Production Operator Apprenticeship
PZ CUSSONS (UK) LIMITED
Manchester (M27 8UJ)
Closes in 9 days (Friday 11 September 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 2 September 2026
Contents
Summary
This position includes working as part of a team in an FMCG environment by operating process, production machinery and equipment to meet daily production plans by achieving required hourly plan achievement whilst maintaining the highest health, safety, environmental and quality standards that are operational across the site.
- Wage
-
£27,000 a year
- Training course
- Science manufacturing process operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Induction and onboard on days (8am- 4pm)
Shift work is 12 hour shifts covering Monday- Friday days and nights on a three-week rotating pattern
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 28 September 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- 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
Safety
- Support the Team Leader to drive a proactive safety culture i.e. Hazard Spots reported, actioned and completed
- Actively strives to achieve daily production figures through timely intervention, remedy and escalation reporting of all issues
- Completes allocated actions resulting from internal and external H&S Audits to ensure all external accreditations are maintained
- Completion of all mandatory H&S training
- Maintains and raises hygiene standards to GMP requirements
Quality
- Ownership of maintaining required standards, as assessed via internal and external audits
- Completes actions resulting from internal and external quality Audits to ensure all defined audit scores are met
Delivery
- Actively takes ownership for hourly scores and performance of production line
- Works collaboratively to support others
- Works with the team to meet daily and weekly production KPIs including OEE, PA, GMP audits, safety inspections etc, and review quarterly
People
- Completes regular performance reviews
- Reads and understands all internal training and work instructions
SAP
- Understanding and use of the SAP system and all relevant transactions
- Completion of transactions to desired standard
General
Completes all other relevant reasonable tasks as requested by duty manager
Where you'll work
Plot 2 Agecroft Commerce Park
Firedamp Way Swinton
Manchester
M27 8UJ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
WIGAN AND LEIGH COLLEGE
Training course
Science manufacturing process operative (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Follow procedures in line with process industry health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with process industry environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow work instructions.
- Follow process manufacturing standard operating procedures.
- Conduct material preparation for example, measure, weigh, mix and load materials.
- Check and set up science process industry tools, plant, or equipment.
- Use science process industry tools, plant, or equipment required for task.
- Monitor process manufacturing and take corrective actions to meet specification.
- Apply product quality assurance procedures for example, take product samples, inspect products.
- Conduct end of process procedures for example, finish, pack, label, discharge, move, and store batches.
- Collect and interpret information.
- Identify and resolve or report issues.
- Store materials, monitor, and rotate stock.
- Comply with housekeeping procedures for example, clean equipment and machinery, tidy work area.
- Identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
- Apply basic continuous improvement techniques for example, 5Why's, S5, and KAIZEN.
- Perform simple calculations for example, raw material quantity and production calculations.
- Record information (text and data) - paper based or electronic for example, quality control documentation, cleaning logs, handover notes, stock inventory systems.
- Communicate with colleagues verbally.
- Use information technology for example, digital manufacturing management systems, virtual learning platforms, word processing, and email. Comply with GDPR and cyber security procedures.
- Apply team building principles.
- Carry out and record learning and development.
- Follow procedures in line with process industry health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with process industry environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow work instructions.
- Follow process manufacturing standard operating procedures.
- Conduct material preparation for example, measure, weigh, mix and load materials.
- Check and set up science process industry tools, plant, or equipment.
- Use science process industry tools, plant, or equipment required for task.
- Monitor process manufacturing and take corrective actions to meet specification.
- Apply product quality assurance procedures for example, take product samples, inspect products.
- Conduct end of process procedures for example, finish, pack, label, discharge, move, and store batches.
- Collect and interpret information.
- Identify and resolve or report issues.
- Store materials, monitor, and rotate stock.
- Comply with housekeeping procedures for example, clean equipment and machinery, tidy work area.
- Identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
- Apply basic continuous improvement techniques for example, 5Why's, S5, and KAIZEN.
- Perform simple calculations for example, raw material quantity and production calculations.
- Record information (text and data) - paper based or electronic for example, quality control documentation, cleaning logs, handover notes, stock inventory systems.
- Communicate with colleagues verbally.
- Use information technology for example, digital manufacturing management systems, virtual learning platforms, word processing, and email. Comply with GDPR and cyber security procedures.
- Apply team building principles.
- Carry out and record learning and development.
Training schedule
Level 2 qualification in the Science Manufacturing Process Operative.
The apprenticeship is delivered in the workplace, with week-long blocks at college for the theoretical knowledge. This will be held at Wigan & Leigh College’s Pagefield campus in Wigan.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 3)
- Maths (grade 3)
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
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
Other requirements
The role includes preparing batches for production and running the filling and packing equipment. In this role you can expect to be on your feet on the factory floor working closely with the wider site team to ensure that the factory key performance indicators are delivered.
About this employer
PZ Cussons UK is part of PZ Cussons plc, an international consumer goods company with a heritage dating back to 1884. The UK business is best known for manufacturing and marketing household and personal care brands including Carex, Imperial Leather, Original Source, Charles Worthington, Sanctuary Spa and St Tropez. The company focuses on personal hygiene, beauty, and wellness products sold through all major retailers across the UK. A key asset within the UK operation is the Agecroft manufacturing and R&D facility in Salford, Greater Manchester. The site is a modern, advanced and technologically sophisticated manufacturing facility. The Agecroft site operates as a just-in-time manufacturing facility. The factory has the currently produces 150 million units per year, with capacity for further growth. Today, the Agecroft facility plays a central role in PZ Cussons UK's supply chain, enabling the business to respond quickly to customer requirements, launch new products efficiently, and maintain high service levels for UK retailers and consumers.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- This role is the stepping stone to a full Production Operator role and further up the team leader and management hierarchy
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
WIGAN AND LEIGH COLLEGE
Kerry Williams
K.williams@wigan-leigh.ac.uk
01942 761851
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000051086.
Apply now
Closes in 9 days (Friday 11 September 2026 at 11:59pm)