Engineering Apprentice

SMURFIT WESTROCK UK LTD

Bristol (BS37 5AP)

Closes in 12 days (Monday 17 August 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 3 August 2026

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Summary

We are looking for a multi-skilled engineering apprentice to join the existing maintenance team to support the Yate site operations by providing high-quality services for the production department. You will carry out planned maintenance work and attend to machine breakdown repairs, using both electrical and mechanical skills.

• Wage:

  £18,000 a year

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Pay will increase with aptitude.

• Training course: Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)
• Hours: Monday to Friday with some weekend working required.

  37 hours 30 minutes a week

• Start date:

  Monday 7 September 2026

• Duration:

  3 years 6 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

We are looking to build technical skills for the future and are looking for a multi-skilled engineering apprentice to join the existing maintenance team to support the Yate site operations by providing high-quality and on-time services for the production department that requires engineering-specific knowledge and skills.

The engineering apprentice role involves carrying out both planned maintenance work and attending machine breakdown repairs, using both electrical and mechanical skills. In addition, the engineering apprentices will have a role in reviewing existing systems and advising on methods that could improve operations.

• Learn and develop behaviours that drive a health and safety culture to create a healthy and risk-free working environment
• Demonstrate the right attitude and behaviours to succeed in the engineering apprenticeship programme
• Learn and develop core behaviours
• Act with integrity – be respectful to others
• Work as one team, whilst focusing on improvement
• Ensure compliance to policies, rules and procedures
• Work with internal mentors and external trainers to meet the assessment criteria of the multi-skilled engineering apprenticeship programme on time and to the required standard.
• Commit to personal and team development through application of the Performance Development Plan
• Provide up-to-date high standards and accurate records of your work throughout the programme which will be subject for review and assessment

Where you'll work

Woodward Avenue
Yate
Bristol
BS37 5AP

Training

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

Training provider

WESTON COLLEGE OF FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION

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

• You will be pursuing a Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard as a Mechatronics Maintenance Technician, through Weston College
• As part of this program, you will attend Weston College as instructed by the college
• An assessor will conduct on-site observations to evaluate your progress, as well as supporting you in college throughout your apprenticeship
• At the conclusion of your program, your qualification will be assessed through an End Point Assessment

More training information

College will be held at our new Advanced Manufacturing Technical Excellence College (AMTEC) at Airbus, Filton, Bristol. (BS34 7PA)

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

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

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
• Problem solving skills
• Number skills
• Team working
• Initiative

Other requirements

We expect the apprenticeship programme to be provided by Weston College to ultimately obtain a Level 3 Engineering Technician Standard of Apprenticeship covering both electrical and mechanical disciplines. Once the training element is complete successful apprentices will have an ability to understand electrical drawings to fault find, have a working understanding of PLCs, drives, hydraulics and pneumatics.

About this employer

Smurfit Westrock is a world leader in paper based packaging and is the European leader in containerboard, solid board, corrugated and solid board packaging. The organisation strives to be a customer orientated, market led company which satisfies the personal development of its employees.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

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

Possible employment after the completion of apprenticeship. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WESTON COLLEGE OF FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Weston College Apprenticeships Team

apprenticeships@weston.ac.uk

01934411594

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000046071.

Apply now

Closes in 12 days (Monday 17 August 2026 at 11:59pm)