Apprentice Engineering Maintenance Technician

THE FRESH PRODUCE CENTRE LIMITED

Kent (TN12 6UT)

Closes on Sunday 2 August 2026

Posted on 24 June 2026

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Contents

Summary

Would you like to earn a salary, whilst learning on the job and gaining a qualification? We have an exciting opportunity for a Engineering Maintenance Techinician apprentice.  You will gain skills in electrical, mechanical, and control & instrumentation maintenance. 

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Engineering maintenance technician - dual discipline (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday 9am- 5pm

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 10 August 2026

Duration

4 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

Disciplines Covered: Apprentices gain skills in electrical, mechanical, and control & instrumentation maintenance. This includes working on motors, power supplies, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), pumps, valves, gearboxes, and control systems.

Core Duties: Apprentices learn to conduct planned, preventative, and reactive maintenance, diagnose faults, repair and replace equipment, and ensure compliance with health, safety, and quality standards

Training Structure: The apprenticeship combines on-the-job experience with off-the-job training. Year 1 typically involves workshop blocks and technical study, followed by day-release training in subsequent years. Off-the-job training is structured to develop the required knowledge, skills, and behaviours.

Your duties will include:

  • Carry out fault finding investigation on electrical and mechanical equipment
  • Understand principles and present practical knowledge of mechanical engineering, including condition monitoring of the machines
  • Design and fabricate equipment as and when required
  • Read and interpret relevant data and documentation
  • Using basic CAD tools to design electrical circuits for control panels
  • Present practical experience of the work with electric motors, inverters, power supplies, sensors and other automation equipment.
  • To carry out upkeep of the building and plant equipment.

Where you'll work

The Fresh Produce Centre Transfesa Road
Paddock Wood
Kent
TN12 6UT

Training

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

Training provider

IPS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

Training course

Engineering maintenance technician - dual discipline (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Review and use information. For example, work instructions, drawings, design specifications, and plant configurations.
  • Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan tasks.
  • Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, consumables.
  • Respond and adapt to work demands. For example, adapt working methods to reflect changes in working environment, re-prioritise workloads to react to breakdowns and fault scenarios.
  • Identify equipment to work on. Check plant configuration is as defined.
  • Prepare the work area for maintenance tasks.
  • Identify environmental and health and safety hazards and risks and apply control measures.
  • Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, signage and barriers, working at height, confined spaces, and COSHH.
  • Follow security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
  • Follow emergency incident and response procedures.
  • Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimising waste.
  • Segregate items for reuse, recycling, and waste.
  • Use mathematical principles and formulae to support engineering maintenance.
  • Apply engineering maintenance standards and procedures.
  • Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
  • Follow maintenance tools and equipment control procedures. For example, handling and storage.
  • Reinstate the work area.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Communicate with others to give and receive information. For example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
  • Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
  • Record information.
  • Produce or amend documents. For example, handover notes and reports.
  • Identify and highlight issues (red pen), with technical drawings.
  • Use digital and information technology. For example, databases, data sharing platforms, email, management information systems, and word processing. Follow cyber security and GDPR requirements.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions.
  • Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Select, check, and use electrical maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment. Select, check, and use control and instrumentation maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Use electrical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques. Use control and instrumentation diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Inspect and test electrical aspects of plant. For example, visual checks, insulation and continuity checks, thermographic surveys, and voltage levels.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Remove and replace electrical parts.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Prepare and terminate electrical cables.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Set up and adjust electrical aspects of plant.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services isolation and deisolation.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Conduct functional testing.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Inspect and test control and instrumentation systems.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Check calibration and make adjustments.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Check loop function.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Set up and adjust control and instrumentation systems.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Remove and replace instruments and sensors.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Re-connect instrumentation power supply, cables, pipework, and services.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services isolation and deisolation.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Select, check, and use electrical and mechanical maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Use electrical and mechanical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Inspect and test electrical aspects of plant. For example, visual checks, insulation and continuity checks, thermographic surveys, and voltage levels.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Remove and replace electrical parts.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Prepare and terminate electrical cables.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Set up, align, and adjust electrical aspects of plant.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Conduct functional testing.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Check condition and operation of mechanical aspects of plant and equipment. For example, pumps.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Remove and replace mechanical parts.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Examine mechanical parts for defects. For example, pump seals.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Set up, align, and adjust mechanical aspects of plant.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Lubricate mechanical assemblies.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Apply bench fitting techniques.
  • Review and use information. For example, work instructions, drawings, design specifications, and plant configurations.
  • Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan tasks.
  • Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, consumables.
  • Respond and adapt to work demands. For example, adapt working methods to reflect changes in working environment, re-prioritise workloads to react to breakdowns and fault scenarios.
  • Identify equipment to work on. Check plant configuration is as defined.
  • Prepare the work area for maintenance tasks.
  • Identify environmental and health and safety hazards and risks and apply control measures.
  • Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, signage and barriers, working at height, confined spaces, and COSHH.
  • Follow security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
  • Follow emergency incident and response procedures.
  • Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimising waste.
  • Segregate items for reuse, recycling, and waste.
  • Use mathematical principles and formulae to support engineering maintenance.
  • Apply engineering maintenance standards and procedures.
  • Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
  • Follow maintenance tools and equipment control procedures. For example, handling and storage.
  • Reinstate the work area.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Communicate with others to give and receive information. For example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
  • Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
  • Record information.
  • Produce or amend documents. For example, handover notes and reports.
  • Identify and highlight issues (red pen), with technical drawings.
  • Use digital and information technology. For example, databases, data sharing platforms, email, management information systems, and word processing. Follow cyber security and GDPR requirements.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions.
  • Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.

Training schedule

Year 1

  • Day release (Tuesdays) focuses on knowledge
  • Skills Training delivered in blocks of 4 weeks (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday)
  • Focus is on fundamentals to prepare the learner for the workplace

Year 2

  • Day release (Mondays) focuses on knowledge
  • Workplace integration
  • Workplace visits from IPS trainer every 4-6 weeks

Year 3-4

  • Monthly day release during year 3 to work on an engineering project
  • Continued workplace visits from IPS trainer every 4-6 weeks
  • Learner is prepared for transition into gateway and apprenticeship assessment completing all requirements of the apprenticeship

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English and Maths (grade 4/C and above)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Positive Attitude
  • Self Motivated
  • Enthusiastic

Other requirements

Shortlisted applicants will be required to complete an eligibility check phone call with IPS International, Apprenticeship Training Provider. Please note that your application cannot proceed without completing this call.

Enrolment onto your apprenticeship programme is subject to prior attainment checks, and your Personal Learning Record will be reviewed upon successful appointment. We are also obligated to follow the guidelines around eligibility, set out by the government apprenticeship funding rules.

NB: Please include minimum qualifications (GCSE maths and English grades) in your apprenticeship application. Tailor your application to the vacancy, dedicating 1-2 paragraphs for each question to demonstrate interest in the role and the company.

**If you are unsuccessful, you will be automatically added to our Talentpool list where future vacancies will be sent to you. If you would like to opt out of this mailing list please select unsubscribe in the email.**

About this employer

The Fresh Produce Centre is home to some of the biggest names in UK produce. The facilities at our state of the art site in rural Kent include a wide range of packing lines, an array of storage options, ripening and blast chilling chambers, commercial offices and logistics solutions. You'll find a variety of innovative fresh produce companies operating under The Fresh Produce Centre umbrella - all of them specialists in their fields. We're home to FreshPLUS, The Avocado Company, DGM Growers and Thanet Earth PW.

http://www.frescagroup.co.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Company benefits include, Company Pension (Auto enrolment), MediCash Plan - Level 1, Share Incentive Plan (SIP), Cycle to Work Scheme and many more.

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

  • Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, there is the opportunity for a permanent position as a multi skilled engineer

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

IPS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

Mandy Rai

mandyrai@ips-international.com

01634 298808

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000038487.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 2 August 2026