Apprenticeships - Food and Drink Technical Operator Apprenticeship

Technical Operators work in the manufacturing sector of the food and drink industry. They typically work on production lines in manufacturing plants, but will spend some time offline while working on activities such as new product development. They have both knowledge and skills in preventative maintenance activities and Continuous Improvement (CI) techniques, which are essential to maintaining and improving productivity in food and drink manufacturing sites.

At the end of the programme apprentices will be able to:

• understand health and safety systems, quality systems and Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP)

• interrogate data to identify trends

• carry out basic fault finding

• carry out routine and specialist maintenance of equipment

• participate in external audits

• contribute to the development and improvement of quality controls

• work as an effective member of a team and exhibit strong communication skills.

In addition apprentices will have developed an understanding of continuous improvement processes used in the industry.

Learners must achieve all KSB (knowledge, skills, Behaviours) standards to enter Gateway for EPA (End Point Assessment). The KSB set out what learners need to know and need to do in order to perform effectively in their role at work. These are described in learning outcomes in units of assessment.

Apprentices without English and maths at level 2 must achieve level 2 English and maths prior to taking their end-point assessment.

Further Study:

On completion of this qualification learners will be in an advantageous position to consider a Higher Level Apprenticeship (level 4/5).

Apprenticeships that should be considered include:

• Management Apprenticeship

• Food Technologist.

Career Opportunities:

On completion of this programme, individuals may progress into technical or leadership roles. This apprenticeship is an ideal springboard for potential future leaders of the food and drink industry.