Process Technician Advanced Apprenticeship (level 3) - Venator – Find an apprenticeship

Summary

Cogent Skills is working with Venator to recruit 3 Apprentice Process Technicians to join their shift operations team, working on a top tier COMAH manufacturing site in Hartlepool. As part of a team of technicians, you will be responsible for providing a flexible resource for a number of production areas.

Wage

£14,918.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Salary will rise in line with national minimum age rates. There is the potential to gain experience on shifts during the apprenticeship, for which a shift disturbance allowance will be paid.

Training course

Process industry manufacturing technician (level 3)

Hours

During Year 1 the hours will vary but on average will be Monday - Friday, 09:00 - 17:00. Unpaid 30-minute lunch break On site, apprentices will work Monday to Friday, from 08:00 to 16:00. Unpaid 30-minute lunch break.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

3 years

Positions available

3

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 Process Technician, you will:

Perform all duties in compliance with all Venator Corporate and Venator Pigments EHS, business conduct policies, guidelines and the local site Life Saving Rules at all times. Complete all Corporate Compliance training.
Monitor and control the operation of process plants to ensure that process parameters are maintained within accepted limits.
Analyse minor processing and equipment problems in order effect solutions.
Control the offloading of raw materials from external suppliers into the plant, and the loading of intermediate product from the plant into Road Tankers prior to transport.
Take samples of process intermediates and carry out on plant testing as required by quality control systems.
Advise and brief Senior Technicians on emerging plant situations and manage process upsets in a safe, timely and effective manner.
Ensure completion of scheduled surveys and reports including standard work activities, check sheets etc.
Prepare the plant for Intrusive Maintenance via completion of the appropriate isolation and preparation procedures in line with our Safe Systems of Work.
Contribute to the development of procedures/ work instructions and continuous improvement activities.

The Apprentices will follow the employer-led Process Industry Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Standard, which will combine practical, technical and behavioural training with theoretical knowledge of relevant science and technology.

At Venator, we know that it is people that make a difference in business. That’s why we take the time to recruit the right people – then regularly invest in our recruits’ professional development to ensure they reach their full potential. It’s a formula that works.

Have you got what it takes to be part of our team?

Where you'll work

Greatham Works
Tees Road
Hartlepool
TS25 2DD

Training

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

College or training organisation

HARTLEPOOL COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION

Your training course

Process industry manufacturing technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Review instructions or information to understand the task.
Plan tasks. Identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace and personal safety and mitigation measures.
Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
Follow environment emergency procedures. For example, make area safe, evacuate.
Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
Apply standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Check equipment.
Select, check, and prepare raw materials for process for example, weighing, measuring, control and blending, conditioning, dissolving, and sanitisation.
Set and adjust processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
Monitor process for example, take readings and conduct walk-arounds.
Conduct the control of product streams to maintain specifics.
Apply quality assurance procedures. For example, density checks, contaminant check, and take samples for laboratory testing.
Apply intermediate or post-manufacturing procedure for example, labelling, packing, storage, visual inspection, discharge.
Manage waste streams.
Clean equipment for example, boil-outs, steam-outs, bake-outs, steam in place SIP, clean in place (CIP).
Conduct calculations for example, conversations, tare weight, charge weights, yield calculations.
Store tools and equipment.
Identify equipment for handover.
Apply signage and access restriction measures.
Shut down the process and equipment.
Isolate process and systems.
Complete isolation checks.
Empty equipment for example, drain, purge, vent, and de-pressure.
Purge, fill, pressurise and leak test.
Complete post maintenance equipment checks.
Line-up equipment.
Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic for chemical or petrochemical processing.
De-isolate process, mechanical and electrical systems.
Complete pre-start up checks.
Start-up plant and equipment.
Re-start process.
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data.
Interpret drawings and graphs.
Identify issues for example, defects, deviations, process variance, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Apply problem solving and fault-finding techniques.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Make a suggestion for improvement.
Use information and digital technology for example, management information systems, human machine interfaces, word processing, spreadsheet, email, virtual learning platforms, document sharing platforms. Comply with cyber security requirements.
Produce written documents for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Apply team working principles.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development (CPD) activities.
Review instructions or information to understand the task.
Plan tasks. Identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace and personal safety and mitigation measures.
Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
Follow environment emergency procedures. For example, make area safe, evacuate.
Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
Apply standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Check equipment.
Select, check, and prepare raw materials for process for example, weighing, measuring, control and blending, conditioning, dissolving, and sanitisation.
Set and adjust processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
Monitor process for example, take readings and conduct walk-arounds.
Conduct the control of product streams to maintain specifics.
Apply quality assurance procedures. For example, density checks, contaminant check, and take samples for laboratory testing.
Apply intermediate or post-manufacturing procedure for example, labelling, packing, storage, visual inspection, discharge.
Manage waste streams.
Clean equipment for example, boil-outs, steam-outs, bake-outs, steam in place SIP, clean in place (CIP).
Conduct calculations for example, conversations, tare weight, charge weights, yield calculations.
Store tools and equipment.
Identify equipment for handover.
Apply signage and access restriction measures.
Shut down the process and equipment.
Isolate process and systems.
Complete isolation checks.
Empty equipment for example, drain, purge, vent, and de-pressure.
Purge, fill, pressurise and leak test.
Complete post maintenance equipment checks.
Line-up equipment.
Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic for chemical or petrochemical processing.
De-isolate process, mechanical and electrical systems.
Complete pre-start up checks.
Start-up plant and equipment.
Re-start process.
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data.
Interpret drawings and graphs.
Identify issues for example, defects, deviations, process variance, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Apply problem solving and fault-finding techniques.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Make a suggestion for improvement.
Use information and digital technology for example, management information systems, human machine interfaces, word processing, spreadsheet, email, virtual learning platforms, document sharing platforms. Comply with cyber security requirements.
Produce written documents for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Apply team working principles.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development (CPD) activities.

Your training plan

Block release and location: The first 12 months of the apprenticeship will be spent full time at Hartlepool College of Further Education (HCFE) to complete the foundation training and qualification, with a minimum 2 weeks of site placements. This will be followed by 24 months of hands-on, onsite training at Venator, with regular support and guidance visits from your HCFE assessor, and end point assessment. Any further agreed study in years two and three will be through day release.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Min 5 inc. Maths English Science (grade 4/C or above)

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
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Administrative skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative

Other requirements

The Apprentice must be able to travel to the place of work (Hartlepool College or Venator site). Times of work may vary and may, for limited periods, include night shifts and weekend work.

About this company

As the specialists in skills for science and technology, our purpose is to make sure your business; your people and our industry are future ready. We are a not-for-profit charitable organisation with a family of commercially focused companies committed to supporting the skills, needs and ambitions across the UK science and technology sector.

https://cogentskills.com/vacancies/ (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

This role is part of our talent planning for the future and, for the right person, we are looking to continue to develop the Apprentice upon successful completion of the Apprenticeship. Subject to satisfactory completion of the Apprenticeship, candidates will be considered for any available permanent positions.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Cogent Ssc Limited

Tom Bretherton

thomas.bretherton@cogentskills.com

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000319564.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 15 June 2025

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

To apply, please follow the link to the Cogent skills website to complete our application form.

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Process Technician Advanced Apprenticeship (level 3) - Venator

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