Mobile Plant Operator Apprentice

Summary

Are you looking to kickstart your career in Heavy Plant Machinery? We're looking for a motivated and hands-on individual to join us as a Mobile Plant Operator Apprentice. In this role, you’ll learn to drive Front Loading Shovel and other plant machinery. You'll gain valuable and practical skills while working alongside experienced drivers.

Wage

£26,187 a year

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Training course

Material processing plant operator (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Sunday 6am to 6pm, shifts, may work evenings and weekends.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

1 year 1 month

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

Role responsibilities:

Learn to safely operate a range of mobile plant equipment under supervision
Assist in the loading, unloading, and movement of materials on site
Support routine maintenance checks and report defects or issues promptly
Follow all health and safety procedures and site-specific regulations
Keep the work area clean, tidy, and hazard-free
Assist with daily inspections and safety checks of machinery
Complete training logs and attend apprenticeship training sessions as required
Communicate effectively with team members and supervisors
Carry out tasks in accordance with environmental and company standards
Assist and comply with the Traffic Management

Where you'll work

MVV Environment Ridham
Lord Nelson Road
Sittinbourne
Kent
ME9 8FQ

Training

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

College or training organisation

TARMAC TRADING LIMITED

Your training course

Material processing plant operator (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Conduct pre-start checks of plant equipment.
Conduct post operation checks of plant equipment.
Identify and report environmental issues of work undertaken.
Conduct maintenance activities such as planned, preventative, predictive or reactive.
Use materials, fluids or lubricants required for operation and maintenance.
Monitor stock levels.
Monitor end product quality and report issues.
Carry out and record learning and development activities.
Comply with health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards. Comply with safe systems of work.
Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
Lock off and isolate equipment or systems using Lockout, Tag out, Try out (LOTOTO) procedures.
Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
Communicate with others verbally for example colleagues and stakeholders.
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, risk assessments, equipment service records, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, checklists, pre-start and post operation check records, waste records.
Identify and take action when observing unsafe practice.
Carry out risk assessments.
Applies team working principles.
Follow handover procedures.
Use mobile plant equipment to transport materials identified for production.
Operate mobile plant.
Select and checks mobile equipment or attachment.
Identify and report issues with raw materials such as contamination.
Process products.
Operate static plant to produce a manufactured product.
Complete inspection of raw materials.
Monitor static plant processing and adjust tolerances.
Follow emergency stop procedures.
Calibrate equipment prior to use.
Check and confirm raw materials into the correct location.
Conduct pre-start checks of plant equipment.
Conduct post operation checks of plant equipment.
Identify and report environmental issues of work undertaken.
Conduct maintenance activities such as planned, preventative, predictive or reactive.
Use materials, fluids or lubricants required for operation and maintenance.
Monitor stock levels.
Monitor end product quality and report issues.
Carry out and record learning and development activities.
Comply with health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards. Comply with safe systems of work.
Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
Lock off and isolate equipment or systems using Lockout, Tag out, Try out (LOTOTO) procedures.
Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
Communicate with others verbally for example colleagues and stakeholders.
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, risk assessments, equipment service records, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, checklists, pre-start and post operation check records, waste records.
Identify and take action when observing unsafe practice.
Carry out risk assessments.
Applies team working principles.
Follow handover procedures.

Your training plan

This is a full-time position based at our site at Ridham Dock, Sittingbourne. There will be additional training at National Skills and Safety Park, Nether Langwith Quarry, Wood Lane, Nether Langwith, Mansfield, NG20 9JF, once a month. Expenses for this will be covered by MVV Environment.

More training information

You will follow a structured day shift pattern that may include weekdays and weekends between the hours of 06:00 and 18:00, depending on operational requirements. Approximately 80% of your time will be spent gaining hands-on experience through practical, on-the-job training, allowing you to build real-world skills in a live working environment. The remaining 20% will be dedicated to classroom-based learning, where you'll complete any theoretical or technical training required to support your development.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 3)
Maths (grade 3)

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
Problem solving skills
Logical
Team working
Physical fitness

Other requirements

This role includes early starts, weekend work and working outdoors in all weather conditions.

About this company

Power from renewable sources is an integral part of a new and sustainable energy system. Using old and waste wood as fuel to generate electricity and usable heat is indispensable for the future energy supply. MVV Environment Ridham employs this technology at our biomass plant at Ridham Dock near Sittingbourne (Kent).

Company benefits

Discount Platform. Cycle to Work. Healthcare Cash Plan. EAP. Performance Related Bonus Scheme. Independent Financial Advice. Group Pension Plan. Group Life Assurance.

After this apprenticeship

After successfully finishing the apprenticeship, you can explore a range of opportunities, such as:

Material Processing Technician

Operate and monitor machinery and systems that process materials such as metals, aggregates, biomass, or waste.

Process Operator / Plant Operator

Responsible for day-to-day running of processing equipment, quality checks, and maintaining safe operations.

Ask a question

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