Engineering Apprentice

Posted:
2/11/2026, 7:29:22 PM

Location(s):
Nova Scotia, Canada ⋅ Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Experience Level(s):
Internship

Field(s):
Mechanical Engineering

Want to help us bring happiness to the world? Want to join an ambitious and fast growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure and people? Then this is the place for you.

As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don’t compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire. We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits.

To succeed at pladis you need to be purpose-led, resilient and positive to succeed here because we expect pace and agility, we insist on collaboration and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact


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What will this role achieve?

The UK&I Engineering Team play a key role in delivering our promise, ensuring we can meet demand by keeping the equipment in our bakeries running efficiently.

Our Engineering Apprentices play a key role within our UK&I Supply Chain, challenging the status quo, bringing new ideas and enthusiasm to the way we work.

What will be your key deliverables?

5 years packed with a variety of learning, both in classroom and in our fast-paced bakeries, to develop your engineering knowledge, skills and behaviours in a Food Manufacturing Environment:

· Mechanical maintenance

· Electrical maintenance

· Machining and welding

· Fluid power maintenance

· Mathematics and scientific principles

· Representations, drawings and graphs

· Health, Safety & Environment, Food Safety and Compliance

· Automation, instrumentation, digitalisation

· Planning and preparing maintenance activities

· Planned predicted and preventative maintenance

· Continuous improvement

• You’ll initially spend 40hrs per week (Monday to Friday) in a 20 week block with our partner, Midland Group Training Services (MGTS) in Coventry, building the essential mechanical and electrical knowledge needed to solve manufacturing problems. Your travel, accommodation and subsistence will be provided by pladis.

• You’ll then spend 40 hours per week (days based) applying your learnings to solve real problems, with the support of our Engineering team in our Manchester bakery. After a year you will return for a further 14 week block at MGTS.

• At the end of the four years you will have achieved an OAL L3 Diploma in Engineering Maintenance for a Food and Drink Engineer and will progress to a proving year in which you will be expected to demonstrate your capability for a permanent contract at the end of the five year apprenticeship.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about food

• Enthusiastic to try new things

• Problem solver

• Creative & curious

• Enjoy working with people

What You’ll Do After Completing Your Apprenticeship

· At the end of the four years, you'll have the opportunity to become one of our Engineering Technicians on a highly competitive salary

· Engineering Technicians form a key part of our Engineering Team, responsible for;

· Ensuring our lines run smoothly and efficiently by solving machine problems and carrying out planned and preventative maintenance

· Enabling our teams to maintain food and health & safety standards

· Championing continuous improvement by working with our Supply Chain Excellence team to improve our ways of working

Bring your experience.

Eligibility

· Applicants must have been resident in the UK for 3 years

· Non-UK nationals are eligible if whose their residence in the UK and Islands has not during any part of that 3 year period been wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education and have permission granted by the UK government to live in the UK and such permission is not for education purposes only

· We will reject applications from all applicants that do not meet these requirements

Essential

· GCSE (or equivalent) Maths at grade B/5 or above (actual or predicted)

· GCSE (or equivalent) English at grade D/3 or above (actual or predicted)

· Scottish qualifications – a minimum of two National 5 qualifications (or their equivalent) including English at grade C or above, Maths at grade B or above.

· Internal applicants not meeting the above qualification criteria are welcome to apply and will be evaluated internally

Our Values

Purpose led – We’re energised and guided by our purpose to bring happiness with every bite

Agile – We’re ever evolving, we never stand still, always improving for our customers and our consumers.

Positive – We’re highly motivated optimistic, courageous, and we inspire each other to be better

Resilient - We’re persistent in the face of setbacks, quick to adapt, learn and move forward

Collaborative – We gain strength from operating as one pladis, winning and succeeding together

Best mix of ingredients

pladis is an equal opportunities employer, like every great recipe we’re a thoughtful mix. A happy and inclusive place to work that’s as diverse as our consumers and the communities we support, live and work in, all around the world. Where every voice is heard, and difference is celebrated. Where fresh perspectives and new ideas help us grow and thrive.

pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.

We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List. If you are a recruitment agency and wish to submit candidate to be considered for this vacancy, you must have agreed to, and signed, our terms of business.
We will not accept CVs from any other sources other than those currently on our PSL. We will not pay a fee for any candidate that has not been represented by a provider on our PSL.