Food and Drink Engineering Apprentice

Summary

This is a newly created program within Rudie’s Kitchen & Ace’s Pantry - our UK production & fulfilment sites. You will embark on undertaking a structured program of academic study, workshops and on the job training in order to gain the required skills and knowledge to fulfil the requirements in becoming a Multi-Skilled Engineer.

Wage

£27,000 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Year 1 - £27k Year 2 - £32k (plus shift allowance from 21/04) + cost of living increase Year 3 - £38k (plus shift allowance)+ cost of living increase

Training course

Food and drink maintenance engineer (level 3)

Hours

You will be working typically, 08:00 - 16:30 when working onsite and attending college 09:00 - 17:00 during block release. Working days TBC

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 8 September 2025

Duration

3 years 6 months

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

Observing, learning and understanding a wide range of engineering skills and processes while under the instruction of competent engineering staff
To be able to demonstrate these skills and processes as the training period progresses by working independently or with a team
To undertake tasks as instructed and increase overall contribution to the department
To undertake and successfully complete suitable college courses throughout the training period, achieving the academic grades and practical skills in order to entitle yearly progression leading to the award of a suitable level 4 (HNC)
Learning and understanding the importance of Health and safety within the facility
To learn how to maintain workshop equipment and to keep it in good repair
To maintain a logbook over the duration of the apprenticeship period, recording projects that have been undertaken and the skills learned
To maintain and to ensure general good housekeeping of the workshop and factory areas post work completion
To maintain a smart appearance and to act in a professional manner at all times whether on or off-site

Where you'll work

Unit 1 Symmetry Park
Blyth
Worksop
S81 8HG

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)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

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 Butternut Box (academic content delivered offsite on block release based in Huddersfield at Kirklees College).

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4 / C or above)
Maths (grade 4 / C or above)
Science (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
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Team working
Loves dogs (naturally)
Keen interest in engineering

Other requirements

Due to unsociable hours we are only able to employ people over 18 in our factories. The role may involve the handling of frozen raw meat so it is important that candidates are comfortable working around raw meat and in cold temperatures (full PPE provided) Candidates are expected to remove any false lashes or nails, heavy makeup and jewellery as we are a food manufacturer.

About this company

At Butternut, the mission is to deliver health and happiness to dogs and their humans all over the world. In order to do just that, we need a team of forward-thinking, driven people who love dogs as much as we do. And we need quite a big kitchen too. Which is precisely why we have built one. Located in Blyth, near Worksop, Rudie's Kitchen and Ace's Pantry are where all the magic happens, so to speak. It's where the tasty Butternut meals and treats will be gently cooked, using human-quality ingredients because, the way we see it, we wouldn't serve food to dogs that we wouldn't be happy to eat ourselves. At Butternut, we believe dogs deserve better, and if that's something you think too, we want to hear from you. Butternut has come a long way since Kev & Dave (co-founders) hand-delivered the first Butternut Box, and we are now looking for brilliant people to join the team for this next part of the story.

http://www.butternutbox.com (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Enjoy 257.5 hours of holiday per year, plus an extra day for each year of service (up to 5 days). * 39 hours of pre-booked paws days to support good wellbeing and self-care. * Unlock a £500 annual budget for personal learning and development.

After this apprenticeship

This role could lead to full-time employment.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: