Controls Engineer Apprentice

Summary

Join our team as an Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technician, where you’ll combine academic study with hands-on engineering experience. You’ll work on PLC programming, control systems, and technical support across engineering projects while studying towards a Level 3 qualification in Engineering and Manufacturing Support.

Wage

£17,000 a year

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Annual Salary

Training course

Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, times to be confirmed.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 8 September 2025

Duration

3 years 6 months

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

The Controls Engineering apprentice is a key member of the Controls Team and vital in the continued successful delivery of our projects. Apprentices will learn all aspects of Controls Engineering and form part of project teams.

Apprentices will work in close conjunction with Mechanical, Electrical and Systems Engineers, to successfully deliver projects. Apprentices will also effectively communicate with Controls Manager(s) and Engineering Designers and promote a continuous improvement culture, focused on personal development and working efficiently while following Fortna standards.

Responsibilities:

Year 1: Participate in the apprenticeship program, studying and gaining practical experience in different areas of the FORTNA International Business.

Years 2-4: Assist with cost estimates, draft documentation, create PLC programs, and commission systems. Work on-site to set up and troubleshoot PLC systems, conduct commissioning, and collaborate with engineering teams.

Where you'll work

Victoria House
199 Avebury Blvd
Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire
MK9 1AU

Training

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

College or training organisation

MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE

Your training course

Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
Follow standard operating procedures.
Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
Apply continuous improvement techniques.
Apply team working principles.
Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
Carry out and record learning and development activities.
Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
Follow standard operating procedures.
Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
Apply continuous improvement techniques.
Apply team working principles.
Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
Carry out and record learning and development activities.
Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.

Your training plan

Throughout the apprenticeship, apprentices will produce technical specifications, PLC programs and HMI/SCADA screens and prepare, emulate, commission and verify PLC code. Day-release training and support at Milton Keynes College, Chaffron Way campus.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Math's (grade 9-4)
English (grade 9-4)

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

Organisational skills
Curious about how things work
Tech-savvy
and a team player.

Other requirements

As an international organisation there must be a willingness to travel and stay away when required both UK and Europe What is in it for me? A basic salary starting of £17,000 per annum, reviewed annually. 25 days holiday per annum plus Bank Holidays Pension contributions matched up to 7% (minimum employee contribution is 4%) Private Medical Insurance Health Care Cash Back Plan that contributes to everyday healthcare costs such as dental, optical, prescriptions, and various physical and mental therapies 24/7 Employee Assistance Program with access to virtual GP appointments Paid time off for charity work Employee recognition awards Life Assurance

About this company

A global company: a leader in warehouse transformation and optimisation We assess a customer’s needs We work with the customer to plan a strategy that improves and optimizes their warehouse distribution We then implement these strategies by designing the system that works best We provide the equipment and software to run the warehouse system and install it We then maintain this in the years to come

After this apprenticeship

We hope that the apprentice embraces the company, its values and passion and becomes a valuable member of staff, long before the apprenticeship training is over. The right candidates will have the opportunity to progress swiftly into a permanent role.

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