Engineering Apprentice

DS Smith; Sittingbourne; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 20,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading company as a Multi-Skilled Engineer Technician Apprentice in Kemsley. This 4-year program combines practical experience with academic training, offering a competitive starting salary and support from mentors. You will engage in maintenance tasks, improve engineering processes, and develop essential skills in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 GCSEs including English, Mathematics, and Science.
• Completion of an online Engineering Technician Aptitude Test.

Responsibilities

• Support Engineering team in maintenance and repairs.
• Execute planned preventative maintenance plans.
• Maintain comprehensive equipment records.

Skills

Problem Solving

Collaboration

Attention to Detail

Education

GCSE Grade A-C including English, Mathematics, Science

Job description

About The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Manufacturing site in Kemsley, and we are currently seeking highly motivated and ambitious individuals who would enjoy working in a manufacturing environment, as a Multi-Skilled Engineer Technician Apprentice.

During this 4-year Apprenticeship programme, in addition to attending learning sessions at college part time (full time in year 1), you will gain hands-on operational experience by assisting the Engineering Team in many areas including supporting planned preventative maintenance plans and carrying out reactive repair and improvement on equipment, whilst complying with DS Smith policies, procedures, and safety regulations.

Whilst you will be based at a site, you will be part of the wider DS Smith team supporting and leading excellence in engineering.

A competitive Apprenticeship starting salary is offered, with incremental increases as you progress through your training. You will also receive the support of course tutors, workplace coaches, and mentors to help you along the way and enable you to develop your skills and potential.

Responsibilities

You will be required to complete the academic and practical training requirements of the apprenticeship. As you progress through your Apprenticeship, you will support the Engineering team in:

• Maintaining and continually improving housekeeping standards in engineering workshops, and when conducting tasks around the site
• Development and execution of a planned preventative maintenance plan
• Carrying out reactive repair and improvement of selected equipment
• Understanding how and where to source spare parts and service contracts, with a view to continually improving performance while reducing costs
• Maintaining comprehensive equipment records, with details of repairs completed, root causes, and corrective actions
• Complying with asset management performance targets set by group and site
• Recording performance to demonstrate adherence to KPIs
• Engaging with wider DS Smith engineering teams to ensure the site is fully compliant with all policies and to stay fully informed of technical developments in the business
• Managing maintenance & repair sub-contractors

Qualifications

Minimum of 5 GCSE Grade A-C (4 and above) including English Language, Mathematics, and Science or equivalent. Once you have gone through an initial screening process, you will be asked to complete an online Engineering Technician Aptitude Test. Successful candidates will then be invited to an Assessment Day at Kemsley Mill in June. During this Assessment Day, you will take part in individual and group activities and have a 1-2-1 interview with your Engineering Manager.

About You

We are looking for individuals who can demonstrate the DS Smith values every day:

• Be Caring - Works collaboratively with a diverse range of people; is inclusive and respectful of other opinions, thoughts, and approaches; actively listens to promote openness and engagement.
• Be Trusted - Adheres to instructions, policies, and procedures to ensure safety and compliance of self and others; manages time and workload efficiently whilst demonstrating a keen attention to detail and desire to produce high-quality work.
• Be Challenging - Is motivated and curious to solve problems; is able to critically review information to make well-informed decisions; always seeks opportunities to improve processes, quality, speed, and efficiencies to help improve overall success.
• Be Responsive - Demonstrates a proactive attitude; is committed to personal and professional development; shows keen interest in the wider industry and new technologies; is continuously driven to learn new things.
• Be Tenacious - Has a resilient character and can bounce back from setbacks; can prioritize tasks and demands in a challenging, fast-paced environment.

Things to Consider

You will be expected to balance day-to-day responsibilities within your role, as well as academic work set by the college. You will also need to travel to and from college and the DS Smith Site throughout the apprenticeship.

About Us

We’re DS Smith, redefining packaging for a changing world. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. Operating in over 30 countries, supporting sectors like FMCG, industrial, and e-commerce, we deliver market-leading sustainable packaging solutions. We’re building a team to drive change across Europe and North America.

To fulfill our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. We value inclusion, fairness, and equal opportunity for all candidates, including those not meeting all criteria.