Overview
Location: Memory Lane Cakes, Cardiff
Salary: Competitive + Benefits
We have an exciting opportunity for an Engineering Apprentice to join our team and begin a rewarding career within a fast-paced, highly automated food manufacturing environment.
Our Memory Lane Cakes site is one of our cake bakeries within Finsbury Food Group. We make a large percentage of the UK's sharing cakes from retailer own brands cakes, tray bakes through to party cakes like Caterpillar cakes. The site employs over 850 people and runs 24/7, with a culture of teamwork, supportive leadership and a focus on continuous improvement at all levels.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about engineering, enjoys problem-solving, and wants to develop a broad range of technical skills while working towards a recognised engineering qualification. You'll gain hands-on experience supporting the maintenance, repair, and improvement of modern production equipment, while learning from an experienced and supportive engineering team.
It's an exciting time to join the business. With continued investment in automation, robotics, camera systems, and advanced manufacturing technology, you'll have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of equipment and develop skills that will support a long-term career in engineering.
Responsibilities
- As an Engineering Apprentice, you'll work alongside experienced engineers to help keep our highly automated production lines running safely, efficiently, and reliably.
- You'll learn how to maintain, repair, fault-find, and improve a wide range of machinery and equipment while developing knowledge across mechanical, electrical, automation, controls, sensors, and data collection systems.
- You'll support planned preventative maintenance activities, equipment inspections, breakdown repairs, and continuous improvement projects, gaining practical experience in a real manufacturing environment.
- Working closely with production teams, you'll learn how engineering performance impacts factory output, product quality, and customer service.
- You'll play an active role in maintaining high standards of Health & Safety, Food Safety, hygiene, and housekeeping, ensuring all work is completed safely and in line with site procedures.
- You'll learn how to use engineering systems, tools, technical documentation, and maintenance records correctly as part of your development.
- This is a varied and hands-on role where no two days are the same, including supporting production during breakdowns, installing new equipment, and improving existing processes.
- Throughout your apprenticeship, you'll receive ongoing coaching, mentoring, and support from experienced engineers, alongside formal training to build confidence, technical knowledge, and practical experience.
Ideal candidate
- Passionate about engineering and keen to build a long-term career in the industry
- Motivated, enthusiastic, and genuinely willing to learn
- Strong interest in mechanical, electrical, automation, or manufacturing technology
- Good understanding of Maths and Science and able to apply logical problem-solving skills
- Comfortable using computers and learning new systems and technology
- Curious, proactive, and willing to ask questions and seek out learning opportunities
- Able to work well as part of a team and communicate effectively with others
- Reliable, committed, and able to remain calm under pressure
- Positive attitude with a strong work ethic and desire to develop
- Interested in continuous improvement and finding better ways of working
- CAD experience or knowledge would be beneficial but is not essential
- GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths and English in line with apprenticeship entry requirements
What’s in it for you?
- Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival
- Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees
- Death in Service Benefit
- Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families)
- Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform
- Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral – T&C’s dependent)
- Employee Recognition Awards and extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including opportunities for sponsored professional memberships and our in-house development course)
- An opportunity to be part of a fantastic, growing organisation
Our vision is to be the leading specialty bakery group in the UK. We value development and want every individual to have the skills and capabilities to achieve personal and business goals. If this sounds like you, please get in contact to learn more.
