Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprentice

WHITMAN LABORATORIES LIMITED

Petersfield (GU32 3DD)

Closes on Friday 21 August 2026

Posted on 15 July 2026

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Contents

Summary

Whitman Laboratories is seeking an engineering apprentice to support our manufacturing environment. In this role you’ll develop the technical skills needed to maintain, service, and repair production machinery and equipment, ensuring everything operates safely, efficiently, and to the high-quality standards our site is known for. 

Wage

£27,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday 7am to 3pm OR Monday - Friday 3pm to 11pm (2 roles available for each shift).

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

3 years 10 months

Positions available

4

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

Are you naturally curious about how machinery works and have a keen eye for detail? Whitman Laboratories, part of Estée Lauder Companies, is seeking a motivated Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprentice to support our fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

As an Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprentice, you will be trained to become highly skilled at maintaining and improving the advanced machinery.

Your apprenticeship will give you hands‑on experience across a wide range of engineering activities, including responding to breakdowns, supporting 24‑hour production, completing planned preventative maintenance, and contributing to continuous improvement projects. You’ll work closely with production teams, support changeovers and set‑ups, promote safe working practices, and build strong cross‑functional relationships. As technologies evolve, you’ll maintain and grow your engineering knowledge, sharing best practices with colleagues and contributing as a subject matter expert to wider company initiatives.

Your core responsibilities will include:

  • Respond to breakdowns, systematically fault-find, and identify the root cause and then implement solutions to prevent recurrence
  • Support 24-hour Site Production Operations and proactively engage with all departments to supply an effective, efficient, compliant service on a right first-time basis
  • Carry out Planned Preventative Maintenance. Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities to increase equipment efficiency, effectiveness, reliability and process robustness
  • Provide engineering support for production activity to meet customer requirements and site operations where required
  • Provide proactive, flexible support for production activities with changeovers, set-ups, change parts and skills transfer
  • Actively build internal and external departmental relationships
  • Support cross-functional activity relating to Safety, Quality and Project Work etc. with supporting documentation
  • Promote safe systems of work, adhering to Safety, Compliance, GMP and Audit working practices
  • Maintain skills and knowledge of equipment and changing technologies with training and sharing of best practices with peers and other support groups
  • Participate in company initiatives as Subject Matter Expert to seek resolutions to common issues
  • Adhere to Regulations and Legislative working practices

Where you'll work

Bedford Road
Petersfield
GU32 3DD

Training

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

Training provider

PETA LIMITED

Training course

Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Review and use information. For example, work instructions, drawings, design specifications, and plant configurations.
  • Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan tasks.
  • Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, consumables.
  • Respond and adapt to work demands. For example, adapt working methods to reflect changes in working environment, re-prioritise workloads to react to breakdowns and fault scenarios.
  • Identify equipment to work on. Check plant configuration is as defined.
  • Prepare the work area for maintenance tasks.
  • Identify environmental and health and safety hazards and risks and apply control measures.
  • Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, signage and barriers, working at height, confined spaces, and COSHH.
  • Follow security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
  • Follow emergency incident and response procedures.
  • Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimising waste.
  • Segregate items for reuse, recycling, and waste.
  • Use mathematical principles and formulae to support engineering maintenance.
  • Apply engineering maintenance standards and procedures.
  • Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
  • Follow maintenance tools and equipment control procedures. For example, handling and storage.
  • Reinstate the work area.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Communicate with others to give and receive information. For example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
  • Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
  • Record information.
  • Produce or update documents. For example, handover notes and reports.
  • Identify and highlight issues (red pen) with technical drawings.
  • Use digital and information technology. For example, databases, data sharing platforms, email, management information systems, and word processing. Follow cyber security and GDPR requirements.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions.
  • Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
  • Electrical. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
  • Electrical. Select, check, and use electrical maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
  • Electrical. Use electrical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
  • Electrical. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
  • Electrical. Inspect and test electrical aspects of plant. For example, visual checks, insulation and continuity checks, thermographic surveys, and voltage levels.
  • Electrical. Remove and replace electrical parts.
  • Electrical. Prepare and terminate electrical cables.
  • Electrical. Set up, align and adjust electrical aspects of plant.
  • Electrical. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
  • Electrical. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services deisolation.
  • Electrical. Conduct functional testing.
  • Control and instrumentation. Conduct and confirm safe isolation of connected services
  • Control and instrumentation. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
  • Control and instrumentation. Select, check, and use control and instrumentation maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
  • Control and instrumentation. Use control and instrumentation diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
  • Control and instrumentation. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
  • Control and instrumentation. Inspect and test control and instrumentation systems.
  • Control and instrumentation. Check calibration and make adjustments.
  • Control and instrumentation. Check loop function.
  • Control and instrumentation. Set up and adjust control and instrumentation systems.
  • Control and instrumentation. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
  • Control and instrumentation. Remove and replace instruments and sensors.
  • Control and instrumentation. Re-connect instrumentation power supply, cables, pipework, and services.
  • Control and instrumentation. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services deisolation.
  • Control and instrumentation. Conduct functional testing.
  • Mechanical. Check and confirm safe isolation of connected services.
  • Mechanical. Select, check, and use mechanical maintenance tools and equipment.
  • Mechanical. Use mechanical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
  • Mechanical. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
  • Mechanical. Check condition and operation of mechanical aspects of plant and equipment. For example, pumps.
  • Mechanical. Remove and replace mechanical parts.
  • Mechanical. Examine mechanical parts for defects. For example, pump seals.
  • Mechanical. Set up, align, and adjust mechanical aspects of plant.
  • Mechanical. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
  • Mechanical. Lubricate mechanical assemblies.
  • Mechanical. Confirm electrical and connected services deisolation.
  • Mechanical. Conduct functional testing.
  • Mechanical. Apply bench fitting techniques.
  • Review and use information. For example, work instructions, drawings, design specifications, and plant configurations.
  • Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan tasks.
  • Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, consumables.
  • Respond and adapt to work demands. For example, adapt working methods to reflect changes in working environment, re-prioritise workloads to react to breakdowns and fault scenarios.
  • Identify equipment to work on. Check plant configuration is as defined.
  • Prepare the work area for maintenance tasks.
  • Identify environmental and health and safety hazards and risks and apply control measures.
  • Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, signage and barriers, working at height, confined spaces, and COSHH.
  • Follow security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
  • Follow emergency incident and response procedures.
  • Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimising waste.
  • Segregate items for reuse, recycling, and waste.
  • Use mathematical principles and formulae to support engineering maintenance.
  • Apply engineering maintenance standards and procedures.
  • Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
  • Follow maintenance tools and equipment control procedures. For example, handling and storage.
  • Reinstate the work area.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Communicate with others to give and receive information. For example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
  • Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
  • Record information.
  • Produce or update documents. For example, handover notes and reports.
  • Identify and highlight issues (red pen) with technical drawings.
  • Use digital and information technology. For example, databases, data sharing platforms, email, management information systems, and word processing. Follow cyber security and GDPR requirements.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions.
  • Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.

Training schedule

As an Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprentice, you will be studying for a Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship. Throughout your apprenticeship with UK Whitman, you will be supported by your company mentor and your PETA Learning and Development Coach.

Your Level 3 programme will include a level 3 Engineering work-based qualification delivered by PETA. A practical period of 42 months and an overall duration of 46 months. 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade C/4)
  • Maths (grade C/4)

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

Skills

  • IT skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Mechanical aptitude
  • Skilled in using tools

About this employer

Whitman Laboratories, part of The Estée Lauder Companies, is a long established and highly respected cosmetics manufacturing site with decades of expertise in producing premium skincare, makeup, and fragrance products. The facility is recognised for its advanced production technologies, high precision processes, and commitment to delivering world class beauty products to consumers across the UK and global markets.

Over the years, Whitman Laboratories has continued to grow steadily, driven by a strong focus on quality, innovation, and operational excellence. This sustained success reflects the dedication of its teams and their commitment to maintaining the highest manufacturing standards. With a culture built on continuous improvement, collaboration, and customer satisfaction, the site plays a key role in supporting Estée Lauder’s reputation for exceptional product performance and reliability.

https://whitmanlabs.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • Holiday Entitlement of 25 days (pro rata)
  • Day off for your Birthday
  • Up to 65% staff discount at Company Store
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Staff Goody Bags
  • Free on-site car parking

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

For the right candidate, a full‑time position may be offered upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

PETA LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000042911.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 21 August 2026

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.