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Process Operator - Apprentice
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Process Op Apprentice
Nalco Manufacturing, an Ecolab Company is seeking a Process Op Apprentice. Operate machinery, process and/or filling equipment and undertake all necessary duties to defined performance standards to achieve required production plan. You will be able to learn by doing whilst completing a Level 3 course with Cogent Education.
Wage
£16,640 to £26,436.80, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
[Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)](https://opens in new tab)
Training course
Process industry manufacturing technician (level 3)
Hours
Will be 8AM to 4PM Monday to Friday and then when moving to shifts they will be 6AM to 2PM and 1PM to 9PM. Shift hours can be subject to change
40 hours a week
Start date
Thursday 1 October 2026
Duration
2 years 3 months
Positions available
2
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
- Understand and consistently comply to all safety, health and environmental standards (behavioural and machine) on site and for own work area
- Fully run all operations in allocated area to deliver agreed production plan and achieve KPI targets whilst complying with all standard operating procedures
- Accurately record, track and monitor all relevant operational performance data taking timely corrective actions or escalating if required
- Participate in operational improvement initiatives and use core TPM methodologies to help in identification of losses and their elimination through root cause analysis
- Complete routine basic maintenance tasks (TPM AM steps 1-3) and changeovers to maximise machine running times escalating non-standard equipment conditions
- Support team by identifying improvement opportunities and raising issues to local leadership team
- And other related duties, with guidance and training provided
Where you'll work
Winnington Ave Northwich
United Kingdom
CW8 4DL
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
COGENT SSC LIMITED
Training course
Process industry manufacturing technician (level 3)
[Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)](https://opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
Review instructions or information to understand the task. Plan tasks. Identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost. Identify hazards and risks in the workplace and personal safety and mitigation measures. Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. Follow environment emergency procedures. For example, make area safe, evacuate. Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste. Apply standard operating procedures (SOPs). Check equipment. Select, check, and prepare raw materials for process for example, weighing, measuring, control and blending, conditioning, dissolving, and sanitisation. Set and adjust processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance. Monitor process for example, take readings and conduct walk-arounds. Conduct the control of product streams to maintain specifics. Apply quality assurance procedures. For example, density checks, contaminant check, and take samples for laboratory testing. Apply intermediate or post-manufacturing procedure for example, labelling, packing, storage, visual inspection, discharge. Manage waste streams. Clean equipment for example, boil-outs, steam-outs, bake-outs, steam in place SIP, clean in place (CIP). Conduct calculations for example, conversations, tare weight, charge weights, yield calculations. Store tools and equipment. Identify equipment for handover. Apply signage and access restriction measures. Shut down the process and equipment. Isolate process and systems. Complete isolation checks. Empty equipment for example, drain, purge, vent, and de-pressure. Purge, fill, pressurise and leak test. Complete post maintenance equipment checks. Line-up equipment. Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic for chemical or petrochemical processing. De-isolate process, mechanical and electrical systems. Complete pre-start up checks. Start-up plant and equipment. Re-start process. Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data. Interpret drawings and graphs. Identify issues for example, defects, deviations, process variance, and maintenance requirements. Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility. Apply problem solving and fault-finding techniques. Apply continuous improvement techniques. Make a suggestion for improvement. Use information and digital technology for example, management information systems, human machine interfaces, word processing, spreadsheet, email, virtual learning platforms, document sharing platforms. Comply with cyber security requirements. Produce written documents for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests. Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders. Apply team working principles. Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development (CPD) activities. Review instructions or information to understand the task. Plan tasks. Identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost. Identify hazards and risks in the workplace and personal safety and mitigation measures. Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. Follow environment emergency procedures. For example, make area safe, evacuate. Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste. Apply standard operating procedures (SOPs). Check equipment. Select, check, and prepare raw materials for process for example, weighing, measuring, control and blending, conditioning, dissolving, and sanitisation. Set and adjust processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance. Monitor process for example, take readings and conduct walk-arounds. Conduct the control of product streams to maintain specifics. Apply quality assurance procedures. For example, density checks, contaminant check, and take samples for laboratory testing. Apply intermediate or post-manufacturing procedure for example, labelling, packing, storage, visual inspection, discharge. Manage waste streams. Clean equipment for example, boil-outs, steam-outs, bake-outs, steam in place SIP, clean in place (CIP). Conduct calculations for example, conversations, tare weight, charge weights, yield calculations. Store tools and equipment. Identify equipment for handover. Apply signage and access restriction measures. Shut down the process and equipment. Isolate process and systems. Complete isolation checks. Empty equipment for example, drain, purge, vent, and de-pressure. Purge, fill, pressurise and leak test. Complete post maintenance equipment checks. Line-up equipment. Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic for chemical or petrochemical processing. De-isolate process, mechanical and electrical systems. Complete pre-start up checks. Start-up plant and equipment. Re-start process. Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data. Interpret drawings and graphs. Identify issues for example, defects, deviations, process variance, and maintenance requirements. Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility. Apply problem solving and fault-finding techniques. Apply continuous improvement techniques. Make a suggestion for improvement. Use information and digital technology for example, management information systems, human machine interfaces, word processing, spreadsheet, email, virtual learning platforms, document sharing platforms. Comply with cyber security requirements. Produce written documents for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests. Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders. Apply team working principles. Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development (CPD) activities.
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Training schedule
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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
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Team working
Other requirements
Highly valued if you have a couple of years relevant industrial experience in a production environment where you have demonstrated the above skills or relevant mechanical, electrical, process or chemical qualification
Good understanding of TPM and experience in using basic associated tools and techniques
Good level of English and numeracy
Good communication skills to perform effectively, both written and verbal instructions
Ability to effectively express themselves to colleagues at all levels to explain work situations and issues and understand
Competent in use of Microsoft office (PowerPoint, Excel and word). Ability to use E-mail, and manage all processes and procedures through use of electronic systems
Demonstrated capability of working in a production environment which requires a disciplined, ordered approach with careful attention to standards of work and personal behaviour
Nalco Water, an Ecolab company, helps customers conserve more than 161 billion gallons of water annually. We serve industries from food & beverage to mining and manufacturing, delivering innovative solutions that reduce, reuse, and recycle water while protecting systems and equipment. Our team combines deep technical expertise with smart technology to drive efficiency, sustainability, and performance. https://www.ecolab.com/about/our-businesses/nalco-water-and-process-services (opens in new tab)
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
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