Summary
We are looking for a Polymer Process Apprentice with motivation and drive to join our Operations team and start a 2-year apprenticeship scheme with us in summer 2025. Our plant is dedicated to the manufacture of Nylon-6,6 fibre for the automotive airbag industry and operates continuously 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
Wage
£19,500 a year
Training course
Polymer processing technician (level 3)
Hours
This role is initially day based, Monday to Friday, however you will be required to spend periods of time throughout the apprenticeship working on our 12-hour rotating shift pattern: 2 days, 2 nights, followed by 4 days off.
39 hours a week
Possible start date
Monday 1 September
Duration
2 years
Positions available
1
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
* Assists in monitoring and performing adjustments on production scale equipment.
* Carry out small scale manufacturing trials and capability studies.
* Preparation of materials for laboratory sampling.
* Support root cause analysis and investigations for customer complaints & internal quality incidents.
* Operate the manufacturing process to the required quality and safety standards and relevant operating procedures.
* Maintain required standards of plant housekeeping to ensure safe and efficient working practices for all.
* Compliance with standards for quality and consumption of material.
* Perform in-process testing of the product being manufactured.
Where you’ll work
Ermin Street
Brockworth
Gloucester
GL3 4HP
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
THE S&A TRANSFORM GROUP LIMITED
Your training course
Polymer processing technician (level 3)
Equal to A level
Course contents
* Review instructions or information. For example, work instructions, sampling requirements, drawings dimensioning, labelling, formulations, machine settings.
* Plan task and identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, security, quality and cost.
* Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace.
* Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations and standards. For example, daily machine checks, wearing personal protective equipment.
* Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
* Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and handling.
* Select, check, and prepare materials for polymer processing for example, weighing, control and blending, and conditioning.
* Select, configure (for example, replace or change inserts) and check mould tools, formers, dies or other process equipment.
* Check installation and function of processing equipment for the process.
* Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic.
* Check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record where applicable.
* Set or check machine settings using instructions such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
* Adjust machine setting for the speeds, positions, pressures and safety of the mould tool, former or die movement to meet product specification.
* Start up manufacturing processes.
* Monitor process feedback and adjust process parameters.
* Shut down manufacturing processes.
* Devise machine settings such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
* Test and evaluate machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
* Select and apply optimal machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material (for example, capability study).
* Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data. Use data to inform action.
* Identify process faults and resolve.
* Apply post processing techniques for example, assembly, printing, decorating, cooling operations, packing, and labelling.
* Follow quality assurance processes during manufacture.
* Perform quality control checks. For example, conduct parameter checks (size, colour, weight), and take samples.
* Identify quality issues and resolve for example, defects, maintenance requirements.
* Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
* Apply preventative maintenance practices. For example, checking guarding, lubrication, cleaning of tooling, safety checks, and inspection for wear and tear.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the effectiveness of existing production, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process or task.
* Apply team working principles.
* Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
* Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
* Present information.
* Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests, technical reports.
* Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
* Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
* Review instructions or information. For example, work instructions, sampling requirements, drawings dimensioning, labelling, formulations, machine settings.
* Plan task and identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, security, quality and cost.
* Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace.
* Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations and standards. For example, daily machine checks, wearing personal protective equipment.
* Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
* Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and handling.
* Select, check, and prepare materials for polymer processing for example, weighing, control and blending, and conditioning.
* Select, configure (for example, replace or change inserts) and check mould tools, formers, dies or other process equipment.
* Check installation and function of processing equipment for the process.
* Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic.
* Check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record where applicable.
* Set or check machine settings using instructions such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
* Adjust machine setting for the speeds, positions, pressures and safety of the mould tool, former or die movement to meet product specification.
* Start up manufacturing processes.
* Monitor process feedback and adjust process parameters.
* Shut down manufacturing processes.
* Devise machine settings such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
* Test and evaluate machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
* Select and apply optimal machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material (for example, capability study).
* Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data. Use data to inform action.
* Identify process faults and resolve.
* Apply post processing techniques for example, assembly, printing, decorating, cooling operations, packing, and labelling.
* Follow quality assurance processes during manufacture.
* Perform quality control checks. For example, conduct parameter checks (size, colour, weight), and take samples.
* Identify quality issues and resolve for example, defects, maintenance requirements.
* Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
* Apply preventative maintenance practices. For example, checking guarding, lubrication, cleaning of tooling, safety checks, and inspection for wear and tear.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the effectiveness of existing production, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process or task.
* Apply team working principles.
* Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
* Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
* Present information.
* Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests, technical reports.
* Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
* Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
Your training plan
The successful applicant will be predominantly site based. Distance learning will be required where you will join online training sessions delivered by our specialist training provider (The S&A Academy) remotely via day release. You will also be supported in your learning and development by your dedicated training instructor/coach, your supervisor and the operations/engineering teams. You will have opportunities for industrial training and access to global learning platforms to enable you to propel forward your career and professional development.
More training information
You will gain industry-leading experience in a stable and rapidly growing sector, along with mentorship from senior professionals and a highly competitive apprenticeship qualification (L3 Polymer Processing qualification). We expect you to be proactive and innovative in discussing the company's approach to addressing product quality issues, as well as identifying and implementing continuous improvement opportunities for both existing and new processes and plant operations.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
* English (grade 9-5 or A-C)
* Maths (grade 9-5 or A-C)
* Science (grade 9-5 or A-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
* Problem solving skills
* Analytical skills
* Team working
* Initiative
* Interpersonal skills