenticeship or a training programme in the food sector in Heerenveen? Would you like to work in the dairy industry whilst learning a recognised trade? If so, Henri Willig Cheese Factory offers a unique opportunity to start or further develop your career within the world of cheese production, food technology and process engineering.

At our modern cheese factory in Heerenveen, we combine traditional craftsmanship with the latest production technologies. Here, we produce premium cheeses every day for customers in more than 40 countries worldwide.

What makes working as a cheesemaker at Henri Willig truly unique? With us, you’re involved in the entire process, from receiving the milk to the finished product. At many larger cheese-making companies, you’re only involved in a small part of the process; with us, you’ll be properly trained to become&an all-round cheesemaker!

Why work in the food and dairy industry?

The Dutch dairy industry is one of the most innovative food-producing sectors in Europe. Professionals with expertise in production processes, food technology and quality systems are in short supply, and the demand for well-trained operators and cheesemakers continues to grow. At Henri Willig, you won’t just learn a job, but a trade for life. You’ll develop knowledge in the following areas:

  • Food Technology
  • Cheese production
  • Process engineering

  • Quality control
  • HACCP and food safety
  • Dairy processing

  • Production optimisation
  • Lean working
  • Logistics processes within the food industry

Heerenveen Cheese Factory

The cheese factory in Heerenveen is at the heart of our production organisation. Here, we produce a variety of high-quality cheeses, including cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s cheeses, made to over 100 different recipes.

What makes our site unique:

  • Working with high-quality dairy products
  • Modern production technology
  • Training during working hours
  • Career progression opportunities within the dairy industry
  • Experienced professionals as on-the-job trainers
  • An internationally operating family business
Work and Learning

Cheese-making Apprentice, Heerenveen

Would you like to learn a real craft? Then the Cheese Maker training programme might just be the thing for you. As an apprentice cheesemaker, you’ll learn step by step:

  • Receiving milk
  • Standardising milk flows
  • Cheese production
  • Pressing and brining processes
  • Quality control
  • Process recording
  • Product optimisation

You will receive intensive guidance from experienced colleagues and develop into an all-round cheesemaker.

Work and Learning

BBL Training Programme: Food and Dairy Operator

Would you like to earn a salary straight away whilst also gaining a recognised qualification? Henri Willig actively offers its staff the opportunity to complete courses such as Food Technology (MBO 3) and Cheese Making (VOB, MBO 4). Within our cheese factory, we regularly offer opportunities for:

BBL MBO Level 3

  • Food Operator
  • Food Technology
  • Food Process Operator
  • Operator A

BBL MBO Level 4

  • VOB Cheese
  • All-round Operator
  • Process Operator B
  • Production Management

During your work-based learning programme:

  • Will you be working directly on the production line?
  • You’ll receive guidance from experienced cheesemakers
  • You’ll undertake further training
  • You’ll develop into a specialist within the dairy industry

Who might be interested in working in a cheese factory?

There are more career changes possible than you might think

Many people think you need a technical qualification to work in a modern cheese factory or food production company. In practice, we see that successful operators, cheesemakers and production specialists come from a wide variety of professional backgrounds. What do they have in common? 

  • An interest in technology and processes
  • The ability to work with precision
  • A sense of responsibility
  • An eye for quality
  • The motivation to learn a trade

At the Henri Willig Academy, we regularly train people who are making the switch from other sectors to the food and dairy industry.

You have a technical background
You have a technical background

In that case, a role or training programme such as Brhandellijn Operator, Field Operator or Cheese Maker is often an excellent fit.

Consider, for example, candidates from:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Installation engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mechatronics
  • Process engineering
  • Metalworking
  • Plastics industry
  • Packaging industry
  • Technical Services
  • Maintenance roles

Many skills, such as process monitoring, identifying faults, quality control and technical insight, are directly applicable within modern food production

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You work in production or logistics
You work in production or logistics

Candidates from manufacturing and logistics backgrounds also often make a successful transition to the dairy industry.

For example, from roles such as:

  • Production worker
  • Machine operator
  • Operator
  • Production team leader
  • Warehouse assistant
  • Logistics Assistant
  • Forklift driver
  • Packaging Assistant

You are used to working to procedures, monitoring quality and taking responsibility for the production process. This provides a strong foundation for a career in food production.

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You have experience in the food industry, the hospitality sector or as a chef
You have experience in the food industry, the hospitality sector or as a chef

This is perhaps the most underrated target group. Many chefs, self-employed chefs, bakers and catering staff possess skills that are surprisingly well suited to the profession of cheesemaker or food production operator.

For example:

  • Working to recipes
  • Product knowledge
  • Hygiene and HACCP
  • Quality control
  • Process-oriented working
  • An eye for raw materials
  • Monitoring consistency
  • Responsibility for end products

It is precisely those with a passion for food who often find a wonderful combination of craftsmanship, technology and product development in the dairy industry. Knowledge of food safety and raw materials also ties in well with the requirements of the food industry.

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Building a career in the food sector

Many colleagues started out as:

  • Production worker
  • Field operator
  • Cheese-making apprentice
  • All-round Packaging Assistant

And have progressed to:

  • All-round Cheese Maker
  • First Operator, Processing Line
  • Production Team Leader
  • Production Specialist
  • Production Manager
Work and Learning

How much can you earn?

Depending on qualifications, experience, shift work and job level, salaries within the dairy industry generally fall within the ranges set out below.

Role Indicative gross monthly salary*
Cheese-maker apprentice €2,700 – €3,600
Production worker €2,800 – €3,700
All-round Packaging Assistant €3,000 – €4,000
Field Operator €3,300 – €4,400
Process Line Operator €3,800 – €5,000
All-round Cheese Maker €4,000 – €5,300
Senior Operator €4,300 – €5,700
Production Team Leader €4,800 – €6,500
Production Specialist €5,000 – €6,800
Production Manager €6,000 – €9,000+

* Including average shift allowances where applicable. Final pay grade depends on experience, qualifications, shift pattern and job evaluation. Terms and conditions of employment are based on the current Collective Labour Agreement for the Dairy Industry.

 

Working in a 5-shift system?

Thanks to shift allowances, the income of operators, cheesemakers and processing line specialists can be considerably higher than that of comparable roles in, for example, logistics, retail, construction or the hospitality sector. As a result, the dairy industry is one of the most attractively remunerated sectors for practical and technical talent.

Job vacancies

Full-time

Cheese-maker Trainee, Heerenveen (33.6 hours)

Heerenveen
Full-time Part-time

Operator Cheese factory Heerenveen (33.6 hours)

Heerenveen
Full-time

Operator Treatment line Heerenveen (36 hours)

Heerenveen
View all vacancies

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