Engineering Apprentice

Northampton Business Directory; Northampton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturer in Northampton is offering an Engineering Apprenticeship aimed at building a long-term career in engineering. The role includes maintaining production machinery and requires GCSEs in Maths and English. The apprenticeship provides hands-on training and support, with a starting salary of £25,700, and includes various employee benefits. Ideal candidates should be passionate about engineering, possess strong communication and problem-solving skills, and be willing to learn while earning.

Benefits

Travel and accommodation covered during study blocks

Free wellbeing benefits

Time to complete apprenticeship learning

Pension up to 8% matched

Exclusive employee discounts

Qualifications

• Passionate about engineering and food.
• Strong IT skills are essential.
• Right to live and work in the UK for the full duration.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and optimise production machinery.
• Carry out planned and reactive maintenance.
• Support changeovers and equipment set-ups.
• Drive improvements through audits and performance reviews.
• Uphold health and safety standards.

Skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Time management

Attention to detail

Education

GCSE Grade 5/C in Maths and English or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Are you passionate about problem-solving? Excited about building a long-term career in engineering? And highly motivated to learn while earning?

If this sounds like you, our Engineering Apprenticeship could be the perfect opportunity!

Why Greencore?

Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we\'re one of the UK\'s leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make every day taste better.

As a vibrant and fast-moving business, we\'re proud to employ over 28,000 talented colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and the US. Together, we bring delicious food to life. Our products cover every meal occasion from breakfast through to dinner and dessert, with lunch and snacking in between. In FY25, our shared passion helped us achieve combined revenues of approximately £4bn.

Our extensive direct to store (DTS) network, with 17 depots across the UK, allows us to deliver fresh and frozen food both our own and from trusted partners to thousands of stores every day, ensuring consumers enjoy the very best, whenever and wherever they shop.

Here at Northampton, we operate one of the most impressive facilities in Europe, based across a campus of 5 manufacturing units, and we have a team of around 2,000 colleagues making high quality premium products every day. We are the sole supplier of sandwiches, wraps, rolls and sushi for Marks & Spencer.

The food industry is an exhilarating place to be an engineer! We use some of the most innovative, modern and technically automated equipment available to manufacture a wide range of food products for our customers.

What you\'ll be doing

Our 4‑year Engineering Apprenticeship, delivered with MGTS, leads to a Level 3 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering qualification. You\'ll gain practical experience in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment while developing the technical skills and behaviours needed for a successful engineering career in the food industry.

Based at our Northampton site, you\'ll work flexibly in a 24/7 operation, which may include early starts, night shifts, and weekends.

By the end of the programme, you\'ll be able to:

• Maintain and optimise production machinery
• Carry out planned and reactive maintenance
• Support changeovers and equipment set‑ups
• Drive improvements through audits and performance reviews
• Uphold health, safety, food safety and engineering standards

Your Learning Journey

• You'll attend 15 three‑week study blocks at MGTS in Redditch (mainly in years 1 and 2), gaining hands‑on training before applying your learning on site.
• A driving licence and car are highly beneficial.
• Overnight stays are required if you can't commute to Redditch. (Accommodation cannot be provided for those under 18 due to safeguarding policies.)

What you'll get

• Starting salary: £25,700
• Travel and accommodation covered during study blocks
• Free wellbeing benefits (Virtual GP, health check, mental health and nutrition support, adult care helpline, onsite physio)
• Coaching, mentoring and Early Careers learning events
• A nationally recognised engineering qualification
• Time to complete apprenticeship learning
• Pension up to 8% matched
• Holiday buying scheme
• Company share‑save scheme
• Exclusive employee discounts

What we\'re looking for

You should be passionate about engineering, food, and working with people. You\'ll also be:

• Motivated, curious, organised, and a strong communicator
• Confident, pragmatic, and proud of your work
• Skilled at problem‑solving with strong attention to detail
• Able to manage time effectively and work accurately

Eligibility

• GCSE Grade 5/C in Maths and English (or equivalent)
• Strong IT skills
• Right to live and work in the UK for the full duration
• Applicants with engineering experience or Level 3+ engineering qualifications may not be eligible

What happens next?

• Applications close 4 March 2026 (may close early if volumes are high).
• If successful at telephone screening, you\'ll be invited to a Virtual Assessment Centre (8-17 April 2026).
• We work with MGTS during screening, so some personal information will be shared with them.
• Successful candidates will attend a second‑stage, face‑to‑face assessment at a Greencore site.
• Induction and apprenticeship enrolment take place August-September 2026.