Engineering Apprentice

KP SNACKS LIMITED

Pontefract (WF8 2JS)

Closes tomorrow (Friday 21 March)

Posted on 3 March 2025


Summary

Kick-start your engineering career with KP Snacks! Gain hands-on experience, earn while you learn, and work on iconic brands like Butterkist. Join us in Pontefract and power up your future!

Training course
Food and drink maintenance engineer (level 3)
Hours
3 shift rotation (6am-2pm / 2pm-10pm / 10pm-6am - rotating weekly). U18 - 2 shift rotation (6am - 2pm / 2pm - 10pm).

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 15 September

Duration

3 years 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

We’re seeking an astute, ambitious Engineering Apprentice to join our dynamic team based in Pontefract. The Engineering Apprentice will work closely with the site engineering team, The Line structures in particular the Maintenance Leads, and external integrators to support and maintain the key business systems on site.

  • As part of the formal Apprenticeship Scheme, this role will be based in our factory and involves supporting maintenance functions for production, IT and other equipment where necessary
  • We have a vision of engineering for Pontefract that it’s the gold standard of departments, it role models and sets standard and the Engineering Apprentice will be no different.
  • Long term the role is aligned to IWS and supports the Maintenance leads in terms of standing in, learning the DMS techniques and championing them
  • Coaching and encouraging Equipment Owners to do basic mechanical tasks.
  • We want the apprentice to develop and grow and be responsible for providing the Operations team with engineering expertise and support to reduce or eliminate downtime. This will be done both reactively (resolving breakdowns), proactively (carrying out Planned Maintenance & defect close out) and through Continuous Improvement (small line changes and minor project work to deliver improvements)
  • Implement approved tasks in consultation with the Maintenance Leads and Area Engineering Manager and initiates corrective actions to reduce downtime and defects

Where you’ll work

KP Snacks (Butterkist)
Ferrybridge Road
Pontefract
WF8 2JS

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

KIRKLEES COLLEGE

Your training course

Food and drink maintenance engineer (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents
  • Read and interpret task related information and data. For example, work instructions, SOPs, quality control documentation, Service Level Agreements, specifications, engineering representations, drawings, and graphical information, work instructions, and operation manuals.
  • Plan work. Identify and organise resources to complete tasks.
  • Identify hazards and control measures to mitigate risks.
  • Comply with food safety regulations and procedures.
  • Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
  • Comply with environment and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
  • Select, check the condition, and safely use maintenance tools and equipment. Store tools and equipment. Complete or arrange maintenance of tools and equipment including calibration where required.
  • Follow standard operating procedures and quality procedures.
  • Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout) and re-instatement of equipment with system checks and handover.
  • Apply mechanical and fluid power system maintenance practices and techniques. For example, check levels, parts wear, pressure, and sensors, grease and lubricate parts, replace, fit components, and calibrate equipment.
  • Apply electrical and control maintenance practices and techniques including use of electrical testing equipment and instruments. For example, panel risk assessment, fixed wire installation testing, fault finding, thermographic surveys, and checking protection settings.
  • Apply reliability engineering techniques to prevent or reduce the likelihood or frequency of failures. For example, condition monitoring, oil sampling, thermography, vibration analysis, and ultrasound.
  • Install and configure instrumentation or process control systems.
  • Install and configure electrical systems. For example, add distribution boards to circuits, single and three phase motors (AC and DC).
  • Assemble, position and fix equipment or components. Complete commissioning checks.
  • Disconnect and remove equipment or components. Complete storage measures to prevent deterioration.
  • Read and interpret equipment performance data.
  • Fabricate, drill, and join to produce basic parts, spares or components to measurement and tolerance specification.
  • Apply down-hand (flat) TIG welding techniques: butt and tee.
  • Apply mathematical techniques to solve engineering problems.
  • Produce and amend electrical and mechanical engineering representations, drawings, and graphical information. For example, for new component parts or change in circuit diagram or panel.
  • Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques for example, using PLC data to diagnose issues and locate faults on industrial network.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques to understand current performance; collect and record data. Devise suggestions for improvement.
  • Restore the work area on completion of activity.
  • Resolve or escalate issues.
  • Use information technology. For example, for document creation, communication, and information management. Comply with GDPR. Comply with cyber security.
  • Record work activity. For example, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records, and any business or legal reporting requirements.
  • Communicate verbal and written. For example, with colleagues and stakeholders. Use engineering terminology where appropriate.
  • Produce reports for example, equipment performance reports.
  • Provide guidance or training to colleagues or stakeholders.
  • Read and interpret task related information and data. For example, work instructions, SOPs, quality control documentation, Service Level Agreements, specifications, engineering representations, drawings, and graphical information, work instructions, and operation manuals.
  • Plan work. Identify and organise resources to complete tasks.
  • Identify hazards and control measures to mitigate risks.
  • Comply with food safety regulations and procedures.
  • Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
  • Comply with environment and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
  • Select, check the condition, and safely use maintenance tools and equipment. Store tools and equipment. Complete or arrange maintenance of tools and equipment including calibration where required.
  • Follow standard operating procedures and quality procedures.
  • Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout) and re-instatement of equipment with system checks and handover.
  • Apply mechanical and fluid power system maintenance practices and techniques. For example, check levels, parts wear, pressure, and sensors, grease and lubricate parts, replace, fit components, and calibrate equipment.
  • Apply electrical and control maintenance practices and techniques including use of electrical testing equipment and instruments. For example, panel risk assessment, fixed wire installation testing, fault finding, thermographic surveys, and checking protection settings.
  • Apply reliability engineering techniques to prevent or reduce the likelihood or frequency of failures. For example, condition monitoring, oil sampling, thermography, vibration analysis, and ultrasound.
  • Install and configure instrumentation or process control systems.
  • Install and configure electrical systems. For example, add distribution boards to circuits, single and three phase motors (AC and DC).
  • Assemble, position and fix equipment or components. Complete commissioning checks.
  • Disconnect and remove equipment or components. Complete storage measures to prevent deterioration.
  • Read and interpret equipment performance data.
  • Fabricate, drill, and join to produce basic parts, spares or components to measurement and tolerance specification.
  • Apply down-hand (flat) TIG welding techniques: butt and tee.
  • Apply mathematical techniques to solve engineering problems.
  • Produce and amend electrical and mechanical engineering representations, drawings, and graphical information. For example, for new component parts or change in circuit diagram or panel.
  • Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques for example, using PLC data to diagnose issues and locate faults on industrial network.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques to understand current performance; collect and record data. Devise suggestions for improvement.
  • Restore the work area on completion of activity.
  • Resolve or escalate issues.
  • Use information technology. For example, for document creation, communication, and information management. Comply with GDPR. Comply with cyber security.
  • Record work activity. For example, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records, and any business or legal reporting requirements.
  • Communicate verbal and written. For example, with colleagues and stakeholders. Use engineering terminology where appropriate.
  • Produce reports for example, equipment performance reports.
  • Provide guidance or training to colleagues or stakeholders.

Your training plan

Food and drink maintenance engineer Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard:

As part of this course, you will study at Kirklees College in Huddersfield.

Study would be in education blocks as follows:

  • Year 1 - 19 weeks in college
  • Year 2 - 10 weeks in college
  • Year 3 - 15 weeks in college
  • Year 4 - In your fourth year you would be permanently based at our Pontefract site

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Maths, English, Science and 2 other subjects (grade 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
  • Attention to detail
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Can do attitude
  • Reliability
  • Self–motivated

About this company

KP Snacks is proud to be part of the Intersnack Group. With an annual turnover of more than €3 billion, the Intersnack Group has grown and flourished to become a market leader in savoury snacks, present in over 30 countries across Europe, Australia, New Zealand and beyond, employing more than 14,000 employees and 44 factories globally (33 in Europe, 3 in Australia, 3 in New Zealand, 2 in India and 3 in Vietnam). In the UK KP Snacks consists of c2,300 colleagues across our seven factory locations and Slough HQ. We make great tasting snack brands such as Hula Hoops, McCoy’s, Pombear, KP Nuts, Butterkist popcorn, Tyrrells and popchips.

Company benefits

Medicash health cash plan Private healthcare Digital GP and Best Doctors Cancer care Company sick pay Holiday buy scheme Electric Vehicle Scheme KP4ME - online benefits, discounts, prizes, competitions and information platform

After this apprenticeship

  • Once our apprentices have completed their apprenticeship standard, subject to vacancies at the time, there will be an opportunity to apply for further employment

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

KIRKLEES COLLEGE

Tamara

apprenticeships@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000304978.

Apply now

Closes tomorrow (Friday 21 March)

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.