Mechatronics Maintenance Technician Engineering Apprenticeship

MCCAIN FOODS (G.B.) LIMITED

Peterborough (PE7 2PG)

Closes on Friday 17 April 2026

Posted on 21 January 2026

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Summary

We are engineering careers.

Come and #LearnAndEarn at one of the world’s best frozen food companies. Working alongside first-class engineers combining practical engineering experience with industry-recognised qualification.

• Wage:

  £22,568 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Don’t worry, we won’t pay you in chips! For working here you’ll get a great salary (we pay above the apprenticeship minimum hourly rate) as well as some pretty good benefits

• Training course: Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)
• Hours: Days to be confirmed 8:00am– 4:00pm 40 hours a week

  40 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 24 August 2026

• Duration:

  4 years

• 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

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences- together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

We’re engineering careers. And we’re looking for the next generation of engineering talent who want practical experience in a fast-paced environment.

About the role:

The McCain Engineering Apprenticeship Scheme is a four-year multi-skilled programme, where you’ll work alongside our highly skilled maintenance engineers shadowing them and learning how we operate a smooth-running operation.

You will…

• Work towards a multi-skilled NVQ Level 3, alongside the Mechatronics apprenticeship pathway. The scheme will also offer training in modules bespoke to McCain and the potato industry
• Have a day release to a technical training centre which will begin from Year one and as an apprentice, you will be expected to complete college-based elements in addition to hands-on core modular training
• Benefit from working alongside a team of highly skilled maintenance engineers, assisting on an exciting range of engineering challenges in the factory

About the team:

Our Engineers are fixers, thinkers and improvers. It’s their jobs to keeping equipment running smoothly and pushing our capabilities forward, ensuring we get the best quality food onto the plates of our consumers across the UK and Ireland.

#WeAreMcCain

Leadership principles.

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.

Where you'll work

Funthams Lane
Whittlesey
Peterborough
PE7 2PG

Training

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

Training provider

INSPIRE EDUCATION GROUP

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.

Training schedule

1 day a week attendance at Peterborough College

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• 2 other subjects (grade 5 or equivalent)
• English (grade 5 or equivalent)
• Maths (grade 5 or equivalent)
• Science (grade 5 or equivalent)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Practical hands-on skills
• Computer literate
• Numerate and Literate
• Willing to learn
• Self-discipline
• Logical approach
• Conscientious
• Enthusiasm
• Punctual

Other requirements

Must be 18 or over on commencement of the apprenticeship due to insurance requirements.

About this employer

McCain Foods GB Ltd - Whittlesey is a branch of McCain Foods, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of frozen potato products. Whittlesey is one of four McCain potato processing sites in the United Kingdom, strategically located in Cambridgeshire, near Peterborough.

#WeAreMcCain

About McCain.

Visit https://www.mccain.com/ to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.

https://www.mccain.com/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Excellent pension: We pay double what you do (max 12%). Flexible holidays: Buy/sell up to 5 days a year. Optional health cash plan. Cycle to work scheme. ‘Chips In’ volunteering day off. Great opportunities to relocate later.

After this apprenticeship

• We are development obsessed, and the fries the limit
• A successful apprenticeship could lead to the possibility of full-time employment with us!

 

Working at McCain offers lots of potential future opportunities including:

·     Growing to senior positions and getting involved with exciting projects.

·     Moving into other departments and exploring an even wider range of work.

·     Developing your leadership skills and becoming a McCain leader, making decisions on how we operate and creating a great working environment.

Seeing the world by working at one of McCain’s other locations across the globe.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

INSPIRE EDUCATION GROUP

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000009678.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 17 April 2026