Apprentice Engineer

Apetito is offering a four-year Engineering Apprenticeship commencing on 17th September 2025 in Trowbridge. The apprenticeship leads to a Level 3 Mechatronics Maintenance Technician qualification through a blend of practical experience and residential training at a top technical facility. Apprentices will support maintenance activities and learn from experienced engineers while earning a competitive salary starting at £19,500. Essential criteria include GCSEs in Maths, English, and Science, and candidates must be at least 18 years old. Apetito values diversity and sustainability, aiming to create a positive impact in the food industry.

Overview:
Start your Engineering career by choosing an Engineering Apprenticeship at apetito.
Commencing 17th September 2025, the apprenticeship is for 4 years.
Full time, 5 days per week in Trowbridge.
On your development journey, you will work towards a Level 3 Mechatronics Maintenance Technician qualification, with a combination of on-the-job learning, at apetito’s food manufacturing facility, and residential training at one of the most advanced technical training facilities in the UK.
Learn more about apprenticeships with Make UK here.
We are introducing cutting-edge technology into our existing factory and also have plans underway to build a new world class regenerative food manufacturing factory in Trowbridge.
We are looking for talented and enthusiastic people who would like to join us in this new chapter.
You will work within a team of 25 engineers in our factory where you will learn how to carry out routine maintenance, fault finding and diagnosis, testing and commissioning on advanced food manufacturing equipment.
This will develop your ability to effectively carry out proactive and reactive maintenance on the equipment.
Your training will be delivered in a supported learning environment by qualified and experienced engineers.
As well as investment in residential training to develop you skills, you will receive generous pay and company benefits:
Year 1: £19,500 per annum
Year 2: £25,397 per annum
Year 3: £29,000 per annum
Years 4: £35,400 per annum
Potential to move into a permanent role, with industry-competitive pay, on completion of the apprenticeship.
Level 3 Mechatronics Maintenance Technician qualification:
Your residential training will be in Witton, North Birmingham, alongside apprentices from across various industries in Make UK’s fully equipped training centre with experienced qualified Engineers.
The residential element is sponsored by apetito and includes hotel accommodation, meals and transport to the training facility:
Year 1: 6 x 4 week residentials (4 nights Mon-Thurs)
Year 2: 16 weeks
Year 3: 4 weeks
Year 4: On-the-job with apetito
First-stage interviews will be at our Trowbridge head office.
Second stage interviews will be held at Make UK training facility to enable you to see the residential training facilities.
Who we are:
apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.
Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.
Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.
Responsibilities:
Successfully complete the engineering apprenticeship program
Support the planned preventative maintenance activities in the facility
Support the breakdown recovery activities in the facility
Complete and effectively record on the job learning tasks to support the completion of the training program
Work under supervision to learn maintenance skills for preventative and reactive maintenance.
Work under supervision to carry out root cause analysis, including writing up reports on findings and setting countermeasure ideas and actions.
Carry out your duties and responsibilities in line with apetito’s Health & Safety policy as well as relevant Health & Safety legislation.
Carry out duties in line with apetito’s food safety policies and standards
About you:
Essential apprenticeship criteria:
Hold (or have predicted grades) in at least 4 GCSEs grade C / 4 or above, in Math’s, English and a Science
Willing to undertake a functional skills assessment in Math’s and English equivalent to GCSE grade C / 4 to assess your current skill level
Have lived in the UK or EU for the last 5 years
Have extended right to work in the UK, without time limitations
Willing to complete residential training at Make UK
Due to the nature of this apprenticeship, you must be at least 18 years old before 1st September 2025
Essential skills and experience:
Able and willing to follow instruction and learn new tasks
Able to work flexibly as part of a team
Willing to learn and take responsibility for their development
Organise own workload
Demonstrate a strong work ethic and excellent time keeping
Good team player
You will need to have enthusiasm, drive and commitment
Able to attend work at the required times
Able to communicate both written and orally and to present information clearly and concisely with good attention to detail
Desirable skills and experience:
Food processing / manufacturing and product knowledge
Understanding of how to comply with regulations, including food safety and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points)
Principles of electrical systems, including their uses, safety and legislation
Services and utilities knowledge, including the importance and impact of energy management and pollution control in food production
Company Benefits:
Competitive salary
Sponsored residential training
25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year
Discretionary annual bonus scheme
Pension scheme – employer matched contributions up to 4%
Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
Subsidised canteen
Free parking
Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts
Our Values:
As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.
We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.
We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.
We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.
Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.
Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.
We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we’re on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.