Papermill Apprentice

Summary

If successful, you will be a part of the manufacturing process of some of our famous brands. Striving to meet production and environmental targets set, this role offers a variety of daily duties and tasks alongside the satisfaction of knowing you played a part in achieving not only production goals, but environmental and ethical pledges.

Wage

£23,829 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Process industry manufacturing technician (level 3)

Hours

For example, Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm, shifts, may work evenings and weekends.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Thursday 4 September 2025

Duration

3 years

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

Interact with the control panel of the machine to verify parameters.
Adjust system settings to ensure optimisation of the machine is utilised and reached.
Carry out quality checks on products ensuring standardisation of paper specification.
Record and analyse process data and report back to the Shift Supervisor the efficiency of the machine.
Carry out minor maintenance tasks such as blade switches to minimise downtime.
Develop a strong knowledge of the Paper Machine equipment as well as ingredients, systems and processes.
Assist with the start-up of the machine following downtime.
Liaise with the wider Papermill functions to ensure productivity and compliance with Company standards.
Carry out housekeeping tasks ensuring a safe working environment.

Where you'll work

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

CATCH Apprenticeships, Redwood Park Estate Stallingborough, Grimsby, DN41 8TH
Waterside Road, Hamilton Industrial Park, Leicester, LE5 1TZ

Training

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

College or training organisation

HCF CATCH LIMITED

Your training course

Process industry manufacturing technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Review instructions or information to understand the task.
Plan tasks. Identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace and personal safety and mitigation measures.
Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
Follow environment emergency procedures. For example, make area safe, evacuate.
Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
Apply standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Check equipment.
Select, check, and prepare raw materials for process for example, weighing, measuring, control and blending, conditioning, dissolving, and sanitisation.
Set and adjust processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
Monitor process for example, take readings and conduct walk-arounds.
Conduct the control of product streams to maintain specifics.
Apply quality assurance procedures. For example, density checks, contaminant check, and take samples for laboratory testing.
Apply intermediate or post-manufacturing procedure for example, labelling, packing, storage, visual inspection, discharge.
Manage waste streams.
Clean equipment for example, boil-outs, steam-outs, bake-outs, steam in place SIP, clean in place (CIP).
Conduct calculations for example, conversations, tare weight, charge weights, yield calculations.
Store tools and equipment.
Identify equipment for handover.
Apply signage and access restriction measures.
Shut down the process and equipment.
Isolate process and systems.
Complete isolation checks.
Empty equipment for example, drain, purge, vent, and de-pressure.
Purge, fill, pressurise and leak test.
Complete post maintenance equipment checks.
Line-up equipment.
Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic for chemical or petrochemical processing.
De-isolate process, mechanical and electrical systems.
Complete pre-start up checks.
Start-up plant and equipment.
Re-start process.
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data.
Interpret drawings and graphs.
Identify issues for example, defects, deviations, process variance, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Apply problem solving and fault-finding techniques.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Make a suggestion for improvement.
Use information and digital technology for example, management information systems, human machine interfaces, word processing, spreadsheet, email, virtual learning platforms, document sharing platforms. Comply with cyber security requirements.
Produce written documents for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Apply team working principles.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development (CPD) activities.
Review instructions or information to understand the task.
Plan tasks. Identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace and personal safety and mitigation measures.
Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
Follow environment emergency procedures. For example, make area safe, evacuate.
Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
Apply standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Check equipment.
Select, check, and prepare raw materials for process for example, weighing, measuring, control and blending, conditioning, dissolving, and sanitisation.
Set and adjust processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
Monitor process for example, take readings and conduct walk-arounds.
Conduct the control of product streams to maintain specifics.
Apply quality assurance procedures. For example, density checks, contaminant check, and take samples for laboratory testing.
Apply intermediate or post-manufacturing procedure for example, labelling, packing, storage, visual inspection, discharge.
Manage waste streams.
Clean equipment for example, boil-outs, steam-outs, bake-outs, steam in place SIP, clean in place (CIP).
Conduct calculations for example, conversations, tare weight, charge weights, yield calculations.
Store tools and equipment.
Identify equipment for handover.
Apply signage and access restriction measures.
Shut down the process and equipment.
Isolate process and systems.
Complete isolation checks.
Empty equipment for example, drain, purge, vent, and de-pressure.
Purge, fill, pressurise and leak test.
Complete post maintenance equipment checks.
Line-up equipment.
Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic for chemical or petrochemical processing.
De-isolate process, mechanical and electrical systems.
Complete pre-start up checks.
Start-up plant and equipment.
Re-start process.
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data.
Interpret drawings and graphs.
Identify issues for example, defects, deviations, process variance, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Apply problem solving and fault-finding techniques.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Make a suggestion for improvement.
Use information and digital technology for example, management information systems, human machine interfaces, word processing, spreadsheet, email, virtual learning platforms, document sharing platforms. Comply with cyber security requirements.
Produce written documents for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Apply team working principles.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development (CPD) activities.

Your training plan

The apprenticeship follows a 3-year programme and is delivered through a blended approach of face-to-face blocks of training CATCH in Stallingborough and online learning sessions throughout each year.
The remainder of the apprenticeship is completed onsite with the employer.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English Language and/or Literature (grade Level 4)
Maths (grade Level 4)
Science (grade Level 4)

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

Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Administrative skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative

Other requirements

Applicants will need a minimum of 3 GCSEs at A*-C (9-4) Grades including in English and Mathematics based subjects or equivalent.

About this company

Sustainability is at the heart of what we do, we are passionate about paper and committed to the future of our planet. We are world leaders in what we do and we currently have a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious, creative and dedicated apprentice to join our hugely successful team at our Integrated Plant in Hamilton. As an Apprentice Paper Maker you will be exposed to a fantastic working environment with a clear development path for progression. Working with a world leading manufacturer the successful candidate will gain hands-on unrivalled experience. Working one-on-one with some of the most complicated pieces of machinery, your drive and passion will resonate within the team, you will be a crucial part of bringing Sofidel’s long-term goals to life.

https://www.sofidel.com/en/the-group/sofidel-in-the-world/sofidel-uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Successful completion of the apprenticeship could lead to a higher-level apprenticeship or full-time employment for the right candidate.
You will have developed a variety of interchangeable skills and have an in depth understanding of manufacturing and processes.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HCF CATCH LIMITED

Ellie Ryal

ellie.ryal@catchuk.org

01469552835

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000326210.

Apply now

Closes on Wednesday 30 July 2025

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