Engineering Apprentice (Mechatronics)

KP SNACKS LIMITED

Leominster (HR6 9DQ)

Closes in 14 days (Friday 4 July 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 20 June 2025


Summary

KP Snacks is home to some of the most iconic British snacks. We employ around 2,400 people across the UK. At KP Snacks we are passionate about people and proud of the exciting, rewarding careers we offer. We’re always on the lookout for talented and self-motivated individuals to bring added expertise and enthusiasm to our growing business.

Wage

£18,844.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)
Hours
Eventual Rotational Shift pattern (12 h days/nights, on a four on, four off pattern).

48 hours a week

Start date

Monday 8 September 2025

Duration

3 years 9 months

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

We’re seeking an astute, ambitious Engineering Apprentice to join our dynamic team based just outside of Leominster.  Duties will include:

  • Working closely with the Maintenance leads to support and maintain key business systems on site
  • Supporting maintenance functions for production, IT and other equipment where necessary
  • Coaching and encouraging equipment owners to do basic mechanical tasks
  • Develop and grow into a role to provide engineering expertise and support to reduce or eliminate downtime
  • Resolving mechanical breakdowns
  • Carrying out planned maintenance and defect close-out

Where you'll work

Tyrrells Court
Stretford
Leominster
HR6 9DQ

Training

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

College or training organisation

HEREFORDSHIRE AND WORCESTERSHIRE GROUP TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Your training course

Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Use information technology, for example to create documentation, communication and information management.
  • Obtain, read and interpret task related documentation, such as work instructions, quality control documents, drawings, operation manuals, specifications and service manuals.
  • Record information for example job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
  • Conduct initial assessment of equipment that requires maintenance.
  • Formulate plans setting out the methodology of the maintenance activity including timescales and resources.
  • Select, prepare and use material, consumables, tools and equipment.
  • Comply with health and safety regulations and organisational requirements applicable in the workplace. For example, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, PPE and applying safe systems of work.
  • Apply dynamic risk assessment, hazard identification and risk mitigation principles and techniques.
  • Apply isolation principles and techniques to equipment undergoing maintenance, including dissipation of stored energies as required.
  • Manufacture, repair and refurbish components using hand and machine tools.
  • Restore the workplace on completion of the maintenance activity. Handover resources, consumables and equipment to process owner.
  • Apply the techniques and processes used in reactive maintenance and repair activities on complex engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
  • Produce, maintain, update, record and store documentation including electronic items such as PLC and robot programmes.
  • Apply techniques and processes used in planned and preventative maintenance activities on engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
  • Apply functional testing and checking techniques and processes after maintenance interventions, and handover to the operational team.
  • Apply techniques and processes used in condition monitoring, non-destructive or sensory testing. Record findings and take necessary actions.
  • Apply calculation techniques such as, feeds, speeds, tolerances, electrical calculations using Ohms law, power calculations and cable sizing calculations.
  • Select, use and confirm calibration of electrical and mechanical testing and measuring equipment.
  • Produce sketches or drawings to support maintenance activities.
  • Communicate in writing. Prepare communications, documents and reports on technical matters.
  • Segregate, separate and dispose of waste streams and by-products.
  • Apply 4S or 5S principles of housekeeping to the work environment.
  • Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve operational performance.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques.
  • Communicate with others verbally. Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders. For example, to access equipment or arrange access to equipment.
  • Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
  • Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
  • Apply fault finding techniques used in reactive maintenance on complex integrated systems including half split, input output, six point technique, function or performance testing, unit or component substitution and equipment diagnostics.
  • Use information technology, for example to create documentation, communication and information management.
  • Obtain, read and interpret task related documentation, such as work instructions, quality control documents, drawings, operation manuals, specifications and service manuals.
  • Record information for example job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
  • Conduct initial assessment of equipment that requires maintenance.
  • Formulate plans setting out the methodology of the maintenance activity including timescales and resources.
  • Select, prepare and use material, consumables, tools and equipment.
  • Comply with health and safety regulations and organisational requirements applicable in the workplace. For example, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, PPE and applying safe systems of work.
  • Apply dynamic risk assessment, hazard identification and risk mitigation principles and techniques.
  • Apply isolation principles and techniques to equipment undergoing maintenance, including dissipation of stored energies as required.
  • Manufacture, repair and refurbish components using hand and machine tools.
  • Restore the workplace on completion of the maintenance activity. Handover resources, consumables and equipment to process owner.
  • Apply the techniques and processes used in reactive maintenance and repair activities on complex engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
  • Produce, maintain, update, record and store documentation including electronic items such as PLC and robot programmes.
  • Apply techniques and processes used in planned and preventative maintenance activities on engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
  • Apply functional testing and checking techniques and processes after maintenance interventions, and handover to the operational team.
  • Apply techniques and processes used in condition monitoring, non-destructive or sensory testing. Record findings and take necessary actions.
  • Apply calculation techniques such as, feeds, speeds, tolerances, electrical calculations using Ohms law, power calculations and cable sizing calculations.
  • Select, use and confirm calibration of electrical and mechanical testing and measuring equipment.
  • Produce sketches or drawings to support maintenance activities.
  • Communicate in writing. Prepare communications, documents and reports on technical matters.
  • Segregate, separate and dispose of waste streams and by-products.
  • Apply 4S or 5S principles of housekeeping to the work environment.
  • Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve operational performance.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques.
  • Communicate with others verbally. Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders. For example, to access equipment or arrange access to equipment.
  • Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
  • Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
  • Apply fault finding techniques used in reactive maintenance on complex integrated systems including half split, input output, six point technique, function or performance testing, unit or component substitution and equipment diagnostics.

Your training plan

Formal training is delivered at HWGTA, located in Hereford (HR4 9SX). 

Level 3 comprises of:

Duration approximately 40-45 months.

Years 1/2 is a combination of off-the-job training at HWGTA Training Centre, as well as training on site with your employer. This includes 26-42 weeks within the training Centre plus 1 day per week in a classroom setting to cover practical and theory aspects and complete EAL Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering - Development Knowledge.

Years 3/4 based full-time in the company, developing skills in preparation for the end-point assessment to gain your L3 Mechatronics qualification.

You will receive monthly visits from your assigned Learning and Development Specialist, who will set your work, monitor your development and wellbeing, and discuss training sessions. They will also prepare you for your End Point Assessment.

Additional training for functional skills in English and maths will be undertaken if needed.

There is also a five-day teambuilding residential trip that is held in the spring of each year, offered to all apprentices on the programme.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English and Maths (grade 4 or C 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
  • Attention to detail
  • Team working
  • Positive attitude
  • Reliability
  • Self-motivated
  • Committed to develop

About this company

KP Snacks is home to some of the most iconic British snack brands including; McCoy’s, Hula Hoops, KP Nuts, POM-BEAR, Skips, Space Raiders, Discos, Nik Naks, Wheat Crunchies, Penn State, Roysters, Brannigans, Frisps & Butterkist,Whole Earth, and at our Leominster site, Tyrrells Potato crisps. We also produce many fantastic products for the UK’s leading retailers. We are proud that millions of people enjoy our snacks, every day! We employ around 2,400 people in the UK across our production sites and our head office in Slough, Berkshire. KP Snacks is also proud to be part of the Intersnack Group, Europe’s leading producer of savoury snacks, operating in around 30 European countries. At KP Snacks we are passionate about people and proud of the exciting, rewarding careers we offer. We’re always on the lookout for talented and self-motivated individuals to bring added expertise and enthusiasm to our growing business.

https://www.kpsnacks.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

May lead to a permanent position for the right candidate.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HEREFORDSHIRE AND WORCESTERSHIRE GROUP TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Lisa Wilkinson

lisa.wilkinson@hwgta.org

01432377002

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000326815.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Friday 4 July 2025 at 11:59pm)

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