Multi Skilled Maintenance Apprentice

Summary

You will gain hands-on experience across a wide range of mechanical and electrical maintenance tasks, developing the skills necessary to support the smooth and efficient operation of our advanced sawmill machinery. This role offers a unique opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking company at the forefront of its industry.

Wage

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Inline with national minimum wage increasing Year on Year to £41,059.00 depending on performance.

Training course

Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)

Hours

Year 2: Monday - Friday, 07:30 - 16:00, 30 minute unpaid break. Year 3 onwards: Monday - Friday, AM/PM Shifts. 05:30 - 14:00 & 13:30 - 22:00, 30 minute unpaid break.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 8 September 2025

Duration

3 years 9 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

Assisting with the maintenance and repair of mechanical and electrical equipment
Supporting planned and reactive maintenance tasks across the site
Learning fault-finding, problem-solving, and preventative maintenance technique
Working alongside skilled engineers to maintain high-performance machinery
Following health & safety procedures and keeping maintenance logs
Participating in formal training as part of your apprenticeship programme

Where you'll work

Pontrilas Herefordshire
HR2 0BE

Training

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

College or training organisation

HEREFORDSHIRE AND WORCESTERSHIRE GROUP TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Your training course

Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Use information technology, for example to create documentation, communication and information management.
Obtain, read and interpret task related documentation, such as work instructions, quality control documents, drawings, operation manuals, specifications and service manuals.
Record information for example job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
Conduct initial assessment of equipment that requires maintenance.
Formulate plans setting out the methodology of the maintenance activity including timescales and resources.
Select, prepare and use material, consumables, tools and equipment.
Comply with health and safety regulations and organisational requirements applicable in the workplace. For example, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, PPE and applying safe systems of work.
Apply dynamic risk assessment, hazard identification and risk mitigation principles and techniques.
Apply isolation principles and techniques to equipment undergoing maintenance, including dissipation of stored energies as required.
Manufacture, repair and refurbish components using hand and machine tools.
Restore the workplace on completion of the maintenance activity. Handover resources, consumables and equipment to process owner.
Apply the techniques and processes used in reactive maintenance and repair activities on complex engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
Produce, maintain, update, record and store documentation including electronic items such as PLC and robot programmes.
Apply techniques and processes used in planned and preventative maintenance activities on engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
Apply functional testing and checking techniques and processes after maintenance interventions, and handover to the operational team.
Apply techniques and processes used in condition monitoring, non-destructive or sensory testing. Record findings and take necessary actions.
Apply calculation techniques such as, feeds, speeds, tolerances, electrical calculations using Ohms law, power calculations and cable sizing calculations.
Select, use and confirm calibration of electrical and mechanical testing and measuring equipment.
Produce sketches or drawings to support maintenance activities.
Communicate in writing. Prepare communications, documents and reports on technical matters.
Segregate, separate and dispose of waste streams and by-products.
Apply 4S or 5S principles of housekeeping to the work environment.
Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve operational performance.
Apply continuous improvement techniques.
Communicate with others verbally. Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders. For example, to access equipment or arrange access to equipment.
Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
Apply fault finding techniques used in reactive maintenance on complex integrated systems including half split, input output, six point technique, function or performance testing, unit or component substitution and equipment diagnostics.
Use information technology, for example to create documentation, communication and information management.
Obtain, read and interpret task related documentation, such as work instructions, quality control documents, drawings, operation manuals, specifications and service manuals.
Record information for example job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
Conduct initial assessment of equipment that requires maintenance.
Formulate plans setting out the methodology of the maintenance activity including timescales and resources.
Select, prepare and use material, consumables, tools and equipment.
Comply with health and safety regulations and organisational requirements applicable in the workplace. For example, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, PPE and applying safe systems of work.
Apply dynamic risk assessment, hazard identification and risk mitigation principles and techniques.
Apply isolation principles and techniques to equipment undergoing maintenance, including dissipation of stored energies as required.
Manufacture, repair and refurbish components using hand and machine tools.
Restore the workplace on completion of the maintenance activity. Handover resources, consumables and equipment to process owner.
Apply the techniques and processes used in reactive maintenance and repair activities on complex engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
Produce, maintain, update, record and store documentation including electronic items such as PLC and robot programmes.
Apply techniques and processes used in planned and preventative maintenance activities on engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
Apply functional testing and checking techniques and processes after maintenance interventions, and handover to the operational team.
Apply techniques and processes used in condition monitoring, non-destructive or sensory testing. Record findings and take necessary actions.
Apply calculation techniques such as, feeds, speeds, tolerances, electrical calculations using Ohms law, power calculations and cable sizing calculations.
Select, use and confirm calibration of electrical and mechanical testing and measuring equipment.
Produce sketches or drawings to support maintenance activities.
Communicate in writing. Prepare communications, documents and reports on technical matters.
Segregate, separate and dispose of waste streams and by-products.
Apply 4S or 5S principles of housekeeping to the work environment.
Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve operational performance.
Apply continuous improvement techniques.
Communicate with others verbally. Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders. For example, to access equipment or arrange access to equipment.
Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
Apply fault finding techniques used in reactive maintenance on complex integrated systems including half split, input output, six point technique, function or performance testing, unit or component substitution and equipment diagnostics.

Your training plan

Formal training is delivered at HWGTA, located in Hereford (HR4 9SX)

Years 1/2 is a combination of off the job training at HWGTA Training Centre as well as training on site with your employer. This includes 26-42 weeks within the training Centre plus 1 day per week in a classroom setting to cover practical and theory aspects and complete EAL Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering - Development Knowledge.

You will receive monthly visits from your assigned Learning and Development Specialist, who will set you work, monitor your development and wellbeing, and discuss training sessions. They will also prepare you for your End Point Assessment.

Additional training for functional skills in English and Maths will be undertaken if needed unless required/ stated by employer.

More training information

There is also a five-day teambuilding residential trip that is held in the spring of each year offered to all apprentices on programme.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4)
Maths (grade 4)
Science (grade 4)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 5)
ICT (grade 5)
Maths (grade 5)
Science (grade 5)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Desire to learn
Open minded
Resilient
Physically capable
Safety-conscious
Adaptable
Hands-on and practical
Strong work ethic
Calm under pressure
Detail-focused
Self-motivated

Other requirements

Rural Location, Heavy Industry, Harsh working conditions (large quantity of plant is outside)

About this company

Pontrilas Sawmills was founded in 1947 and since then we have grown and expanded organically to become one of the largest independent sawmills in the UK. We have two sawmills here, for both softwood and hardwood timber. Through continual investment within the mills we have become one of the most advanced and technically automated in the country. The main line of our softwood mill is Swedish design, fully automated with the latest in timber scanning technologies, meaning a single log can be cut into 18 pieces online. At Pontrilas Sawmills our mills are designed to maximise the yield and give great flexibility for our customers’ requirements.

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

Company benefits

Weekly Production Bonus

After this apprenticeship

Several Routes available, All Supervisory & Management roles have been filled internally, and will continue to be filled internally, Technical Route, where you could be at the forefront of automation within the site.

Academic routes, HNC, HND, equipment specific Training e.g. Siemens, Rexroth Servo systems etc.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: