Level 2 Lean Manufacturing Operative Apprenticeship
UNIPRES (UK) LIMITED
Tyne And Wear (SR5 3NT)
Closes in 15 days (Wednesday 3 December 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 12 November 2025
Contents
Summary
Learn and contribute to production operations and become the next generation of Lean Manufacturing Operatives. Producing steel components for car manufacturers, including Nissan and Renault, quality checking to ensure compliance with company standards and understanding of standard operations and knowledge of Strike.
- Wage
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£14,321 a year
- Training course
- Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Induction training period (first 4 weeks): 7:45am - 4:30pm. Normal working hours after induction period: Monday - Thursday, 6:45am - 3:03pm (including set breaks) / Friday 7:45am - 11:53am (day release time throughout the apprenticeship).
36 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 12 January 2026
- Duration
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1 year
- Positions available
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15
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
Main duties and responsibilities of this apprenticeship include:
- Producing products by assembly or processing operations
- Quality checking to ensure compliance with company standards
- Understanding of standard operations and knowledge of Strike Zones, Ergonomics and Signage
- Improving current assembly/press facilities
- Working within a team to support manufacturing operations
Where you'll work
Cherry Blossom Way
Sunderland
Tyne And Wear
SR5 3NT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
UNIPRES (UK) LIMITED
Training course
Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
Training schedule
After the initial 4-week training period, where both theoretical and practical training takes place, studies continue on a day release basis at the Unipres Training Academy (at main site) on Fridays.
The qualification you will achieve throughout the apprenticeship will be the following:
EAL Level 2 Diploma in Manufacturing (Knowledge and Skills) 603/3589/0
You will develop knowledge, understanding and demonstrate skills including:
- Health & Safety: Relevant statutory, organisational and health and safety regulations relating to lean manufacturing operations and safe practices
- Environmental: Compliance procedures/systems in line with regulatory requirements e.g. ISO 14001 or other relevant environmental standards
- Production: Their individual roles and responsibilities within the organisation and the flexibility required to deliver products to meet customers costs/delivery targets/requirements
- Lean Manufacturing Operations: Manufacturing standard operation procedures (SOPs) adherence and development of lean processes
- Quality Control: Process equipment monitoring, data collection, error proofing and operating procedures e.g. ISO 9001 or other relevant quality standards
- Problem Solving: The tools and methods of effective problem-solving using data, reports and documents to resolve production related issues e.g. A3 report, graphs, matrices and escalate concerns
- Continuous Improvement: How to study and identify ways to improve the safety, quality, cost or process efficiency using lean manufacturing tools e.g. kaizen
- Communication: How to share information using a range of methods within the manufacturing environment e.g. oral, written, electronic, information boards, visual displays
- Work Place Organisation: How to maintain a safe and efficient work site through work place organisation e.g. 5s and process ownership
If required Maths and English Level 1 and/or Level 2 Functional Skills will form a part of your apprenticeship.
What we can offer you:
- Annual holiday entitlement of 26 days and 8 Bank Holiday (company shut down in Summer and Christmas)
- SMART working – ability to work from home 2 days per week and adjust start time +/- 2 hours
- Free onsite car park
- Free electric car charging points on site
- Car lease scheme
- Pension (GPP) 4.5% employee and 4.5% employer
- Life Assurance 4x pensionable pay (after 1 years’ service for GPP members)
- Private healthcare
- On-site occupational health support
- Company sick pay
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Cycle to work scheme
- Profit share
- Sports and social club
- Long service awards
- Monthly prize draw
- On- site canteen
More training information
If required maths and English Level 1 and/or Level 2 Functional Skills will form a part of your apprenticeship.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 3 (or D) and above)
- Maths (grade 3 (or D) and above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Time Management
- Attendance
- Self-motivated
Other requirements
When apprentices move from the Training Academy to the workplace, with the start time being 6:45 am, this early start time can prove difficult for some apprentices who cannot drive, cycle or are unable to obtain a lift, so access to public transport must be researched to ensure punctuality at the start of the shift.
About this employer
For three decades, Unipres has prided itself on delivering excellence in the automotive industry from our plant in Sunderland. We are a global company powered by local people – focused on achieving product excellence, committed to developing our skilled workforce and dedicated to driving forward innovation across the automotive industry. The Sunderland plant, is the focal points of Unipres operations in Europe. As a manufacturer of press-formed automotive components, we apply technical skills, including expertise in safety and environmental performance, to create a range of technology solutions tailored to meet the needs of our customers.
https://unipres.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Bereavement leave. Canteen. Company pension. Cycle to work scheme. Enhanced maternity leave. Enhanced paternity leave. Free parking. Health & Wellbeing Programme. Life insurance. On-site parking. Profit sharing. Sick pay.
After this apprenticeship
There are opportunities for progression onto higher level apprenticeships, particularly Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technicians.
Since 2016, 24% of our higher-level apprenticeship students have progressed from the Level 2 Lean Manufacturing Operative apprenticeship.
- Full-Time Production Operative
- Level 3 Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship or an appropriate Level 3 Apprenticeship Progression Programme
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
UNIPRES (UK) LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000000222.
Apply now
Closes in 15 days (Wednesday 3 December 2025 at 11:59pm)
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