Apprentice Recycling Plant Engineer

Summary

Launch your career in Engineering with URM, the UK's leading glass recycling company! If you are: - Motivated to learn new skills - Technically minded - Able to think quick and adapt to change - Interested in the industry - Excited to work with talented and likeminded individuals - then we want to hear from you!

Wage

£21,000 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Pay Review annually, based on competence and progression in role and apprenticeship.

Training course

Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday, between operational hours of 6am-6pm. 1 day a week at Doncaster College during term time only, day to be confirmed.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

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

What will you be doing...

Being an Apprentice Engineer at URM is exciting, challenging and a great way to kick start your career. From day one, you will be getting involved with duties such as:

General and preventative maintenance tasks on our plant machinery
Planned large-scale maintenance, repairs and replacement of parts on plant machinery
Emergency breakdown repairs
Health and safety training, walk arounds, reports and paperwork
Gaining licences and operating plant vehicles such as fork lift trucks

Alongside all this, you will also be undertaking a 4-year Mechatronics Technician Apprenticeship, which involves attending Doncaster College 1 day per week, term time, to develop your theory knowledge.

Where you’ll work

49 Lidgate Crescent Lidgate Crescent
Langthwaite Business Park
South Kirkby
Pontefract
WF9 3NR

Training

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

College or training organisation

DN COLLEGES GROUP

Your training course

Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Use information technology, for example to create documentation, communication and information management.
Obtain, read and interpret task related documentation, such as work instructions, quality control documents, drawings, operation manuals, specifications and service manuals.
Record information for example job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
Conduct initial assessment of equipment that requires maintenance.
Formulate plans setting out the methodology of the maintenance activity including timescales and resources.
Select, prepare and use material, consumables, tools and equipment.
Comply with health and safety regulations and organisational requirements applicable in the workplace. For example, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, PPE and applying safe systems of work.
Apply dynamic risk assessment, hazard identification and risk mitigation principles and techniques.
Apply isolation principles and techniques to equipment undergoing maintenance, including dissipation of stored energies as required.
Manufacture, repair and refurbish components using hand and machine tools.
Restore the workplace on completion of the maintenance activity. Handover resources, consumables and equipment to process owner.
Apply the techniques and processes used in reactive maintenance and repair activities on complex engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
Produce, maintain, update, record and store documentation including electronic items such as PLC and robot programmes.
Apply techniques and processes used in planned and preventative maintenance activities on engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
Apply functional testing and checking techniques and processes after maintenance interventions, and handover to the operational team.
Apply techniques and processes used in condition monitoring, non-destructive or sensory testing. Record findings and take necessary actions.
Apply calculation techniques such as, feeds, speeds, tolerances, electrical calculations using Ohms law, power calculations and cable sizing calculations.
Select, use and confirm calibration of electrical and mechanical testing and measuring equipment.
Produce sketches or drawings to support maintenance activities.
Communicate in writing. Prepare communications, documents and reports on technical matters.
Segregate, separate and dispose of waste streams and by-products.
Apply 4S or 5S principles of housekeeping to the work environment.
Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve operational performance.
Apply continuous improvement techniques.
Communicate with others verbally. Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders. For example, to access equipment or arrange access to equipment.
Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
Apply fault finding techniques used in reactive maintenance on complex integrated systems including half split, input output, six point technique, function or performance testing, unit or component substitution and equipment diagnostics.
Use information technology, for example to create documentation, communication and information management.
Obtain, read and interpret task related documentation, such as work instructions, quality control documents, drawings, operation manuals, specifications and service manuals.
Record information for example job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
Conduct initial assessment of equipment that requires maintenance.
Formulate plans setting out the methodology of the maintenance activity including timescales and resources.
Select, prepare and use material, consumables, tools and equipment.
Comply with health and safety regulations and organisational requirements applicable in the workplace. For example, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, PPE and applying safe systems of work.
Apply dynamic risk assessment, hazard identification and risk mitigation principles and techniques.
Apply isolation principles and techniques to equipment undergoing maintenance, including dissipation of stored energies as required.
Manufacture, repair and refurbish components using hand and machine tools.
Restore the workplace on completion of the maintenance activity. Handover resources, consumables and equipment to process owner.
Apply the techniques and processes used in reactive maintenance and repair activities on complex engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
Produce, maintain, update, record and store documentation including electronic items such as PLC and robot programmes.
Apply techniques and processes used in planned and preventative maintenance activities on engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
Apply functional testing and checking techniques and processes after maintenance interventions, and handover to the operational team.
Apply techniques and processes used in condition monitoring, non-destructive or sensory testing. Record findings and take necessary actions.
Apply calculation techniques such as, feeds, speeds, tolerances, electrical calculations using Ohms law, power calculations and cable sizing calculations.
Select, use and confirm calibration of electrical and mechanical testing and measuring equipment.
Produce sketches or drawings to support maintenance activities.
Communicate in writing. Prepare communications, documents and reports on technical matters.
Segregate, separate and dispose of waste streams and by-products.
Apply 4S or 5S principles of housekeeping to the work environment.
Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve operational performance.
Apply continuous improvement techniques.
Communicate with others verbally. Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders. For example, to access equipment or arrange access to equipment.
Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
Apply fault finding techniques used in reactive maintenance on complex integrated systems including half split, input output, six point technique, function or performance testing, unit or component substitution and equipment diagnostics.

Your training plan

The Mechatronics Apprenticeship has a duration of 4 years. For the first 3 years of your Apprenticeship, you will be required to attend Doncaster College for 1 day a week during term times, and be in the workplace for the other 4 days of the week. During college holidays, you will be in the workplace for 5 days a week. It will be your responsibility to get to college.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade C/4or above)
Maths (grade C/4or 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
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Patience

Other requirements

Working in glass recycling can be a surprisingly dynamic job, physically demanding at time, noisy and occasionally smelly, but ultimately a very rewarding job. It's a hands-on role that requires focus and stamina, a high level of skill, knowledge, operating complex equipment, gaining plant licences and a strong adherence to safety protocols.

About this company

URM are the UK’s largest purchaser and recycler of waste glass. Processing 1 million tons of raw product a year across our 4 sites. The Company has exciting plans to grow through continuing investment into new technology that will increase both volume and yield. We aim to promote an exciting culture across all areas of the business, one where all ideas are valued, and we have a proven track record for the encouragement, training, development, and promotion of our people.

https://www.urm.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Access to subsidised canteen at 2 sites. PPE supplied. First toolkit. Enhanced sick pay Length of service award Company events - Waste World Cup/Christmas On-site car parking Investment in training (inc mobile plant licenses, paid for by URM).

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

As you develop in your apprenticeship, your duties will be consistently assessed and added to. When you are qualified, you could consider training to be a maintenance lead or field expert in an area such as electronics.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

URM (UK) LIMITED

Danni Millington

training@urm.co.uk

07771665591

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000314768.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 1 June 2025

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