Are you the kind of person interested in getting into one of the largest, most dynamic, and fastest growing sectors of industry? If so, then find out more below about the Level 5 Food and Drink Engineer apprenticeship opportunity we have on offer.
The role of a Food and Drink Engineer Apprentice
Engineers will manage, maintain and install a diverse range of specialist equipment and technology used in the manufacture of food and drink products. The Food and Drink Engineer apprenticeship is suitable to people new to this sector, together with existing technicians and engineers, who wish to diversify and develop their skillsets, into this specific market. The course will deliver against the nationally recognised Level 5 Food and Drink Engineer Apprenticeship standard, which is equivalent to a higher national diploma.
You’ll fulfil a variety of duties over the 36-month duration within food businesses, dealing with mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, process development, and project engineering.
You will usually work as part of a team including working with other engineers and will interact with other functions and teams within their own company, such as Manufacturing, Production Planning, Health and Safety and Quality. They are responsible for their own work and may be responsible for teams.
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
- Co-ordinate site-based engineering activities using site standards
- Implement and operate engineering activities within regulatory requirements
- Assist the site/company to deliver operational targets, achieving optimal operational efficiency at the lowest cost
- Support the transition from a reactive to proactive approach to engineering
- Maintain and optimise the performance of current food and drink manufacturing equipment and machinery
- Design and install new process lines to meet emerging business needs
- Embed reliability centered maintenance strategies and techniques
- Identify the root causes of process and equipment failure and address through the implementation of continuous improvement techniques
- Lead the development of systems to drive planning and control focussed improvements
- Lead the efficient and effective delivery of asset care
Core technical knowledge, skills and behaviours expected
Knowledge:
- Food science and technology; how engineering is used in food and drink production
- Legislative, regulatory and ethical requirements
- Engineering processes and equipment including automation and controls to make and deliver products to market
- Engineering theory and techniques to develop processes
- Hygienic engineering principles relating to type of material, machine assembly, design and practice
- Packing materials in food; inter-relationships with food ingredients, final product and their effects on safety, quality and performance through the supply chain
- Problem solving tools to analyse e.g. Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve Control principles
- Risk management techniques
- Overall Equipment Efficiencies
- Interpretation and evaluation techniques
- Life Cycle Asset Management, Criticality Analysis & Technology Selection, Intelligent Maintenance, Repair and Operations Optimisation
- Customer/food trade association standards, such as British Retail Consortium
- General manufacturing services
- Manufacturing services specific to food
- Factory digitisation/optimisation
- Effective planning and scheduling, including effective communication, team working and project management techniques
Skills:
- Use engineering principles to deliver products/packaged food
- Assess team and individual performance, provide feedback to improve; coach and mentor
- Use IT, digitisation and manual methods to collect data from systems to support engineering projects within the business
- Plan, for example labour and engineering materials
- Influence and communicate with colleagues and others
- Comply with standard operating procedures, company, legal and regulatory requirements and customer/consumer and engineering standards
- Use continuous improvement techniques
- Contribute to the construction and commissioning of equipment and machinery used for producing preserved/fresh and safe food and drink products
- Evaluate possible failure modes and identify strategy, for example technical risk assessment methods
- Analyse operational performance, specification and data
- Use and develop planned preventative maintenance (PPM) strategies
Behaviours:
- Takes ownership of work, for example, takes responsibility and ownership of decision making for good food practice; is proactive, and demonstrates initiative
- Shows pride in work, for example, strong work ethic, displays a positive mind set and pays attention to detail
- Committed to self-development, for example, seeks learning
- Safe working, for example, promotes a culture of food safety and safe working practices
- Team player and works collaboratively
- Shows integrity and respect, for example, promotes good communication at all levels
- Flexible to changing working environment and demands – responsive to change
- Shows company/industry perspective for example keeps up to date with industry and market advancement, commercially aware
Entry Requirements & Qualifications
Individual employers will set their own entry requirements in terms of prior academic qualifications and experience. Typically candidates will have:
| Typical Entry Requirements | Individual employers will set their own entry requirements in terms of prior academic qualifications and vocational experience. Typically candidates will have 2 A-levels at Grade B or equivalent, including A-level in maths or equivalent and at least one further STEM based subject and 5 GCSEs including English and maths (grade C or above). |
| English and Maths | Apprentices must achieve level 2 English and maths prior to taking end-point assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the apprenticeships English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. |
Conclusion
Whether you are currently taking part in a lower level Food and Drink Engineering apprenticeship or are completely new to the sector, the Level 5 apprenticeship is filled with opportunity to grow your skillset in order to kickstart your career in one of the most dynamic industries. Alternatively, if you’d like to browse our variety of other Engineering and Manufacturing apprenticeships, we have a full list for you.
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