Apprentice Engineer

Sofina Foods Europe; Cookstown; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 16,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured training

On-site experience

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Sofina Foods Europe is offering a Year 1 Engineering Apprentice role to start your career in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You will learn through structured college-based training and hands-on on-site experience, developing essential mechanical, electrical, and fabrication skills across our production lines.

As you progress through the apprenticeship, you will take on more complex tasks, contribute to maintenance routines, and gain practical experience in diagnosing and repairing

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 GCSEs (A-C/9-4) including English and preferably Grade B/6 in Mathematics, or equivalent qualifications.
• Passionate about engineering, eager to learn, and committed to personal development.
• Practical problem-solver who can work safely, independently, and as part of a team.
• Strong communicator and team player, able to build positive relationships across the business.
• Adaptable, resilient, and motivated to succeed in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Attend college and apprenticeship training in line with your agreed learning programme.
• Develop core mechanical, electrical, fabrication, and engineering maintenance skills.
• Gain practical experience through supervised on-site engineering activities.
• Observe and support machinery breakdown diagnosis and repair to maintain production.
• Assist with planned maintenance on food processing and packaging equipment.
• Support the hygienic strip-down, inspection, and rebuild of manufacturing machinery.
• Learn to maintain temperature control, pneumatic, and automated production systems.
• Represent Sofina professionally at all times while contributing positively to the engineering team.

Skills

Strong communicator

Team player

Problem solving

Adaptable

Motivated to learn

Education

GCSEs (6+) incl English

Job description

Role Overview

Year 1 Apprentice

At Sofina, our Maintenance Engineer Apprenticeship unlocks unlimited career opportunities driven by ambition and passion.

Year 1 Apprentice

Begin your engineering career by developing essential technical skills through structured training, classroom learning, and practical on-site experience.

Years 2–4 Apprentice

With growing confidence and expertise, you'll progress to more complex tasks, take ownership of key responsibilities, and become a valued member of the engineering team.

Key Duties

As a Sofina apprentice you will,

• Attend college and apprenticeship training in line with your agreed learning programme.
• Develop core mechanical, electrical, fabrication, and engineering maintenance skills.
• Gain practical experience through supervised on-site engineering activities.
• Observe and support machinery breakdown diagnosis and repair to maintain production.
• Assist with planned maintenance on food processing and packaging equipment.
• Support the hygienic strip-down, inspection, and rebuild of manufacturing machinery.
• Learn to maintain temperature control, pneumatic, and automated production systems.
• Represent Sofina professionally at all times while contributing positively to the engineering team.

Ideal Candidate

Minimum of 6 GCSEs (A-C/9-4), including English and preferably Grade B/6 in Mathematics, or equivalent qualifications.*

Passionate about engineering, eager to learn, and committed to personal development.

Practical problem-solver who can work safely, independently, and as part of a team.

Strong communicator and team player, able to build positive relationships across the business.

Adaptable, resilient, and motivated to succeed in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Why Join Us?

At Sofina, your apprenticeship is more than just a qualification, it is the first step in a rewarding long-term career. We invest in developing our people and provide genuine opportunities for progression, with many of our managers and leaders having started their careers as apprentices.

With the right ambition, commitment, and passion, there is no limit to what you can achieve. We will support you every step of the way, helping you build the skills, experience, and confidence needed to grow into increasingly senior roles and make a real impact on our business.

About Sofina

Sofina Foods is more than just a food company. It’s a place where you can grow your career, learn new skills, and make a positive impact.

With a wide range of meat and seafood products that delight consumers worldwide, Sofina Foods is always looking for talented and passionate people to join its team of over 13,000 employees across 40 sites in Canada and Europe.

At Sofina Foods, you will be part of a culture that values innovation, quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. You will work with diverse and delicious products that are sourced responsibly and sustainably from over 50 different protein sources from 5 continents.

Our vision is to be the most successful food company in the world. If you are looking for a rewarding and exciting career in the food sector, Sofina Foods is the place for you.

Equal Opportunities

Sofina Foods is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences – regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation