Polymer Apprenticeship

ALPLA UK LIMITED

Milton Keynes (MK10 0AB)

Closes in 16 days (Sunday 29 March 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 9 March 2026

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Summary

At ALPLA, we stand for high-quality plastic packaging throughout the world. Around 22,000 colleagues produce quality packaging for foodstuffs, cosmetics and industrial cleaning brands for many blue-chip clients across 182 ALPLA sites in 45 countries.

Wage

£14,722.50 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
Polymer processing technician (level 3)
Hours
Mon to Fri, 7am - 4pm.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 6 April 2026

Duration

3 years

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

  • LOTO
  • Visual quality
  • Colour and material changes
  • Basic machine setting and operation
  • Basic processing settings and adjustments
  • Basic Toolroom

Where you'll work

Lasborough Road
Kingston
Milton Keynes
MK10 0AB

Training

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

Training provider

CITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON COLLEGE

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

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade A*-B (5-9))

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
  • Organisation skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working

Other requirements

Basic computer skills.

Desirable:

Engineering/Mechanical BTEC or NVQ.

Health & Safety Basics.

About this employer

Alpla is a world leader in the development and production of plastic packaging solutions.

Milton Keynes is 1 of 8 sites in the UK.

After this apprenticeship

Shift Technician.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000019524.

Apply now

Closes in 16 days (Sunday 29 March 2026 at 11:59pm)