What will the apprentice be doing?
You will have access to excellent development opportunities, playing a crucial role in your team, whilst being supported to network and socialise with your peers so you can see the impact of your creativity and ideas. All apprentices across our business have the support of their line manager, mentor, and the Sonoco talent network.
The Mechanical Maintenance & Reliability Engineering apprenticeship is within our Engineering Function, within this role you will have the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge required to maintain and install electrical and control equipment within a complex computer controlled 24/7 exciting fast paced manufacturing facility. To compliment on the job training you will also complete a level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering – Mechatronic Maintenance Technician.
As a Mechatronic Maintenance technician, you will be involved in:
- Preventative and planned maintenance
- Breakdown response
- Fault finding on control systems including PLC’s and motors control systems
- Engineering work planning
- Equipment installation
- Engineering best practices and maintenance excellence
- Quality and Health & Safety
- Root Cause Analysis ( RCA)
- You will work on a large selection of heavy industrial equipment including centrifugal pumps, rolls, bearings, couplings, gearboxes, conveyors, hydraulic and pneumatic systems
- Operate workshop machinery
- Various welding techniques
What training will the apprentice take and what qualification will the apprentice get at the end?
Level 3 Engineering Technician (Mechatronics Pathway) Apprenticeship Standard.
Initial 36-week block in College 3 days a week to complete Level 2 Foundation Competence
Level 3 Development Knowledge 1 day a week over following 2 years
Level 3 Development Competence evidenced and signed off by Trainer/Assessor in the workplace
The final year will involve completion of a portfolio and preparation for End Point Assessment (EPA).
What is the expected career progression after this apprenticeship?
Taken on as a full-time member of staff, progressions into management, HNC/D and further formal training.
Things to consider
Working in a factory environment. The process is very “wet”. When recycling paper, old paper and cardboard is taken into the process and “Pulped” down to a porridge like consistency. This is to allow processes to clean out things such as sand, grit, staples and other larger type of contamination, and the transport the material from process to process. This means that there is a lot of water used in the process, and we sample and test this type of material as well during the processes which can get very messy. We then use large drying cylinders in the process to dry the material back to a paper, which means some working environments are hot and humid. The process is loud and so ear defenders are required outside in the paper mill environment. The paper mill is old, whilst the plan is to invest and develop the site for the future, the site has been here for many years.