Polymer Apprentice
COSTER AEROSOLS LTD
CHESTERFIELD (S43 4XE)
Closes on Monday 16 March 2026
Posted on 11 February 2026
Contents
Summary
Learning about Engel and Demag Injection Mouldings and Actuator assembly production lines in a fast-paced environment, how to perform quality control tasks and technical maintenance of automated assembly lines.
- Wage
-
£19,240 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
The hourly rate will be £10 per hour for the first year of the apprenticeship
- Training course
- Polymer processing technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8.30am to 4pm.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 20 April 2026
- Duration
-
3 years
- Positions available
-
2
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
- Operation of Engel and Demag Injection Mouldings and Actuator assembly production lines working on a rotational basis
- Perform quality control tasks according to cycle of control to ensure products conform to customer specifications, taking full responsibility for accurate and timely checks
- Perform competent and comprehensive preventative and technical maintenance of production lines, including cleaning and lubrication of equipment and systems
- Breakdown repairs and reactive maintenance of automated assembly lines as well as packaging and palletisation equipment
- Installation of new equipment/machinery and modification of existing equipment
- Operation and maintenance of material conveyance system (Motan)
- Operation of chiller systems
- Undertaking troubleshooting and problem-solving to tightly controlled and monitored standards with the ability to accurately document changes whilst adhering to quality standards
- Continuous improvement (Kaizen System) – Design, Develop and implementation of ideas
- Being an ambassador for safe working practices and the business’s clean-as-you-go policy
Where you'll work
8 LINDRICK WAY
BARLBOROUGH
CHESTERFIELD
S43 4XE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON COLLEGE
Training course
Polymer processing technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Review instructions or information. For example, work instructions, sampling requirements, drawings dimensioning, labelling, formulations, machine settings.
- Plan task and identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, security, quality and cost.
- Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace.
- Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations and standards. For example, daily machine checks, wearing personal protective equipment.
- Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
- Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and handling.
- Select, check, and prepare materials for polymer processing for example, weighing, control and blending, and conditioning.
- Select, configure (for example, replace or change inserts) and check mould tools, formers, dies or other process equipment.
- Check installation and function of processing equipment for the process.
- Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic.
- Check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record where applicable.
- Set or check machine settings using instructions such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
- Adjust machine setting for the speeds, positions, pressures and safety of the mould tool, former or die movement to meet product specification.
- Start up manufacturing processes.
- Monitor process feedback and adjust process parameters.
- Shut down manufacturing processes.
- Devise machine settings such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
- Test and evaluate machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
- Select and apply optimal machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material (for example, capability study).
- Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data. Use data to inform action.
- Identify process faults and resolve.
- Apply post processing techniques for example, assembly, printing, decorating, cooling operations, packing, and labelling.
- Follow quality assurance processes during manufacture.
- Perform quality control checks. For example, conduct parameter checks (size, colour, weight), and take samples.
- Identify quality issues and resolve for example, defects, maintenance requirements.
- Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
- Apply preventative maintenance practices. For example, checking guarding, lubrication, cleaning of tooling, safety checks, and inspection for wear and tear.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the effectiveness of existing production, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process or task.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
- Present information.
- Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests, technical reports.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
- Review instructions or information. For example, work instructions, sampling requirements, drawings dimensioning, labelling, formulations, machine settings.
- Plan task and identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, security, quality and cost.
- Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace.
- Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations and standards. For example, daily machine checks, wearing personal protective equipment.
- Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
- Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and handling.
- Select, check, and prepare materials for polymer processing for example, weighing, control and blending, and conditioning.
- Select, configure (for example, replace or change inserts) and check mould tools, formers, dies or other process equipment.
- Check installation and function of processing equipment for the process.
- Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic.
- Check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record where applicable.
- Set or check machine settings using instructions such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
- Adjust machine setting for the speeds, positions, pressures and safety of the mould tool, former or die movement to meet product specification.
- Start up manufacturing processes.
- Monitor process feedback and adjust process parameters.
- Shut down manufacturing processes.
- Devise machine settings such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
- Test and evaluate machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
- Select and apply optimal machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material (for example, capability study).
- Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data. Use data to inform action.
- Identify process faults and resolve.
- Apply post processing techniques for example, assembly, printing, decorating, cooling operations, packing, and labelling.
- Follow quality assurance processes during manufacture.
- Perform quality control checks. For example, conduct parameter checks (size, colour, weight), and take samples.
- Identify quality issues and resolve for example, defects, maintenance requirements.
- Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
- Apply preventative maintenance practices. For example, checking guarding, lubrication, cleaning of tooling, safety checks, and inspection for wear and tear.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the effectiveness of existing production, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process or task.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
- Present information.
- Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests, technical reports.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
Training schedule
The training will take place during a 37 hour working week alongside regular week-long block release sessions at Wolverhampton College.
We will cover the cost of travel.
More training information
You will work on an internal training programme with a mentor and Process Engineer during the course of the apprenticeship.
The training in house will be supported by block release training at Wolverhampton College in Telford.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted 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
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
- Being able to work safely and follow safety instructions and procedures at all times
- Being able to understand Standard Operating Procedure to aid training
- Being able to work at heights (training will be provided)
- Being willing and able to travel and stay away from home for block release at Wolverhampton College in Telford
- Being punctual and organised
About this employer
Coster UK is a multinational organisation that manufacture and supply packaging components to the Aerosol and Luxury Packaging industry. Coster is a long-established name in the Aerosol and Luxury packaging industry with a proud legacy and reputation for manufacturing excellence and quality.
Coster has been built on a platform of industrial and technical excellence and with high levels of automation and data exchange in its manufacturing technologies.
Company benefits
- Life Assurance
- Pension
- Westfield Health Care Cash Plan
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Laundered Uniform
- Travel costs for block release weeks
After this apprenticeship
There are different career routes, including Injection Moulding Technician, Setter, Tool Maker and Process Engineer within the Injection Moulding industry, all of which require experience. There are also different levels of Polymer qualifications to work towards, from IMT1 to IMT4 and others.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000014578.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 16 March 2026