Maintenance Engineer Apprentice

ZEP UK LTD

CHESHIRE (WA8 0RD)

Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 19 August 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 5 August 2026

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Summary

This is a practical apprenticeship supporting the maintenance and improvement of production equipment within our chemical manufacturing site. You will work alongside experienced engineers, learning how to inspect, maintain and repair machinery safely while completing your college training.

• Wage:

  £17,000 a year

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

• Training course: Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline (level 3)
• Hours: Preferred working hours 6am - 2:30pm Monday to Friday. These hours can be negotiated.

  40 hours a week

• Start date:

  Tuesday 1 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

• Assist with planned maintenance and routine equipment checks
• Help identify and repair basic mechanical and electrical faults
• Support the installation and improvement of production machinery
• Keep maintenance records and workshop areas tidy and organised
• Follow site health, safety and environmental procedures
• Work with production colleagues to help keep equipment running reliably

Where you'll work

PO BOX 12
TANHOUSE LANE
WIDNES
CHESHIRE
WA8 0RD

Training

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

Training provider

RIVERSIDE COLLEGE

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

Engineering Maintenance Technician - single discipline - Level 3.

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

More training information

• Site induction and full health and safety training
• Supervised practical training on production equipment and maintenance tasks
• Training in safe working procedures, permits and use of tools
• Relevant internal and external training as required for the role

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

4 GCSE's including Maths and English (grade (Grade 9-4 (A-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
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Team working

About this employer

Zep UK is a leading manufacturer and supplier of professional cleaning and maintenance products, serving businesses across a wide range of industries. With a strong reputation for quality, innovation, and performance, Zep UK develops effective cleaning, hygiene, and maintenance solutions designed to help customers maintain safe, clean, and productive environments.

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

Company benefits

25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays.

After this apprenticeship

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

Opportunities to develop into a qualified Maintenance Engineer, with the potential for a permanent engineering role and further training following successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

RIVERSIDE COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000046620.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 19 August 2026 at 11:59pm)