Name: Seren Meyer
Age: 23
Job title: Quality assurance team leader
Company & Location: Hilltop Food Group – Newtown, Wales
Education: Health & Social Care with Distinction
As a child what did you want to be when you grew up? I’ve always loved animals, so growing up I wanted to do something involving them, ideally working as a zookeeper or doing anything related to dogs.
Why did you decide to go for a career in food & drink? I originally joined Hilltop to save money during the pandemic, mainly for things like driving lessons. But I quickly got interested in the industry and enjoyed being part of producing high-quality products. From there, it just developed into a career.
“In New Zealand for six months I worked for a honey supplier. This gave me valuable insight into the industry, from hive to production”
Explain your job to us in a sentence (or two): I lead the quality assurance team at Hilltop. I’m responsible for maintaining food safety, quality and legal compliance across the site. I work closely with all operations teams to ensure our honey consistently meets retailer expectations and consumer trust.
What does a typical day look like for you? It’s a mix of team leadership, technical work and time on the factory floor. I review quality data, support audits and work with production to resolve issues as they happen. It’s a fast-paced environment and no two days are the same, which I love.
Tell us how you went about applying for your job: I started as a production operative in 2020 and spent two years on the factory floor before applying for a quality assurance role. I wanted a new challenge and felt my attention to detail suited it.
The interview included scenario-based questions, including how I’d handle being challenged at work, which I found difficult at the time. Since then, I’ve learned the importance of staying calm, professional and building strong working relationships.
I worked in quality assurance for around two years before travelling to New Zealand for six months, where I worked for a honey supplier. This gave me valuable insight into the industry from hive to production. When I returned in March 2024, I moved back into quality assurance and was soon offered the quality assurance team leader role.
What’s the best part about working for a food & drink company? The best part is knowing you’re contributing to products that people use and enjoy every day. It’s rewarding to play a role in ensuring those products are safe, high-quality, and something consumers can trust. I also enjoy the fast-paced environment and the opportunity to continuously learn.
And what’s the biggest misconception people have about working in food & drink? A common misconception is that it’s repetitive or purely factory-based work. In reality, there’s a lot of variety and responsibility, especially in roles like quality assurance. It involves problem-solving, teamwork, and a strong understanding of food safety and standards.
What advice would you give to other young people looking to get into the food & drink industry? Start wherever you can and be willing to learn. There are lots of opportunities to progress if you’re willing to work hard and show interest. Gaining hands-on experience is invaluable, and being proactive and asking questions can really help you develop.
What’s your ultimate career dream? My goal is to continue developing within the industry, building my knowledge and leadership skills, and eventually progress into a more senior technical or management role where I can have a wider impact on quality and food safety across the business.
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