Mechatronics Maintenance Technician Apprentice

Summary

During your apprenticeship you will work with our skilled maintenance team to make sure that our plant and machinery perform efficiently so that the factory can achieve its production targets regarding safety, quality, delivery time and cost.

Wage

£26,800 a year

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Training course

Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 5.00pm, while training. Moving to a 2 shift pattern after training.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

4 years

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

Duties:

This role is very diverse, you will learn to apply a complex range of skills to carry out the installation, testing, fault-finding and planned maintenance of complicated and automated machinery in our state-of-the-art industrial chocolate manufacturing facility on the Essex/Suffolk border.
Assist with the layout of the site, being involved with and understanding the installation of new services during the build stages of the development of the second phase of the site.
Assist with the layout of the equipment, being involved with and understanding the installation of new equipment and the production process flow.
Fault finding & problem solving on a variation of production and site equipment.
Create and carry out planned maintenance schedules.

Liaise with suppliers & service companies regarding problem solving & service engineer visits.
Identify spare parts for all equipment, in line with business strategies.
Liaise with Production teams and identify, implement, and optimise improvements to machinery and plant.
Identify and carry out Engineering improvement projects when required.
Actively train down skills through standardised work to both Production operatives through TPM & other shift engineers.
Work with suppliers in the installation of new and existing plant and equipment.
Provide technical assistance to aid in the verification of new equipment.
All roles: You are responsible for carrying out all tasks in compliance with the Company’s policies as detailed in the Employee Handbook and guidance information such as SOPs, instructions from your Manager and written procedures for your Department. This ensures the Quality of our products, the Health and Safety of employees and visitors, and Food Safety for our customers.

Where you'll work

Lower Road
Sudbury
CO10 7QR

Training

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

College or training organisation

WEST SUFFOLK COLLEGE

Your training course

Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)

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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

Mechatronics Maintenance Technician Level 3.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English, Maths and 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

Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Initiative
Logical
Communication skills

Other requirements

Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme: 5% Employee pension contributions are matched by 5% Employer pension contribution 23 days annual leave Free on-site parking and hot drinks If working on shift, a shift allowance of £150 per month will be paid (2 shift) Laptop & Screens, Company polo shirt, Safety Shoes, Hi Vis, Hardhat to be provided

About this company

At GCB we are currently the world’s 4th largest processer of cocoa, and our aim is to become the world’s preferred and leading cocoa partner. Driven by our unwavering commitment to quality and innovation, we continuously strive to deliver outstanding personal cocoa and chocolate solutions to meet the needs of our valued customers, growing together with them in long-term partnerships. Our state-of-the-art chocolate factory in Glemsford, Suffolk, produces liquid and solid chocolate on an industrial scale for customers across the UK & Ireland to use in their products.

After this apprenticeship

Pay will be reviewed annually with the aim of progressing you into a permanent vacancy in the Engineering team.

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