Summary
Excellent opportunity to join Heineken at their Cider Production Operations in Hereford as an Apprentice. You'll gain a full view of what it takes to make our products from farm to fridge. Our aim is that you will learn from and work within our Engineering and Support teams throughout your apprenticeship.
Wage
£19,167 a year
Training course
Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)
Hours
A blend of day and shift work throughout the apprenticeship. Starting on days but then moving to shift to maximise learning - and back to days to prepare for End Point Assessment.
39 hours a week
Start date
Tuesday 1 September 2026
Duration
3 years 9 months
Positions available
2
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Working on a manufacturing site - our Traditional yet innovative Hereford Ciderie is the Go-To Brewery for HEINEKEN UK.
You will work towards a Level 3 Food and Drink Engineering Maintenance Apprenticeship standard.
Your apprenticeship will cover topics such as:
* Mechanical maintenance
* Electrical maintenance
* Materials science
* Control systems
* Instrumentation
* Fluid and thermodynamics
* Servos and variable speed drives
* Continuous improvement
* Food safety and quality
Where you'll work
HP Bulmers Ltd
The Cider Mills
Plough Lane
Hereford
HR4 0LE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
HEREFORDSHIRE AND WORCESTERSHIRE GROUP TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED
Training course
Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)
What you'll learn
Course contents
* Use information technology, for example to create documentation, communication and information management.
* Obtain, read and interpret task related documentation, such as work instructions, quality control documents, drawings, operation manuals, specifications and service manuals.
* Record information for example job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
* Conduct initial assessment of equipment that requires maintenance.
* Formulate plans setting out the methodology of the maintenance activity including timescales and resources.
* Select, prepare and use material, consumables, tools and equipment.
* Comply with health and safety regulations and organisational requirements applicable in the workplace. For example, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, PPE and applying safe systems of work.
* Apply dynamic risk assessment, hazard identification and risk mitigation principles and techniques.
* Apply isolation principles and techniques to equipment undergoing maintenance, including dissipation of stored energies as required.
* Manufacture, repair and refurbish components using hand and machine tools.
* Restore the workplace on completion of the maintenance activity. Handover resources, consumables and equipment to process owner.
* Apply the techniques and processes used in reactive maintenance and repair activities on complex engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
* Produce, maintain, update, record and store documentation including electronic items such as PLC and robot programmes.
* Apply techniques and processes used in planned and preventative maintenance activities on engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
* Apply functional testing and checking techniques and processes after maintenance interventions, and handover to the operational team.
* Apply techniques and processes used in condition monitoring, non-destructive or sensory testing. Record findings and take necessary actions.
* Apply calculation techniques such as, feeds, speeds, tolerances, electrical calculations using Ohms law, power calculations and cable sizing calculations.
* Select, use and confirm calibration of electrical and mechanical testing and measuring equipment.
* Produce sketches or drawings to support maintenance activities.
* Communicate in writing. Prepare communications, documents and reports on technical matters.
* Segregate, separate and dispose of waste streams and by-products.
* Apply 4S or 5S principles of housekeeping to the work environment.
* Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve operational performance.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques.
* Communicate with others verbally. Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders. For example, to access equipment or arrange access to equipment.
* Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
* Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
* Apply fault finding techniques used in reactive maintenance on complex integrated systems including half split, input output, six point technique, function or performance testing, unit or component substitution and equipment diagnostics.
* Use information technology, for example to create documentation, communication and information management.
* Obtain, read and interpret task related documentation, such as work instructions, quality control documents, drawings, operation manuals, specifications and service manuals.
* Record information for example job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
* Conduct initial assessment of equipment that requires maintenance.
* Formulate plans setting out the methodology of the maintenance activity including timescales and resources.
* Select, prepare and use material, consumables, tools and equipment.
* Comply with health and safety regulations and organisational requirements applicable in the workplace. For example, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, PPE and applying safe systems of work.
* Apply dynamic risk assessment, hazard identification and risk mitigation principles and techniques.
* Apply isolation principles and techniques to equipment undergoing maintenance, including dissipation of stored energies as required.
* Manufacture, repair and refurbish components using hand and machine tools.
* Restore the workplace on completion of the maintenance activity. Handover resources, consumables and equipment to process owner.
* Apply the techniques and processes used in reactive maintenance and repair activities on complex engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
* Produce, maintain, update, record and store documentation including electronic items such as PLC and robot programmes.
* Apply techniques and processes used in planned and preventative maintenance activities on engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
* Apply functional testing and checking techniques and processes after maintenance interventions, and handover to the operational team.
* Apply techniques and processes used in condition monitoring, non-destructive or sensory testing. Record findings and take necessary actions.
* Apply calculation techniques such as, feeds, speeds, tolerances, electrical calculations using Ohms law, power calculations and cable sizing calculations.
* Select, use and confirm calibration of electrical and mechanical testing and measuring equipment.
* Produce sketches or drawings to support maintenance activities.
* Communicate in writing. Prepare communications, documents and reports on technical matters.
* Segregate, separate and dispose of waste streams and by-products.
* Apply 4S or 5S principles of housekeeping to the work environment.
* Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve operational performance.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques.
* Communicate with others verbally. Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders. For example, to access equipment or arrange access to equipment.
* Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
* Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
* Apply fault finding techniques used in reactive maintenance on complex integrated systems including half split, input output, six point technique, function or performance testing, unit or component substitution and equipment diagnostics.
Training schedule
Formal training is delivered at HWGTA, located at Holmer Road, Hereford HR4 9SX.
Level 3 comprises of:
Duration approximately 40-45 months.
Year 1:
Between 22–39 weeks are spent at HWGTA Training Centre developing practical engineering skills, alongside one day per week in the classroom, completing the theoretical elements of the EAL Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering
Year 2:
Predominantly based in your company, returning to the Training Centre one day per week to continue and complete the specialised elements of their Level 3 Diploma (Development Knowledge)
Years 3 - 4:
Based full-time in your company, developing practical skills and knowledge in preparation for the End Point Assessment to gain your Mechatronics Maintenance Technician Level 3 qualification
More training information
* Additional training for functional skills in English and Maths will be undertaken if needed
* There is also a five-day teambuilding residential trip that is held in the spring of each year offered to all apprentices on programme
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
* English (grade A*-C/ 4-9)
* Maths (grade A*-B/ 6-9)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* IT skills
* Attention to detail
* Organisation skills
* Problem solving skills
* Number skills
* Analytical skills
* Logical
* Team working
* Initiative