Maintenance Apprentice

EXTONS FOODS LTD

Wythenshawe (M23 9GE)

Closes on Saturday 14 November 2026

Posted on 14 September 2026

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Contents

Summary

Extons Foods is looking for a Maintenance Apprentice to join its engineering and maintenance team. This is an opportunity to develop skills while keeping modern production and processing equipment safe, reliable and operating effectively. Alongside workplace training, you will work towards an engineering maintenance apprenticeship. 

Wage

£15,392 to £24,454.04, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Engineering maintenance technician - dual discipline (level 3)
Hours
6.00am - 2.00pm - working days, shift pattern, start / finish times and weekly hours.

37 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 19 November 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

As a Maintenance Apprentice, you will work alongside experienced engineers and gradually develop the practical skills needed to maintain production plant and equipment. Duties are expected to include:

  • Supporting planned, preventative and reactive maintenance activities
  • Assisting with fault finding and diagnosing mechanical and electrical equipment issues
  • Helping to repair, replace and maintain components and return equipment to operational condition
  • Learning to inspect, test and safely work on production machinery and associated systems
  • Supporting the installation, assembly and dismantling of mechanical and electrical equipment where required
  • Following engineering procedures, safe systems of work and site health and safety requirements
  • Keeping accurate maintenance records and communicating effectively with the engineering and production teams
  • Developing an understanding of food manufacturing requirements and the importance of minimising production downtime

Specific equipment, shift responsibilities and duties will be confirmed by Extons Foods. 

Where you'll work

Manchester
Wythenshawe
M23 9GE

Training

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

Training provider

ROCHDALE TRAINING ASSOCIATION 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

The successful candidate will complete a Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technician - Dual Discipline apprenticeship, developing skills across both electrical and mechanical maintenance. Training will combine learning with practical experience at Extons Foods. The apprenticeship covers maintaining plant and equipment, planned and preventative maintenance, fault diagnosis, repair and replacement of components, and safe engineering working practices. 
 
Training delivery arrangements, including attendance / release pattern and any additional qualifications, will be confirmed at interview.  

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 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
  • Organisation skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Physical fitness

About this employer

Extons Foods is a family-owned cheese processing business based in Wythenshawe. Established in 2000, the company specialises in slicing, grating and packing cheese for retail, manufacturing and foodservice customers across the UK. Extons operates from a 54,000 sq. ft. site and has continued to invest in modern production facilities and technology. The business describes its culture as caring, passionate and inclusive, with a focus on supporting people to thrive and progress.

https://extonsfoods.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

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

This apprenticeship is designed to build the skills needed for a career in engineering maintenance. Extons Foods promotes opportunities for employees to learn and progress. Potential progression could include a permanent engineering maintenance role and further development within engineering. Any guaranteed role or specific progression route is TO BE CONFIRMED. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ROCHDALE TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Nathan Finn

nfinn@rochdaletraining.co.uk

01706 631 417

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000053252.

Apply now

Closes on Saturday 14 November 2026