Summary
An exciting opportunity to join a 3-year Apprenticeship, you'll be working towards the Level 3 Food and Drink Technical Operator qualification. You'll take part in training courses, team building events, tackling real challenges and taking on real responsibility. You'll be part of our team who produces our fantastic James Wellbeloved pet food.
Annual wage
£20,000 a year
Salary £20,000 rising on completion of each academic year + annual bonus + benefits.
Training course
Food and drink technical operator (level 3)
Hours
37.5 hours per week, shifts TBC.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
Possible start date
Monday 1 September
Duration
3 years
Positions available
2
Work
As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.
What you’ll do at work
With strong mentorship and coaching from our experienced Operations Associates you will be:
* Developing leadership skills to enable you to lead a team to achieve results
* Learning how to operate, diagnose faults, repair and maintain our equipment
* Working across both process and wrapping areas
* Applying all relevant Mars quality and safety systems to ensure the safety of people and products is maintained.
Where you’ll work
Oak Tree Meadow
Blackworthy Road
Castle Cary
BA7 7PH
Training
An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.
College or training organisation
BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE
Your training course
Food and drink technical operator (level 3)
Equal to A level
Course contents
* Interpret, follow and implement food and drink production SOPs.
* Interpret, follow and implement quality assurance procedures.
* Monitor production performance, stock usage and rotation.
* Operate or use food and drink production tools and equipment.
* Identify hazards (Critical Control Points) and control measures to mitigate risks.
* Comply with food safety regulations and procedures.
* Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
* Comply with environment and sustainability regulations and procedures. Segregate, recycle and dispose of waste.
* Monitor and inspect production machinery.
* Apply basic maintenance practices. For example, check levels, parts wear, pressure, and sensors, and grease and lubricate.
* Select and use maintenance hand tools.
* Follow food safe engineering standards and practices. For example, use of food safe chemicals, check out and in of components.
* Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout).
* Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
* Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
* Collect and interpret information. Use data to apply changes
* Record information - paper based or electronic.
* Use information technology. Comply with GDPR.
* Plan and organise self, others and resources.
* Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders visually and verbally.
* Communicate in writing.
* Identify training needs. Train and buddy team members in the workplace.
* Interpret, follow and implement food and drink production SOPs.
* Interpret, follow and implement quality assurance procedures.
* Monitor production performance, stock usage and rotation.
* Operate or use food and drink production tools and equipment.
* Identify hazards (Critical Control Points) and control measures to mitigate risks.
* Comply with food safety regulations and procedures.
* Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
* Comply with environment and sustainability regulations and procedures. Segregate, recycle and dispose of waste.
* Monitor and inspect production machinery.
* Apply basic maintenance practices. For example, check levels, parts wear, pressure, and sensors, and grease and lubricate.
* Select and use maintenance hand tools.
* Follow food safe engineering standards and practices. For example, use of food safe chemicals, check out and in of components.
* Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout).
* Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
* Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
* Collect and interpret information. Use data to apply changes
* Record information - paper based or electronic.
* Use information technology. Comply with GDPR.
* Plan and organise self, others and resources.
* Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders visually and verbally.
* Communicate in writing.
* Identify training needs. Train and buddy team members in the workplace.
Your training plan
Food and Drink Technical Operator Apprenticeship Standard (Level 3)
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
* GCSE's inc English & maths (grade 9 to 4 (A* to C))
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* Attention to detail
* Organisation skills
* Problem solving skills
* Analytical skills
* Logical
* Team working
* Initiative
* Patience
* Desire to learn
* Develop leadership skills
* Maintain team motivation
Other requirements
You’ll need to be a great team player and communicator, with the motivation to get results and a positive mindset. A demonstrable interest in leadership and being hands on The ability to work as part of a team The desire to learn Willing and able to travel to our Castle Cary site. We require you to be 16+ by the 1st September 2025 You must not have more than 2 years operations experience, prior learning, or qualifications higher than an NVQ Level 3 in operations