Food and drink engineer
Level 5 · HigherEngineering and manufacturing 3 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A Food and Drink Engineer apprenticeship at Level 5 prepares you to manage and lead the engineering function within food and drink manufacturing, including planned maintenance, capital projects, and technical improvement programmes. You will apply engineering leadership skills to maximise plant reliability and efficiency. This standard leads to senior plant engineering or technical management roles across the food and drink sector.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Engineering management of food and drink production plant
Planned and predictive maintenance strategies
Capital investment and project management techniques
Food safety, quality, and engineering compliance
Leading and developing engineering teams
Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methods
Process control, automation, and new technology adoption
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Lead the engineering maintenance team and set priorities
Plan and deliver capital engineering projects on site
Analyse plant performance data to drive improvements
Ensure legal and food safety compliance of engineering activities
Manage engineering budgets and contractor relationships
Drive lean and continuous improvement across maintenance
Develop engineering staff through coaching and performance review
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 5 (Higher) - roughly Foundation-degree level. Usually needs Level 3 (A-levels, a T-Level, or an Advanced apprenticeship) or relevant experience.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 6 (Degree) apprenticeship or a senior role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
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What it’s really like
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