Apprentice Engineer

Pilgrim’s Europe; Ballymena; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading food company as an Apprentice Engineer in Ballymena. This apprenticeship offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable skills and qualifications while working in a dynamic environment. You will learn to maintain and repair machinery and be part of a supportive engineering team. With a permanent contract from day one and a structured training program, this role is perfect for those looking to kickstart their engineering career.

Benefits

Pension

Employee discounts

Long-term career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Genuine interest in how things work and hands-on problem solving.
• Positive attitude, willingness to learn, and commitment to personal development.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and repair machinery to keep production lines running smoothly.
• Learn to solve problems and work safely in a factory environment.

Skills

Mechanical and electrical maintenance

Fault finding and diagnostics

Health and safety best practices

Teamwork

Communication

Education

GCSEs in Maths, English and Science/Technology

Job description

Apprentice Engineer
Location:Positions available in both Ballymena & Dungannon Sites
Salary: Competitive, plus excellent benefits
Start Date: September 2025

Apprenticeships with Pilgrim’s Europe

Real Skills. Real Opportunities. Real Impact.

Why Choose an Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship at Pilgrim’s Europe gives you the chance to build valuable skills, gain recognised qualifications, and get paid – all at the same time. Whether you’re starting your career or looking to switch, our programmes offer a clear pathway to success.

What you’ll do:
As an Apprentice Engineer, you’ll be an essential part of our engineering team, helping to keep our production lines running smoothly. You’ll learn how to maintain and repair machinery, solve problems, and work safely and efficiently in a factory environment – all while working towards a recognised qualification in engineering.

Over the course of the programme, you’ll gain skills in areas such as:

• Mechanical and electrical maintenance
• Fault finding and diagnostics
• Health and safety best practices
• Continuous improvement and lean manufacturing techniques
• Teamwork and communication in a professional environment

What we’re looking for:

• A genuine interest in how things work and a hands-on approach to problem solving
• A positive attitude, willingness to learn, and commitment to personal development
• Strong communication skills and a team-player mindset
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths, English and Science/Technology subjects (grade 4/C or above preferred)

What you’ll get in return:

• A permanent contract from day one and an Engineer role on successful completion
• A structured training programme with a mix of classroom and on-the-job learning
• Support from your manager, mentor and experienced engineers in your team
• A recognised Level 3 qualification
• Competitive salary that increases as you progress through your course
• Benefits including pension, employee discounts and more
• Long-term career development opportunities in one of Europe’s leading food companies

Why Pilgrim’s Europe?
Pilgrim’s Europe is a top UK and European food company, producing own label and branded fresh chicken, pork and lamb, as well as authentic chilled and frozen ready meals, snacking ranges, added value and food service products.

We have over 40 facilities across the UK, Ireland, France and the Netherlands, and our team of over 17,000 people help create better food for everyone.

Our portfolio of brands includes Richmond, Fridge Raiders, Denny, Rollover, Oakhouse, & Moy Park.