Level 3 – Dairy Manufacturing Apprentice – Technical Operator
ARLA FOODS UK PLC
North Tawton (EX20 2DA)
Closes on Wednesday 10 June 2026
Posted on 10 February 2026
Contents
Summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join Arla Foods in a new and upcoming Dairy Manufacturing Apprentice - Technical Operator role as part of our £179m expansion of the Arla Foods, Taw Valley site in Devon, you will work as part of a supportive team on-site.
- Wage
-
£21,000 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
£21,000 per annum, with an increase following successful completion of the first year of the apprenticeship.
- Training course
- Food and drink technical operator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Full-time role, 40 hours per week, with potential shift working as per business needs. Working hours TBC
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 29 June 2026
- Duration
-
2 years 6 months
- Positions available
-
40
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
This is a fantastic opportunity to start a long-term career in manufacturing, with clear progression pathways into a Technical Operator role in either liquid processing, logistics or mozzarella production. Shift work will be required, including nights and weekends. Potential opportunity for study tours in Denmark and Italy.
- Operate manufacturing machinery and plant in line with standard operating procedures
- Support start-ups, shutdowns and product changeovers
- Carry out fault finding, basic engineering maintenance and asset care
- Develop knowledge of food safety legislation, HACCP, health & safety and risk assessments
- Work with process plants, including bulk liquids, mixes and ingredient behaviour to meet product specifications
Where you'll work
Taw Valley Creamery
North Tawton
EX20 2DA
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
REASEHEATH COLLEGE
Training course
Food and drink technical operator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Interpret, follow and implement food and drink production SOPs.
- Interpret, follow and implement quality assurance procedures.
- Monitor production performance, stock usage and rotation.
- Operate or use food and drink production tools and equipment.
- Identify hazards (Critical Control Points) and control measures to mitigate risks.
- Comply with food safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with environment and sustainability regulations and procedures. Segregate, recycle and dispose of waste.
- Monitor and inspect production machinery.
- Apply basic maintenance practices. For example, check levels, parts wear, pressure, and sensors, and grease and lubricate.
- Select and use maintenance hand tools.
- Follow food safe engineering standards and practices. For example, use of food safe chemicals, check out and in of components.
- Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout).
- Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
- Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
- Collect and interpret information. Use data to apply changes
- Record information - paper based or electronic.
- Use information technology. Comply with GDPR.
- Plan and organise self, others and resources.
- Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders visually and verbally.
- Communicate in writing.
- Identify training needs. Train and buddy team members in the workplace.
- Interpret, follow and implement food and drink production SOPs.
- Interpret, follow and implement quality assurance procedures.
- Monitor production performance, stock usage and rotation.
- Operate or use food and drink production tools and equipment.
- Identify hazards (Critical Control Points) and control measures to mitigate risks.
- Comply with food safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with environment and sustainability regulations and procedures. Segregate, recycle and dispose of waste.
- Monitor and inspect production machinery.
- Apply basic maintenance practices. For example, check levels, parts wear, pressure, and sensors, and grease and lubricate.
- Select and use maintenance hand tools.
- Follow food safe engineering standards and practices. For example, use of food safe chemicals, check out and in of components.
- Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout).
- Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
- Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
- Collect and interpret information. Use data to apply changes
- Record information - paper based or electronic.
- Use information technology. Comply with GDPR.
- Plan and organise self, others and resources.
- Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders visually and verbally.
- Communicate in writing.
- Identify training needs. Train and buddy team members in the workplace.
Training schedule
Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard as a Food and Drink Technical Operator from Reaseheath College, combining hands-on practical experience with classroom-based learning at Taw Valley.
Requirements
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
Other requirements
Applicants must be able to commute to our site located in a remote, rural area. For insurance purposes, they must be aged 18 or over and have lived in the UK for at least three years at the start of the apprenticeship. They should not be engaged in other full-time education and must be eligible to live and work in the UK. There may also be potential opportunities for study tours in Denmark and Italy.
About this employer
This is an exciting opportunity to join Arla Foods in a new and upcoming Dairy Manufacturing Apprentice – Technical Operator role as part of our £179m expansion of the Arla Foods, Taw Valley site in Devon. You will work as part of a supportive team on-site, spending time both on the production lines and off-line working on improvement activities and projects. You will play a critical role in keeping our manufacturing processes running smoothly. This includes operating machinery, carrying out front-line fault diagnosis and resolution, performing asset care and basic maintenance, and maintaining the highest standards of food safety. A key focus of the role is monitoring Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and accurately recording results to ensure compliance and product integrity.
After this apprenticeship
This is a fantastic opportunity to start a long-term career in manufacturing, with clear progression pathways into a Technical Operator role in either liquid processing, logistics or mozzarella production.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
REASEHEATH COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000013496.
Apply now
Closes on Wednesday 10 June 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.