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 Process Engineering apprenticeship is within our Technical Function, which investigates and measures processes to help develop productivity and improvements within a Paper Mill which makes paper from 100% recycled fibres.
As part of the Technical department you will also work with the Mill to:
- Investigate
- Test
- Establish Standard Operating Procedures (S.O.Ps) and Standard Operating Controls (S.O.Cs)
- Provide long-term sustainable improvements in the quality of products and services
The successful candidate will have a high degree of initiative and enthusiasm to make changes, challenge the old ideas and ways and develop new and innovative solutions. The candidate should have the ability to identify opportunities and implement practical solutions, be a forward thinker with an eagerness to learn and develop oneself.
What training will the apprentice take and what qualification will the apprentice get at the end?
The successful candidate with complete a Level 3 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineer Apprenticeship Standard on a block release basis at Kirklees College.
Apprentices are required to complete a level 3 Diploma in food and drink engineering maintenance prior to taking the end-point assessment for this apprenticeship.
Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end-point assessment for this apprenticeship.
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.
