At a Glance
- Tasks: Support maintenance and improvement of automated production equipment in a fast-paced bakery.
- Company: Join Memory Lane Cakes, a leading cake manufacturer with a friendly and collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, enhanced leave, retail discounts, and extensive learning opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with ongoing coaching and mentoring from experienced engineers.
- Why this job: Kickstart your engineering career with hands-on experience and recognised qualifications.
- Qualifications: Passion for engineering, problem-solving skills, and GCSEs in Maths and English.
The predicted salary is between 35100 - 42900 £ per year.
Memory Lane Cakes Ltd, Maes Y Coed Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom
We have an exciting opportunity for an Engineering Apprentice to join our team and begin a rewarding career within a fast‑paced, highly automated food manufacturing environment. Our Memory Lane Cakes site is one of our cake bakeries within Finsbury Food Group. We make a large percentage of the UK's sharing cakes from retailer own brands cakes, tray bakes through to party cakes like Caterpillar cakes. They employ over 850 people on site and the site runs 24/7, which encompasses a culture of teamwork, friendly and respectful leadership and a focus on continuous improvement at all levels.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about engineering, enjoys problem‑solving, and wants to develop a broad range of technical skills while working towards a recognised engineering qualification. You’ll gain hands‑on experience supporting the maintenance, repair, and improvement of modern production equipment, while learning from an experienced and supportive engineering team.
As an Engineering Apprentice, you’ll work alongside experienced engineers to help keep our highly automated production lines running safely, efficiently, and reliably. You’ll learn how to maintain, repair, fault‑find, and improve a wide range of machinery and equipment while developing your knowledge across mechanical, electrical, automation, controls, sensors, and data collection systems. You’ll support planned preventive maintenance activities, equipment inspections, breakdown repairs, and continuous improvement projects, gaining practical experience in a real manufacturing environment.
Working closely with production teams, you’ll learn how engineering performance impacts factory output, product quality, and customer service. You’ll play an active role in maintaining high standards of Health & Safety, Food Safety, hygiene, and housekeeping, ensuring all work is completed safely and in line with site procedures. You’ll also learn how to use engineering systems, tools, technical documentation, and maintenance records correctly as part of your development.
This is a varied and hands‑on role where no two days are the same. From supporting production during breakdowns to helping install new equipment and improve existing processes, you’ll be continually learning and developing your skills. Throughout your apprenticeship, you’ll receive ongoing coaching, mentoring, and support from experienced engineers, alongside formal training, helping you build the confidence, technical knowledge, and practical experience needed for a successful engineering career.
Ideally this is you!
- Passionate about engineering and keen to build a long‑term career in the industry
- Motivated, enthusiastic, and genuinely willing to learn
- Strong interest in mechanical, electrical, automation, or manufacturing technology
- Good understanding of Maths and Science and able to apply logical problem‑solving skills
- Comfortable using computers and learning new systems and technology
- Curious, proactive, and willing to ask questions and seek out learning opportunities
- Able to work well as part of a team and communicate effectively with others
- Reliable, committed, and able to remain calm under pressure
- Positive attitude with a strong work ethic and desire to develop
- Interested in continuous improvement and finding better ways of working
- CAD experience or knowledge would be beneficial but is not essential
- GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths and English in line with apprenticeship entry requirements
What’s in it for you?
- Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival!
- Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees
- Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families)
- Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform!
- Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral –T&C’s dependent)
- Employee Recognition Awards
- Extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including opportunities for sponsored professional memberships and our own in‑house development course!)
This role offers a fantastic opportunity to learn from experienced engineers, gain recognised qualifications, work with modern manufacturing technology, and develop a lifelong career within a growing business.
Engineering - Apprentice in Cardiff employer: Finsbury Food
Memory Lane Cakes Ltd is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and supportive environment for aspiring engineers. With a strong focus on teamwork and continuous improvement, employees benefit from extensive learning and development opportunities, competitive salaries, and a range of perks including enhanced maternity and paternity leave, retail discounts, and recognition awards. Located in Cardiff, this fast-paced food manufacturing site provides hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology, ensuring a rewarding career path in engineering.
