Apprentice Engineer

PREMIER FOODS PLC

Worksop, S81 7AY

Closes on Friday 25 April 2025

Posted on 20 February 2025

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Contents

Summary

As part of this apprenticeship, you will gain core industry knowledge, including key principles of quality management systems and processes, best practice maintenance approaches and techniques and fault-finding techniques. You will learn how to replace components, operate heat exchanging equipment and the principles of cutting and welding.

Wage
£22,500 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

With incremental increases on successful academic achievement

Training course
Food and drink maintenance engineer (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 7am to 3:30pm with some flexibility required

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 18 August

Duration

5 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

  • Demonstrating an ability to learn and be practically capable in electrical installation, electrical maintenance, electrical testing and PLCs   
  • Becoming proficient in the application and use of a wide range of machine tools including turning and milling
  • Carrying out planned work including preventative maintenance and calibrations  
  • Attending breakdown repairs  
  • Completing installation and improvements to plant  
  • Working in a safe manner adhering to Good Manufacturing Practice  
  • Contributing to the site Engineering team objectives of effectively reducing manufacturing downtime through maintaining equipment, improving efficiencies and working to safety and food quality standards  
  • Getting broad exposure to different areas of food manufacturing mechanical and electrical maintenance and improvements  

Where you’ll work

Claylands Avenue

Worksop

S81 7AY

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

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

You will be studying towards the Level 3 Food & Drink Engineering Maintenance Standard as well as supporting training and qualifications to enable you to carry out the role of Multi-Skilled Engineer for Premier Foods (academic content delivered offsite and includes residential block release based in Huddersfield at Kirklees College).  

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

  • English/ maths/ science (grade 6/B)

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
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working

Other requirements

This is a busy working environment where using a wide range of skills is essential. The role is based in a factory where hygiene and food standards are of paramount importance. Must be able to work within a small team.

About this company

Premier Foods is one of Britain’s biggest listed food companies, employing over 4,500 colleagues at 13 manufacturing sites and offices up and down the country. Many of our brands have been part of UK life for more than a century and you’ll find them in 94% of British households. At Premier Foods we believe in inclusion, authenticity and individuality. We aim to ensure all existing and future colleagues are given equitable opportunities and are respected, valued and encouraged to bring their true authentic selves to work no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love or what they believe in. Our culture is one where everyone is welcome.

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

After this apprenticeship

It is envisaged that the successful applicant could carry on to a role as a multi-skilled technician on shift with us depending on how successful they are.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

KIRKLEES COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000305013.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 25 April 2025

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Company’s application instructions

All applicants need to apply through our website