Mechatronics Apprenticeship

SONOCO METAL PACKAGING UK LIMITED

Leicester (LE3 1TX)

Closes in 30 days (Friday 10 April 2026)

Posted on 10 March 2026

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Summary

Start your career as an Apprentice with Sonoco, a global leader in packaging for major FMCG brands. Gain hands on mechanical skills, work with advanced machinery, and build a strong foundation for a future in engineering, manufacturing, and technical operations.

• Wage:

  £21,049.75 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Successful candidates in the past have gone onto to successful careers, including high level management roles.

• Training course: Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)
• Hours: Monday - Friday, working hours TBC

  37 hours 30 minutes a week

• Start date:

  Monday 7 September 2026

• Duration:

  4 years

• Positions available:

  3

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 have an excellent opportunity to join our Apprenticeship Scheme studying mechatronics, a combination of mechanics/electronics.  

These positions will incorporate maintenance, mechanical engineering and electrical skills required to carry out tasks within the Braunstone Plant. Allowing for your potential career in industry with experience on high-speed automated production lines and working with teams in a fast-paced precision manufacturing environment.  The technical training part of this Apprenticeship is to take place at a MGTS in Coventry and therefore candidates need to be able to attend that training on time each day for around the first 6 -9 months and then on a day-release basis after that.  Apprentices are expected to make their own travel arrangements to and from training and work.

As an Apprentice you will follow a formal structured training programme gaining Level 3 qualifications along with learning how to work safely, maintain good housekeeping and good engineering practices, Other key elements of the tasks you will be involved in as part of your training will include some or all of the following areas:

• Turning, milling, welding and fabrication
• Plant maintenance systems, adherence to PPM schedules and use of thermal and vibration analysis tools
• Working as part of a team in the workshop, repairing electromechanical equipment, motors, gearboxes and pumps
• Learning how to use mechanical fault-finding techniques
• Complete build, repair and devise preventative maintenance solutions for mechanical systems, from simple machines complex machine operating systems
• Knowledge of machinery safety and guarding and their implementation
• Design and building one-off repair solutions and developing process equipment improvements and implementing across multiple machines

Where you'll work

Golf Course Lane
Leicester
LE3 1TX

Training

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

Training provider

MIDLAND GROUP TRAINING SERVICES LIMITED

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.

Training schedule

• Level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Foundation Competence)
• BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Knowledge)
• Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Competence)

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

• Maths (grade 9-5)
• English (grade 9-4)
• Science (grade 9-4)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Any two other subjects (grade 9-4)

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

Skills

• Communication skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working

Other requirements

A hands on job, working with metal fabrication inside and outside the plant. Servicing heavy machinery and electrical components.

About this employer

People and Packaging with a Purpose We're a different kind of packaging company. Our integrated packaging solutions help define brand personalities, create unique customer experiences and enhance the quality of products and the quality of life for people around the world. All in the service of our purpose: Better Packaging. Better Life.

After this apprenticeship

There may be the possibility of being recruited into one of the vacancies at the end of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

MIDLAND GROUP TRAINING SERVICES LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000020233.

Apply now

Closes in 30 days (Friday 10 April 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.