Control Engineer Apprentice
British Sugar PLC · East Of England · CO6 4LX
About the role
Control Engineer Apprenticeship @ British Sugar 🚀
Are you ready to dive into the heart of how things get made? 🏭 British Sugar is a homegrown success story, and we're looking for bright minds like yours to help us keep things running smoothly! We're one of the most efficient beet processors worldwide, with around 3,500 farmers feeding our four advanced manufacturing sites with millions of tonnes of sugar beet every year. We transform this into over a million tonnes of sugar, serving customers across the UK, Ireland, and even venturing into the EU and global markets. 🌍
This isn't just any apprenticeship; it's your chance to become a master of automation! You'll follow a Control Engineering pathway, getting hands-on with the systems that automate and regulate our sugar production. Think of yourself as a tech wizard, understanding, configuring, and optimizing everything from programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to distributed control systems (DCS) and other cutting-edge automation tech. 💡
What you'll be doing:
- Getting your head around control theory, process dynamics, sensors, actuators, and instrumentation. 🧠
- Learning about mechanical and electrical subjects like motor control, pneumatics, pumps, conveyors, and elevators. ⚙️
- Understanding how our key operational functions like Extraction, Refinery, Pulp Management, Energy, Co-Products, and Customer Supply all work together. 🤝
- Becoming a pro at troubleshooting and fault-finding on plant equipment and control systems. 🔍
- Learning to design, develop, and manage modern PLC and DCS systems. 💻
- Gaining insight into Operational Technology (OT) and how it integrates with Information Technology (IT) systems. 🌐
The Program:
This is a 55-month journey, following the Automation & Control Engineering Technician Standard, leading to a Level 4 qualification recognized by the Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET) and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for Engineering Technician (EngTech). You'll gain all the practical experience you need to step into a Control Engineer (Development) role. ✨
Where & When:
- Location: Wissington 📍
- Salary: £25,000 💰
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 hours a day. You'll be based at our Wissington factory and attend college on a block release basis. Occasional weekend and bank holiday work might be needed during site support periods. 🗓️
What you'll need to bring:
- Be 18 or over. 🔞
- Be living and eligible to work in the UK. ✅
- Have achieved (or be predicted) at least 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade 4/C or above, including Maths, English, and Science. 📚
- A Level 3 qualification in Engineering or A Levels in Maths & Physics. 🎓
- Be able to get to the workplace and college reliably. 🚗
- Be keen to continue learning and developing with us. 🌱
- Embrace our values: staying safe, driving to action, working together, respecting each other, and being open and flexible. ❤️
Ready to kickstart your career in engineering? Apply by 28 February 2025!
Key responsibilities
- Understanding, configuring, and optimizing automation and control systems for sugar production.
- Troubleshooting and fault finding on plant and control system faults during operational periods.
- Designing, developing, and managing PLC-based and distributed control systems on site.
- Understanding key operational functions, processes, and equipment within the factories.
- Adhering to systems and procedures for safe and efficient work practices.