Level 2 Lean Manufacturing Operative Apprenticeship

UNIPRES (UK) LIMITED

Tyne And Wear (SR5 3NT)

Closes on Wednesday 30 September 2026

Posted on 25 August 2026

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Summary

Learn and contribute to production operations and become the next generation of Lean Manufacturing Operatives within our Press department. Producing steel components for car manufacturers, including Nissan and Renault, quality checking to ensure compliance with company standards and understanding of standard operations.

• Wage:

  £15,163.20 a year

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  6 month pay increase performance dependent.

• Training course: Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
• Hours: Induction training period (first 4 weeks): 7:45am- 4:30pm. Normal working hours after induction period: Monday- Thursday, 6:45am- 3:03pm (including set breaks) / Friday 7:45am- 11:53am (day release time throughout the apprenticeship).

  36 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 5 October 2026

• Duration:

  1 year

• Positions available:

  4

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

Main duties and responsibilities of this apprenticeship within the Press department will include:

• Producing high quality press parts in the Press department by operating and controlling a wide range of power presses
• Quality checking to ensure compliance with company standards
  Understanding of standard operations and knowledge of Strike Zones, Ergonomics and Signage
• Improving current press facilities
• Working within a team to support manufacturing operations to meet customer demands

Where you'll work

Cherry Blossom Way
Sunderland
Tyne And Wear
SR5 3NT

Training

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

Training provider

UNIPRES (UK) LIMITED

Training course

Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, and other relevant guidelines. Identifying risks within their processes and support/carry out countermeasure activities to improve safe working. Manage tooling, equipment and materials daily in-line with supplier standards e.g. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
• Comply with environmental procedures and systems and contribute to the achievement of specific standards e.g. ISO 14001 or other relevant environmental standards and use the 4R’s (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Recover) where possible
• Demonstrate their ability to carry out their role effectively, efficiently and flexibly maintaining lean manufacturing principles to meet customer’s demands e.g. JIT
• Demonstrate their skill and knowledge following SOPs and building their versatility across a number of processes and process areas. Select and use appropriate tools, equipment and materials to carry out the manufacturing operation
• Demonstrate appropriate process documentation control. Accurately completing check sheets, monitoring process and equipment data efficiently and legibly using the correct terminology required to meet the quality standard e.g. ISO 9002
• Demonstrate their ability to identify and resolve problems within the lean manufacturing environment using effective problem solving tools and techniques. Manage problems that may occur during the manufacturing process within the limits of their responsibility and escalate as appropriate
• Generate ideas and contribute to process improvement activities individually or as part of a team through fact finding and analysis to improve the safety, environment, quality, cost or production process. Identifying and eliminating the 7 wastes (defects, over production, transportation, waiting, inventory, motion and processing)
• Demonstrate communication skills which include oral, written, electronic (PC), information boards or visual displays to effectively share information
• Maintains and monitors the work site efficiently and effectively at all times using the elements of sifting, sorting, sweeping, spick & span (5’s) within the lean manufacturing environment
• Check components for damage and that they are in a usable condition
• Correctly position, align and secure the components
• Secure the components in position using the specified fastening device/method
• Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions/Standard operating procedures production/assembly specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the production/assembly activity
• Produce components which comply with the specification and quality requirements
• Carryout quality checks on component parts and completed assemblies and deal with quality concerns and defects in line with their responsibility
• Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, inspection/quality procedures and product specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the inspection/quality assurance activity
• Collect production samples at the required frequency in accordance with inspection specification and operating procedures
• Carryout inspection and testing activities using the specified methods and equipment
• Prepare, Handle, transfer and store samples safely and correctly in accordance with quality control procedures
• Accurately interpret the data/results gained from the inspection and testing procedures being used
• Record and report inspection findings to relevant person
• Safely move materials to the correct location using the relevant equipment
• Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, specification details and specific transfer/handling procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the logistic/material handling activity
• Move materials using the appropriate procedures, ensuring the materials are correct, safely loaded and secure.
• Check materials selected to be moved are in line with job requirements
• Carryout quality checks on materials that are to be moved and deal with quality concerns and damage in line with their responsibility
• Return equipment to its correct location on completion of the activities and leave it in a safe and usable condition
• Perform one processing/finishing operation method e.g. hand processing, manually operated machine processing, fully automated machine processing, combined processing
• Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, processing/finishing procedures and equipment operating procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the processing/finishing activity
• Perform the processing/finishing operation according to instructions and safe operating procedures
• Monitor and control the processing/finishing operation
• Produce processed/finished products which comply with processing specification

Training schedule

After the initial 4-week training period, where both theoretical and practical training takes place, studies continue on a day release basis at the Unipres Training Academy (at main site) on Fridays.

The qualification you will achieve throughout the apprenticeship will be the following:

EAL Level 2 Diploma in Manufacturing (Knowledge and Skills) 603/3589/0

You will develop knowledge, understanding and demonstrate skills including:

• Health & Safety: Relevant statutory, organisational and health and safety regulations relating to lean manufacturing operations and safe practices
• Environmental: Compliance procedures/systems in line with regulatory requirements e.g. ISO 14001 or other relevant environmental standards
• Production: Their individual roles and responsibilities within the organisation and the flexibility required to deliver products to meet customers costs/delivery targets/requirements
• Lean Manufacturing Operations: Manufacturing standard operation procedures (SOPs) adherence and development of lean processes
• Quality Control: Process equipment monitoring, data collection, error proofing and operating procedures e.g. ISO 9001 or other relevant quality standards
• Problem Solving: The tools and methods of effective problem-solving using data, reports and documents to resolve production related issues e.g. A3 report, graphs, matrices and escalate concerns
• Continuous Improvement: How to study and identify ways to improve the safety, quality, cost or process efficiency using lean manufacturing tools e.g. kaizen
• Communication: How to share information using a range of methods within the manufacturing environment e.g. oral, written, electronic, information boards, visual displays
• Work Place Organisation: How to maintain a safe and efficient work site through work place organisation e.g. 5s and process ownership

What we can offer you:

• Annual holiday entitlement of 26 days and 8 Bank Holiday (company shut down periods in Summer and Christmas)
• Free onsite car park
• Electric car charging points on site
• Car lease scheme
• Pension (GPP) 4.5% employee and 4.5% employer
• Life Assurance 4x pensionable pay (after 1 years’ service for GPP members)
• Private healthcare
• On-site occupational health support
• Company sick pay
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Cycle to work scheme
• Profit share
• Sports and social club
• Long service awards
• Monthly prize draw
• On-site canteen

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade Grade 3 (or D) and above)
• Maths (grade Grade 3 (or D) 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
• Attention to detail
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Patience
• Physical fitness
• Time Management
• Attendance
• Self-motivated

Other requirements

When apprentices move from the Training Academy to the workplace, with the start time being 6:45am, this early start time can prove difficult for some apprentices who cannot drive, cycle or are unable to obtain a lift, so access to public transport must be researched to ensure punctuality at the start of the shift.

About this employer

Unipres UK Ltd is a first tier supplier and manufactures steel car components for Nissan, Renault and Honda. Our plant is based in Sunderland and has been established for over 30 years. We are a global company powered by local people – focused on achieving product excellence, committed to developing our skilled workforce and dedicated to driving forward innovation across our industry. We currently have around 1000 people employed at Unipres (UK).

https://unipres.co.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• Bereavement leave
• Canteen
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Free parking
• Health & Wellbeing Programme
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Profit sharing
• Sick pay

After this apprenticeship

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

There are opportunities for progression onto higher level apprenticeships, particularly Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technicians. 

Since 2016, 24% of our higher-level apprenticeship students have progressed from the Level 2 Lean Manufacturing Operative apprenticeship.

• Full-Time Production Operative
• Level 3 Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship or an appropriate
• Level 3 Apprenticeship Progression Programme

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

UNIPRES (UK) LIMITED

Georgia Hales

UPUKrecruitment@upuk-unipres.com

01914182000

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000049913.

Apply now

Closes on Wednesday 30 September 2026