Engineering Apprentice in Northampton

A 4-year Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship at Greencore, blending hands-on maintenance training with study at MGTS. Develop practical engineering skills, support production, and learn to keep machinery running in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Keep our food safe by following health, safety, and engineering standards
• Maintain and optimise machinery to keep production running smoothly
• Carry out planned and reactive maintenance
• Support machinery changeovers and set-ups
• Drive improvements through audits and performance reviews
• Read and interpret task related information and data, including work instructions, SOPs, quality control documentation, Service Level Agreements, specifications, engineering drawings, and operation manuals
• Plan work and identify resources to complete tasks
• Identify hazards and implement control measures to mitigate risks
• Comply with food safety, health and safety, and environment and sustainability regulations and procedures
• Select, check the condition of, and safely use maintenance tools and equipment; store tools properly; arrange maintenance including calibration where required
• Follow standard operating procedures and quality procedures
• Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout) and re-instatement of equipment with system checks and handover
• Apply mechanical and fluid power system maintenance practices (check levels, wear, pressure, lubrication, component replacement, calibration)
• Apply electrical and control maintenance practices (electric testing, panel risk assessment, fault finding, thermography, protection settings)
• Apply reliability engineering techniques (condition monitoring, oil sampling, thermography, vibration analysis, ultrasound)
• Install and configure instrumentation or process control systems; install and configure electrical systems
• Assemble, position and fix equipment or components; complete commissioning checks
• Read and interpret equipment performance data
• Fabricate, drill, and join parts to specification; perform TIG welding (down-hand) techniques
• Apply mathematical techniques to solve engineering problems
• Produce and amend electrical and mechanical engineering representations, drawings, and graphical information
• Fault-find and solve problems using PLC data to diagnose issues on industrial networks
• Implement continuous improvement techniques; collect and record data; propose improvements
• Restore the work area on completion of activity and resolve or escalate issues
• Use information technology for document creation, communication, information management; comply with GDPR and cyber security
• Record work activity (asset management records, checklists, waste/environmental records, reporting)
• Communicate verbally and in writing with colleagues and stakeholders using appropriate engineering terminology
• Produce reports (e.g., equipment performance reports) and provide guidance or training to colleagues or stakeholders
• Read and interpret various task related information and data

Training and Qualifications

• Training schedule: alongside day-to-day role, you'll attend 15 study blocks of 3 weeks at MGTS's training facility in Redditch (mostly during the first two years)
• GCSE in Maths and English (grade C/5 or above or equivalent); other relevant qualifications and industry experience may be considered; apprenticeship may be adjusted to reflect existing knowledge
• Essential skills: communication, IT, attention to detail, organisation, problem solving, administrative and analytical skills, initiative, patience
• GCSE Grade 5/C in maths and English (or equivalent) and the right to live and work in the UK
• Driving licence and access to a car are highly advantageous to support travel requirements

About Greencore

Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we’re one of the UK’s leading creators of convenience food, with over 28,000 colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and US. In FY25, our shared revenues were approximately £4bn. For more information, visit the Greencore website.

EEO Statement

We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of nationality or background. However, applicants must have (or be able to obtain) the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the programme.