Operations Apprentice

Summary

As part of our Mars Wrigley team in Plymouth, you will take part in fantastic training courses and team building events, whilst tackling real challenges and taking on real responsibility. As a Mars Apprentice you will gain a professional qualification, as well as on the job experience.

Annual wage

£20,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Salary £20,000 rising on completion of each academic year + annual bonus + benefits

Training course

Food and drink technical operator (level 3)

Hours

Shifts TBC.

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 1 September

Duration

3 years

Positions available

4

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

With strong mentorship and coaching from our experienced Operations Associates you will be:

Developing leadership skills to enable you to lead a team to achieve results
Learning how to operate, diagnose faults, repair, and maintain our equipment
Working across both process and wrapping areas of our factory.
Applying all relevant Mars quality and safety systems to ensure the safety of people and products is maintained

Where you’ll work

Estover Close

Plymouth

PL6 7PL

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

BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE

Your training course

Food and drink technical operator (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Interpret, follow and implement food and drink production SOPs.
Interpret, follow and implement quality assurance procedures.
Monitor production performance, stock usage and rotation.
Operate or use food and drink production tools and equipment.
Identify hazards (Critical Control Points) 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. Segregate, recycle and dispose of waste.
Monitor and inspect production machinery.
Apply basic maintenance practices. For example, check levels, parts wear, pressure, and sensors, and grease and lubricate.
Select and use maintenance hand tools.
Follow food safe engineering standards and practices. For example, use of food safe chemicals, check out and in of components.
Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout).
Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
Collect and interpret information. Use data to apply changes
Record information - paper based or electronic.
Use information technology. Comply with GDPR.
Plan and organise self, others and resources.
Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders visually and verbally.
Communicate in writing.
Identify training needs. Train and buddy team members in the workplace.
Interpret, follow and implement food and drink production SOPs.
Interpret, follow and implement quality assurance procedures.
Monitor production performance, stock usage and rotation.
Operate or use food and drink production tools and equipment.
Identify hazards (Critical Control Points) 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. Segregate, recycle and dispose of waste.
Monitor and inspect production machinery.
Apply basic maintenance practices. For example, check levels, parts wear, pressure, and sensors, and grease and lubricate.
Select and use maintenance hand tools.
Follow food safe engineering standards and practices. For example, use of food safe chemicals, check out and in of components.
Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout).
Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
Collect and interpret information. Use data to apply changes
Record information - paper based or electronic.
Use information technology. Comply with GDPR.
Plan and organise self, others and resources.
Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders visually and verbally.
Communicate in writing.
Identify training needs. Train and buddy team members in the workplace.

Your training plan

Food and Drink Technical Operator Apprenticeship Standard (Level 3)

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English and maths (grade 9 to 4 (A* to C))

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
Organisation skills
Team working
Demonstrate leadership skills
Being hands on
The desire to learn

Other requirements

You’ll need to be a great team player and communicator, with the motivation to get results and a positive mindset. Able to travel to our Plymouth site. You'll be required to work shifts in this role, and as such we require you to be 16+ by the 1st September 2025 You must not have more than 2 years operations experience, prior learning, or qualifications higher than an NVQ Level 3 in operations

About this company

When we make brands that put smiles on people’s faces and create better moments for millions, we feel a sense of pride in our work! At Mars Wrigley Plymouth, we make our iconic products like Hubba Bubba®, ORBIT®, EXTRA® and Airwaves®.

https://careers.mars.com/uk/en/home (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

After this apprenticeship

On successful completion of the Operations Apprenticeship, you will have demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to take ownership and accountability for a number of machines, processes or pieces of equipment and carry out complex operational tasks, enabling you to coordinate a team of operational Associates to achieve line KPIs and take the lead in repairing mechanical breakdowns.

What can you expect from Mars?

Work with over 140,000 diverse and talented associates, all guided by The Five Principles
Join a purpose-driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today
Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University
An industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000286578.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 7 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.

Company’s application instructions

Applications will be reviewed regularly and may close early if we receive a high number of applicants. We currently expect to hold our assessment day during March/April 2025. We are keen for all applicants to demonstrate their full potential. If you require any support or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, including those related to a disability please contact us at apprenticesupport@effem.com. Any information you provide will be treated in confidence.

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