Quarry Management Apprentice

Summary

A 4 year Manufacturing Management Trainee Programme, which focuses on ensuring you develop all the necessary skills you will need to provide you with a secure platform from which to launch your Ibstock career. As part of this programme, the successful candidate will complete the Mineral Products Technician Higher Apprenticeship.

Annual wage

£20,888 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Performance-based increases throughout the apprenticeship.

Training course

Mineral products technician (level 5)

Hours

39 hours per week Monday to Friday, working general office hours with some flexibility to respond to business needs. Shifts TBC.

39 hours a week

Possible start date

Saturday 6 September

Duration

4 years

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

The successful applicant will be a key member of the Quarry team supporting with compliance to our Quality, Energy and Environmental management regulations. During the programme you will be provided with a wealth of learning and development opportunities whilst gaining a Mineral Products Technician Apprenticeship – Level 5.

You will be working alongside experienced professionals. You will complete a series of technical modules within various departments and locations across the company. You will also develop the attitudes and behaviours essential to the safe and efficient operation of our factories.

Your duties will include:

Ensuring safe operations and compliance with all health, safety, and environmental regulations.
Supporting quarry planning, managing contractors, and conducting routine safety checks.
Assisting with performance management, maintaining production levels, and implementing quality control measures.
Learning extraction, processing systems, and clay technology to optimize efficiency.
Handling paperwork, performance tracking, and budget management for the quarry.
Building links with local organisations and understanding customer processes.

Where you’ll work

Throckley Factory

Ponteland Road

Throckley

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE15 9EQ

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

UNIVERSITY OF DERBY

Your training course

Mineral products technician (level 5)

Equal to higher national diploma (HND)

Course contents

Work competently, safely and manage risks in accordance with HSE regulations.
Apply their knowledge of health and safety hazards, major hazards, environmental aspects and risks associated with the operation in order to train others to conduct full risk assessments, license to operate procedures and be able to fully investigate and evaluate health, safety and environmental accidents and incidents, report findings and implement improvements.
Use their knowledge of emergency response processes and procedures to deal with emergency situations and ensure that in these circumstances the site is evacuated, secured and made safe as swiftly as possible.
Recommend and support improvements to environmental, health and safety culture, procedures, process and systems across the operation.
Obtain, evaluate and use information from the teams across the site to take critical operational decisions. This could include information on a range of matters such as the products, the equipment and the staffing levels.
Utilise communications technology for performing and supporting the business processes including, communications, work co-ordination, task analysis and problem solving.
Ensure that operational systems are adhered to by all employees in accordance with quality control plans and procedures.
Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment in order to meet employers and regulatory health and safety requirements.
Apply root cause analysis
Use the principles of predictive and preventative maintenance of all mineral products equipment in order to minimise downtime and costs.
Develop & write technical reports that meet business requirements including the optimisation and continuous improvement of processes and services
Maximise the use of the resources, maximise products from raw materials, ensuring sustainability of resources.
Provide technical knowledge transfer to colleagues and continuous improvements in line with business requirements.
Optimise processes & products re: cost and performance in line with budget requirements.
Communicate all relevant information with the operational team, customers and all stakeholders by email, handheld radio, phone and face to face to keep them up to date with site production issues, ensuring information is passed clearly and promptly.
Plan and implement plans for work activities and projects.
Monitoring trends, interpreting results and making adjustments in production.
Use knowledge of the local communities, official bodies and other stakeholders associated with Mineral Products and their interests in the industry to liaise and engage with them to ensure positive working relationships are established, minimising disputes.
Ensure safe and effective utilisations of mineral extraction equipment and resources by following standard operating procedures and/or site rules.
Maximise operational and resource efficiency in a mineral extraction environment, in accordance with the quarry/mine plan.
Plans processes to win and extract mineral in a safe, efficient and environmentally sensitive manner applying blasting, digging or cutting techniques.
Plan to use, select and utilise face loading machines, dumptrucks, conveyor systems, processing and benefication equipment by planning material flow and matching equipment.
Use and apply the the quarry/mine plan to assess environmental impact, planning constraints, site restoration and the wider sustainability agenda.
Achieve and verify product quality meets both European Standards and customer specifications and optimizes the production process to achieve these in a cost effective manner and whilst maintaining end use applications.
Ensures all test equipment is maintained, used correctly and calibrated, retains appropriate records. Interprets all test results for accuracy, retesting as required, and taking appropriate actions and communications if results fall outside of specifications.
Conduct the full range of legislative and procedural inspections required in the quarry, processing plant and associated locations, record, document findings and take appropriate action. For inspections conducted by specialist third parties – can interpret, prioritize and action the recommendations.
Planning work activities and production schedule with customer requirements."
Sampling and testing of concrete products to the relevant European standards.
Monitoring trends, interpreting results and making adjustments in concrete mix designs.
Management of product constituents to include secondary, alternative and recycled materials.
Demonstration of the selection and appropriate use of reinforcement materials in concrete applications.
Planning the selection and utilisation of fresh concrete delivery systems by planning material flow and matching equipment.
Able to apply different concrete batching techniques in the manufacture of concrete products.
Undertaking of assessment, inspection and development of suitable repair strategies for existing concrete structures.
Planning work activities and production schedule with customer and trend requirements.
Managing risks specific to high energy and cost production processes.
Sampling, testing and reporting of Cement, Lime and Cementitious products to the relevant European standards.
Sampling, testing and reporting of incoming and intermediary materials supporting the adjustments in the cement manufacturing process.
Planning the selection and utilisation of milling, grinding and blending equipment by planning process flow and matching equipment
Demonstrate an understanding of the selection and use of different fuel types in order to maximise thermal efficiencies and minimise environmental impacts.
Planning the selection and utilisation of Cement, Lime and Cementitious Products delivery systems.
Planning work activities, production schedules, transport and delivery in line with customer requirements.
Sampling source materials, bitumens and asphalt products.
Defining different asphalt production processes and ancillary equipment to maximise production. Inspecting and optimising asphalt production plant and equipment.
Inspecting and optimising laying and compaction plant and equipment.
Managing risks to health and safety and the environment associated with the production, transport and laying of asphalt mixtures.
Application and on going management of assets both in terms of production and laying equipment and in pavements, foundations, drainage, skid resistance, embankments, bridges and street furniture.
Application of pavement design according to design speciications.
Identifying pavement failure modes and subsequent remedial options.
Application of specialist road surface treatments and sustainable recycled aggregates and recycling processes.
Apply understanding of the nature and formation processes of clay deposits to the manufacture of heavy clay construction products to ensure product quality.
Maximise operational and resource efficiency by using and understanding the quarry/clay pit plan in and minimising environmental impacts.
Supervision of methods of extraction, transportation and stockpiling of clay raw materials to industry standards.
Effective management of raw material processing in relation to the manufacturing operation.
Recognise the influence of raw material properties in the selection of the appropriate clay forming equipment and drying processes.
Appropriate selection and use of different surface texturing and colouring processes.
Planning and control of the appropriate drying and firing cycles for the production process.
Sampling, testing and reporting of intermediary and final clay products supporting the adjustments in the process.
Work competently, safely and manage risks in accordance with HSE regulations.
Apply their knowledge of health and safety hazards, major hazards, environmental aspects and risks associated with the operation in order to train others to conduct full risk assessments, license to operate procedures and be able to fully investigate and evaluate health, safety and environmental accidents and incidents, report findings and implement improvements.
Use their knowledge of emergency response processes and procedures to deal with emergency situations and ensure that in these circumstances the site is evacuated, secured and made safe as swiftly as possible.
Recommend and support improvements to environmental, health and safety culture, procedures, process and systems across the operation.
Obtain, evaluate and use information from the teams across the site to take critical operational decisions. This could include information on a range of matters such as the products, the equipment and the staffing levels.
Utilise communications technology for performing and supporting the business processes including, communications, work co-ordination, task analysis and problem solving.
Ensure that operational systems are adhered to by all employees in accordance with quality control plans and procedures.
Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment in order to meet employers and regulatory health and safety requirements.
Apply root cause analysis
Use the principles of predictive and preventative maintenance of all mineral products equipment in order to minimise downtime and costs.
Develop & write technical reports that meet business requirements including the optimisation and continuous improvement of processes and services
Maximise the use of the resources, maximise products from raw materials, ensuring sustainability of resources.
Provide technical knowledge transfer to colleagues and continuous improvements in line with business requirements.
Optimise processes & products re: cost and performance in line with budget requirements.
Communicate all relevant information with the operational team, customers and all stakeholders by email, handheld radio, phone and face to face to keep them up to date with site production issues, ensuring information is passed clearly and promptly.
Plan and implement plans for work activities and projects.
Monitoring trends, interpreting results and making adjustments in production.
Use knowledge of the local communities, official bodies and other stakeholders associated with Mineral Products and their interests in the industry to liaise and engage with them to ensure positive working relationships are established, minimising disputes.

Your training plan

The University of Derby will deliver the Mineral Products Technician Higher Apprenticeship to the successful candidates. This apprenticeship has a University Diploma in Mineral Products Studies qualification mapped to it. The face-to-face elements of the off the job training is delivered at one of the University’s campuses with the rest of the off the job training delivered by distance learning.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

2 further subjects (grade 4/C or above)
English (grade 4/C or above)
Maths (grade 4/C or above)
Science or Scientific discipline (grade 4/C or above)

A Level in:

Science or Scientific discipline (or equivalent) (grade 4/C or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Keen to gain experience
Skill in Microsoft packages

Other requirements

As a candidate you will be practical and hands-on, with drive and passion to gain real-life experience with a market leading manufacturer and earn money while you do so. It would be advantageous for candidates to have a Full UK driving licence at the commencement of their apprenticeship, or shortly after, with the flexibility to travel to other Ibstock locations around the country.

About this company

At Ibstock, we’ve been shaping Britain’s built environment for over 200 years. With a team of more than 2,300 strong, we’re committed to building smarter, more sustainable homes and workplaces. Our innovative products are designed with a net-zero future in mind, and we’re constantly evolving to meet the challenges of tomorrow. If you’re looking for a company that blends heritage with innovation, opportunity, and career progression, WE ARE that company.

http://www.ibstockplc.co.uk (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Upon successful completion of the programme, you will move into a Supervisory role in the Quarry with responsibility for leading, motivating and developing a multi-skilled team to optimise the performance of the quarry.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

UNIVERSITY OF DERBY

Ellis Moore

Ellis.Moore@ibstock.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000291526.

Apply now

Closes in 28 days (Friday 17 January)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Please apply directly through Ibstock careers.

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