Multi-Skilled Maintenance Engineer Apprentice
DAIRYGOLD FOOD INGREDIENTS (UK) LIMITED
Leeeds (LS26 8XT)
Closes in 6 days (Thursday 27 August 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 19 August 2026
Contents
Summary
1st yr block release, 22 weeks at NWTC.
2nd / 3rd year a mixture of shorter blocks. 12 weeks - most of your time will be spent at the employer being trained and assessed in your workplace.
The company and our Technical Training Assessor will support your time of learning offering guidance throughout.
- Wage
-
£16,640 to £26,436.80, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
- This role incurs an annual salary review throughout the apprenticeship.
- Phased 2 year increment plan to full shift pay after completion.
- Training course
- Food and drink maintenance engineer (level 3)
- Hours
-
To gain experience of our site and ways of working, we would introduce taster late shifts during your apprenticeship (Initially working days from mid-3rd year you will move to rota shifts days / lates / Sunday).
Support in line with site requirements.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 21 September 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
- Working with qualified staff, you will be supervised toward being multiskilled and responsible for a range of tasks. Understand and apply F & D principles, carry out checks and maintenance outlined within planned and preventative maintenance
- Work to fault find, diagnose and carry out repair / breakdowns. Monitor and interpret data, support efficiency and continuous improvement. Follow instructions from Lead Engineers, ensure H&S standards are maintained, show due diligence and comply with company policies procedures
Where you'll work
19 Astley Way
Astley Lane Industrial Estate
Swillington
Leeeds
LS26 8XT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
NORTH WEST TRAINING COUNCIL
Training course
Food and drink maintenance engineer (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Read and interpret task related information and data. For example, work instructions, SOPs, quality control documentation, Service Level Agreements, specifications, engineering representations, drawings, and graphical information, work instructions, and operation manuals.
- Plan work. Identify and organise resources to complete tasks.
- Identify hazards and control measures to mitigate risks.
- Comply with food safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with environment and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
- Select, check the condition, and safely use maintenance tools and equipment. Store tools and equipment. Complete or arrange maintenance of tools and equipment including calibration where required.
- Follow standard operating procedures and quality procedures.
- Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout) and re-instatement of equipment with system checks and handover.
- Apply mechanical and fluid power system maintenance practices and techniques. For example, check levels, parts wear, pressure, and sensors, grease and lubricate parts, replace, fit components, and calibrate equipment.
- Apply electrical and control maintenance practices and techniques including use of electrical testing equipment and instruments. For example, panel risk assessment, fixed wire installation testing, fault finding, thermographic surveys, and checking protection settings.
- Apply reliability engineering techniques to prevent or reduce the likelihood or frequency of failures. For example, condition monitoring, oil sampling, thermography, vibration analysis, and ultrasound.
- Install and configure instrumentation or process control systems.
- Install and configure electrical systems. For example, add distribution boards to circuits, single and three phase motors (AC and DC).
- Assemble, position and fix equipment or components. Complete commissioning checks.
- Disconnect and remove equipment or components. Complete storage measures to prevent deterioration.
- Read and interpret equipment performance data.
- Fabricate, drill, and join to produce basic parts, spares or components to measurement and tolerance specification.
- Apply down-hand (flat) TIG welding techniques: butt and tee.
- Apply mathematical techniques to solve engineering problems.
- Produce and amend electrical and mechanical engineering representations, drawings, and graphical information. For example, for new component parts or change in circuit diagram or panel.
- Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques for example, using PLC data to diagnose issues and locate faults on industrial network.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques to understand current performance; collect and record data. Devise suggestions for improvement.
- Restore the work area on completion of activity.
- Resolve or escalate issues.
- Use information technology. For example, for document creation, communication, and information management. Comply with GDPR. Comply with cyber security.
- Record work activity. For example, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records, and any business or legal reporting requirements.
- Communicate verbal and written. For example, with colleagues and stakeholders. Use engineering terminology where appropriate.
- Produce reports for example, equipment performance reports.
- Provide guidance or training to colleagues or stakeholders.
- Read and interpret task related information and data. For example, work instructions, SOPs, quality control documentation, Service Level Agreements, specifications, engineering representations, drawings, and graphical information, work instructions, and operation manuals.
- Plan work. Identify and organise resources to complete tasks.
- Identify hazards and control measures to mitigate risks.
- Comply with food safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with environment and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
- Select, check the condition, and safely use maintenance tools and equipment. Store tools and equipment. Complete or arrange maintenance of tools and equipment including calibration where required.
- Follow standard operating procedures and quality procedures.
- Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout) and re-instatement of equipment with system checks and handover.
- Apply mechanical and fluid power system maintenance practices and techniques. For example, check levels, parts wear, pressure, and sensors, grease and lubricate parts, replace, fit components, and calibrate equipment.
- Apply electrical and control maintenance practices and techniques including use of electrical testing equipment and instruments. For example, panel risk assessment, fixed wire installation testing, fault finding, thermographic surveys, and checking protection settings.
- Apply reliability engineering techniques to prevent or reduce the likelihood or frequency of failures. For example, condition monitoring, oil sampling, thermography, vibration analysis, and ultrasound.
- Install and configure instrumentation or process control systems.
- Install and configure electrical systems. For example, add distribution boards to circuits, single and three phase motors (AC and DC).
- Assemble, position and fix equipment or components. Complete commissioning checks.
- Disconnect and remove equipment or components. Complete storage measures to prevent deterioration.
- Read and interpret equipment performance data.
- Fabricate, drill, and join to produce basic parts, spares or components to measurement and tolerance specification.
- Apply down-hand (flat) TIG welding techniques: butt and tee.
- Apply mathematical techniques to solve engineering problems.
- Produce and amend electrical and mechanical engineering representations, drawings, and graphical information. For example, for new component parts or change in circuit diagram or panel.
- Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques for example, using PLC data to diagnose issues and locate faults on industrial network.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques to understand current performance; collect and record data. Devise suggestions for improvement.
- Restore the work area on completion of activity.
- Resolve or escalate issues.
- Use information technology. For example, for document creation, communication, and information management. Comply with GDPR. Comply with cyber security.
- Record work activity. For example, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records, and any business or legal reporting requirements.
- Communicate verbal and written. For example, with colleagues and stakeholders. Use engineering terminology where appropriate.
- Produce reports for example, equipment performance reports.
- Provide guidance or training to colleagues or stakeholders.
Training schedule
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C/4 or above)
- Maths (grade C/4 or above)
- Science (grade C/4 or above)
Desirable qualifications
Mech/elec in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Strong focus-Health & Safety
- Good time management
- Motivated
Other requirements
Any offer of apprenticeship / employment will be subject to successful completion of a colour vision.assessment.
The ability to work at height and in confined spaces.
You will be required to attend NWTC during your block training (Liverpool).
You will start with the employer on w/c 07/09/26 for a Company induction followed by an induction at NWTC Liverpool on 14/09/26.
22 weeks in the first year. 12 week blocks in the 2/3 years, which includes you staying in residential accommodation during your block release.
You must be 18 at start to stay in residential accommodation.
You must be able to travel to both the Employer and to NWTC in Liverpool: L5 9RJ.
About this employer
-
Dairygold Food Ingredients UK are part of the Dairygold Co-Operative. We are proud to be the number one cheese ingredient solutions supplier to the UK’s major food manufacturers, retailers and food service customers. Our current success and our ambitious growth plans are built on a reputation of quality and service, and we know from experience that it’s the skill and dedication of our people resources that is the key to this success.
Dairygold is Ireland’s largest farmer-owned co-operative. Our members and employees have a committed work ethic and are proud to be part of a trusted global company. - Crewe: we format cheese supplied from our farming Co-Operative in Ireland. We grate slice crumb cheese for our customers.
- Leeds we produce soft and liquid cheese solutions for our customers.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- At the end of the apprenticeship, candidates will be suitably trained and continue their employment in a suitable role where available
- Potential continuation of education and academic studies i.e. HNC
- Continued professional development
- Further in-house and external training and development available
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
NORTH WEST TRAINING COUNCIL
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000048219.
Apply now
Closes in 6 days (Thursday 27 August 2026 at 11:59pm)