Food and drink maintenance engineer
Level 3 · AdvancedEngineering and manufacturing 3.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A Food and Drink Maintenance Engineer apprenticeship trains you to install, maintain, repair, and improve the machinery and equipment used in food and drink manufacturing, keeping production lines running safely, hygienically, and efficiently. You will develop skills across both mechanical and electrical engineering as applied to food production environments. This standard leads to senior maintenance, engineering supervisor, or specialist automation roles in the food and drink industry.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Mechanical and electrical principles in food and drink machinery
Planned preventive and reactive maintenance techniques
Food safety, hygiene by design, and HACCP in engineering
Fault-finding on production machinery and control systems
Safe isolation and permit-to-work procedures
Continuous improvement and lean maintenance methods
Calibration and use of engineering test instruments
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Carry out planned maintenance on food processing machinery
Diagnose and repair mechanical and electrical faults
Assist with installation and commissioning of new equipment
Follow safe systems of work and permit-to-work procedures
Maintain food hygiene standards during engineering work
Complete maintenance records and engineering documentation
Support continuous improvement projects on the line
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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