Apprentice Process Engineer

WHS PLASTICS PICKERING LTD

North Yorkshire (YO18 8LX)

Closes on Monday 29 September 2025

Posted on 27 August 2025

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Contents

Summary

As an Apprentice Process Engineer, you’ll work alongside our Technical Manager, process engineering team, tool change technicians and toolroom specialists to learn every facet of injection-moulding production.

Wage

£14,526.20 to £23,492.04, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

£7.55ph – Year 1 £8.99ph – Year 2 £10.59ph – Year 3 £12.31ph – Year 4

Training course
Polymer processing technician (level 3)
Hours
TBC

37 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 15 October 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

  • Assist in setting up and validating injection-moulding production / NPI trials
  • Collect and analyse process data (cycle-times, scrap rates, downtime) using Excel or Power BI
  • Support tool techs on tool changeovers and toolroom with preventive-maintenance checks (SMED, 5S, TPM)
  • Collaborate on root-cause investigations for rejects and machine alarms
  • Help document Standard Operating Procedures and digital work instructions
  • Participate in Kaizen events and continuous-improvement workshops

Where you'll work

Whs Plastics Pickering Ltd
Westgate Carr Road
Pickering
North Yorkshire
YO18 8LX

Training

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

Training provider

THE S&A TRANSFORM GROUP LIMITED

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

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Maths (grade 4)
  • Science (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Team working
  • Initiative

About this employer

WHS Plastics Pickering Ltd is a key site within the broader WHS Plastics group, focusing on injection-moulded plastics and assemblies for a variety of industries (notably automotive and industrial). They provide end-to-end solutions—from design and tooling to production and final assembly—leveraging extensive technical capabilities and certifications. The Pickering location itself is a sizable operation with substantial turnover and workforce.

Company benefits

• Fully funded apprenticeship training (on-site) • Paid time for study, exams and continuous-learning sessions • Access to modern equipment, injection presses (50–2700T) and digital dashboards

After this apprenticeship

Clear career pathway into a permanent Process Engineering role

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE S&A TRANSFORM GROUP LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000339042.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 29 September 2025

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