Festo Degree Control Systems Engineering Apprenticeship
FESTO LIMITED
Northampton (NN4 7PY)
Closes on Friday 31 July 2026
Posted on 4 March 2026
Contents
Summary
Join Festo in Northampton as a Level 6 Control Systems Engineering Apprentice, training with the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre and gaining a fully funded degree while rotating across departments, building hands‑on skills in automation and control systems.
- Wage
-
£18,000 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Salary between £18,000 to £29,500 over the 4 years, dependant on age, year of apprenticeship and optional salary sacrifice benefits.
- Training course
- Control systems engineer (degree) (level 6)
- Hours
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Monday to Friday 7.5 hours per day
Hours of work are normally 8.30 to 17.00 with one hour for lunch.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
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Thursday 3 September 2026
- Duration
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4 years 4 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
- Work in rotation across Festo’s core departments including Product Management, Application Support, Customised Solutions, and Sales, gaining a broad understanding of how engineering, commercial, and customer functions interact
- Support day-to-day tasks and projects within each department, developing technical and professional competencies as you progress through the apprenticeship
- Participate in internal training activities, workshops, and product demonstrations to build technical confidence and practical problem-solving skills
- Shadow experienced engineers and specialists to learn how customer enquiries, product selections, and engineering solutions are managed across the business
- Develop a strong working knowledge of Festo’s product portfolio, automation technologies, pneumatic systems, electrical control systems, and digital tools
Where you'll work
Applied Automation Centre Caswell Road Brackmills Industrial Estate
Northampton
NN4 7PY
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
Training course
Control systems engineer (degree) (level 6)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Translate conceptual designs or technical specifications into operational process control systems.
- Select, use and apply approved problem-solving methods to solve complex problems and determine appropriate solutions such as Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, and Control (DMAIC), Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA), Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) and fishbone diagrams.
- Select the best method for collating and conveying complex information using a range of data sources and supporting documentation.
- Interpret and produce technical documentation such as schematic diagrams, project plans, fault reports or data analytics using company documentation systems and guidelines.
- Observe, record and draw accurate and auditable conclusions from data and or developmental or test evidence.
- Manage assigned projects or programmes of work, taking into account factors such as safety, quality, cost and performance criteria. Apply techniques and processes for project or programme management including escalation, audit or risk management and risk mitigation.
- Comply with statutory and organisational safety standards and requirements including supporting safety risk assessments and mitigating any risks identified within the control systems environment.
- Identify resources required to complete control system projects, project tasks or programmes of work, with consideration to factors such as cost, quality, safety, security, environmental impact as applicable to the activity.
- Create a project or work programme plan and develop activities in a logical process embedding mechanisms for adapting to changing circumstances or requirements.
- Demonstrate leadership when undertaking control system engineering activities such as system design, integration, operational simulation, installation, testing, pre commissioning, commissioning and maintenance of control systems.
- Ensure that all instrumentation has been correctly configured and calibrated before use.
- Identify areas for improvement and lead continuous improvement activities such as improving safety, quality, technology solutions, operational processes, training and development, equipment performance or cost key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Perform checks on control systems documentation to ensure it meets organisational compliance and traceability requirements. Report any non-conformances using the appropriate processes and procedures.
- Interpret key performance indicators and utilise improvement techniques or processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness such as lean or six sigma.
- Translate conceptual designs or technical specifications into operational process control systems.
- Select, use and apply approved problem-solving methods to solve complex problems and determine appropriate solutions such as Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, and Control (DMAIC), Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA), Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) and fishbone diagrams.
- Select the best method for collating and conveying complex information using a range of data sources and supporting documentation.
- Interpret and produce technical documentation such as schematic diagrams, project plans, fault reports or data analytics using company documentation systems and guidelines.
- Observe, record and draw accurate and auditable conclusions from data and or developmental or test evidence.
- Manage assigned projects or programmes of work, taking into account factors such as safety, quality, cost and performance criteria. Apply techniques and processes for project or programme management including escalation, audit or risk management and risk mitigation.
- Comply with statutory and organisational safety standards and requirements including supporting safety risk assessments and mitigating any risks identified within the control systems environment.
- Identify resources required to complete control system projects, project tasks or programmes of work, with consideration to factors such as cost, quality, safety, security, environmental impact as applicable to the activity.
- Create a project or work programme plan and develop activities in a logical process embedding mechanisms for adapting to changing circumstances or requirements.
- Demonstrate leadership when undertaking control system engineering activities such as system design, integration, operational simulation, installation, testing, pre commissioning, commissioning and maintenance of control systems.
- Ensure that all instrumentation has been correctly configured and calibrated before use.
- Identify areas for improvement and lead continuous improvement activities such as improving safety, quality, technology solutions, operational processes, training and development, equipment performance or cost key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Perform checks on control systems documentation to ensure it meets organisational compliance and traceability requirements. Report any non-conformances using the appropriate processes and procedures.
- Interpret key performance indicators and utilise improvement techniques or processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness such as lean or six sigma.
Training schedule
During the first year, you will be required to attend the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre in Sheffield, full-time for an initial block of study. You will return to Festo Northampton on one Friday per month. After the initial block training, you will attend the AMRC Training Centre for one day a week to undertake the knowledge study. The remaining four days will be spent at Festo Northampton learning on the job. All travel and accommodation expenses are paid by Festo
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade Grade C or 4 or above)
- Maths (grade Grade C or 4 or above)
A Level in:
- Maths or Futher Maths (grade Grade B or above)
- Physics, Biology, Chemistry or Engineering (grade Grade B or above)
T Level in:
BTEC in:
- HNC (grade Distinction)
- HND (grade Distinction)
- National Diploma in Engineering (grade DM or above (120 credits))
- National Extended Diploma in Engineering (grade 180 credits at DDM Level)
Other in:
- Engineering (VRQ) (grade DM or above)
- Engineering (VRQ) (grade DDM)
- Engineering based subject (grade Distinction)
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
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Social and people skills
- Reliable and trustworthy
- Positive and can-do attitude
- Self motivated
- Able to work under pressure
- Desire to succeed
About this employer
Festo is a worldwide leading supplier of pneumatic and electrical automation technology. The gloabally aligned, independant family enterprise with headquarters in Germany, has evolved into a performance leader within its respective industry over a period of 100 years as a result of innovation and problem-solving competence covering all aspects of pneumatics and automation, and thanks to it's unique offerings in the field of industrial training and vocational education. Festo in the IK and Ireland is a wholly owned subsidiary of Festo worldwide.
http://www.festo.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Travel and accommodation paid when attending Uni of Sheffield inc meal allowance.
- Co. pension
- Simply Health
- £1000 Industry grant per year
- Co. bonus after 6 months if targets achieved
After this apprenticeship
While a permanent role can’t be guaranteed, our apprenticeships are built with long-term careers in mind. We invest heavily in developing our apprentices over four years, including supporting them to achieve an engineering degree. Where opportunities exist, apprentices are encouraged to apply for internal roles, and many progress into permanent positions across areas such as Sales Consultants, Project Engineers, Application Engineers and Software Engineers
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
FESTO LIMITED
Michaela Coxon
Michaela.coxon@festo.com
01604667008
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000018679.
Apply now
Closes on Friday 31 July 2026