Maintenance Apprentice

POWDERTECH (BICESTER) LTD; Cherwell District; On-site; GBP 11,000 - 15,000; Full time

Job summary

Powdertech (BICESTER) LTD in Bicester is offering a Maintenance Apprenticeship that provides hands-on experience maintaining equipment, supporting repairs and working on improvement projects. You will receive full training, workplace mentoring and college learning.

Working arrangements include 9 am–5 pm in the first 12 months, 40 hours per week with paid breaks; progression opportunities exist after successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Qualifications

• Essential GCSE English: A*-C/9-4.
• Essential GCSE Maths: A*-B/9-5.

Responsibilities

• Maintenance support across plant and equipment.
• Assist with planned preventive maintenance and breakdown responses.
• Keep maintenance area clean and safe; support stock checks.

Skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Number skills

Logical

Team working

Initiative

Reliable

Punctual

Safe

Able to work safely

Timekeeping

Proactive

Hands on

Calm under pressure

Respectful

Education

GCSE English

GCSE Maths

Job description

Introduction

Kick-start your engineering career with Powdertech's Maintenance Apprenticeship in Bicester. Gain hands-on experience maintaining equipment, supporting repairs and working on improvement projects. You'll receive full training, workplace mentoring and college learning. Perfect for practical and enthusiastic learners.

About the Employer

Powdertech Surface Science is a privately owned company, established in 1984 with a clear objective - to provide high quality professional chemical pre-treatment, powder coating and bonding services to specialist and niche market sectors.

What You'll Do

Maintenance support

• Assist with planned preventive maintenance across plant and equipment.
• Support reactive maintenance and breakdown response under supervision.
• Help inspect, clean, lubricate, adjust, and replace basic parts where trained.
• Support maintenance work on spray equipment, conveyors, curing ovens, compressors, pumps, pre-treatment equipment, site utilities, and facilities.
• Assist with basic fault‑finding alongside experienced team members.

Health, safety, and compliance

• Follow all site health, safety, and environmental procedures.
• Work in line with safe systems of work, risk assessments, method statements, permits, and lock‑off procedures.
• Use PPE correctly and maintain good safety standards.
• Report hazards, near misses, unsafe conditions, and equipment defects promptly.
• Support inspection and compliance checks where trained.
• Build awareness of PUWER, LOLER, COSHH, and environmental controls at apprentice level.

Preventive maintenance and TPM

• Support TPM and planned maintenance schedules.
• Complete basic check sheets and maintenance records accurately.
• Help identify early signs of wear, leaks, damage, contamination, or abnormal equipment behaviour.
• Assist with cleaning, inspection, lubrication, and tightening tasks.
• Support good maintenance routines across production areas.

Tools, spares, and workshop standards

• Keep the maintenance area clean, organised, and safe.
• Support control of tools, spare parts, consumables, and maintenance stores.
• Assist with stock checks and identifying missing or damaged tools.
• Learn correct tool selection, use, care, and storage.

Continuous improvement

• Support improvement work to reduce downtime, improve reliability, and make tasks safer or easier.
• Contribute practical observations from the shop floor.
• Assist with small improvement projects under supervision.
• Learn basic LEAN and problem‑solving principles.

Training and development

• Attend and complete all required college, training provider, and workplace learning.
• Maintain apprenticeship records, evidence, and progress reviews.
• Learn from the Maintenance Manager, engineers, operators, and contractors.
• Ask questions when unsure and take responsibility for personal development.
• Build competence gradually across mechanical, electrical, safety, and process knowledge.

Additional duties

• Support general facilities tasks when required.
• Assist external contractors by preparing work areas, locating equipment, or observing work where appropriate.
• Help collect information for maintenance reports, downtime tracking, and equipment performance reviews.
• Maintain a professional attitude around production teams, contractors, and visitors.
• Carry out other reasonable duties in line with training level and business needs.

Apprenticeship boundaries

The apprentice must not carry out the following unless trained, authorised, and supervised as required:

• Live electrical work
• Confined space work
• Work at height
• Hot works
• Lifting operations
• Pressure systems work
• Safety‑critical isolations
• Chemical handling beyond approved training
• Any task requiring a permit, licence, or formal competency sign‑off

Training Outcome

On successful completion, there may be opportunities to progress within Powdertech for the right candidate. The apprenticeship provides a strong foundation of practical skills, industry‑recognised training, and real workplace experience — a solid starting point for a long-term career in maintenance and engineering, whether at Powdertech or further afield.

Skills Required

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Problem solving skills
• Number skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Reliable, punctual, and safe
• Able to work safely
• Good timekeeping/attendance
• Proactive
• Practical and hands on
• Calm under pressure
• Respectful to others

Qualifications

• Essential - GCSE - English - A*-C/9-4
• Essential - GCSE - Maths - A*-B/9-5

Course Information

Course: Engineering operative (level 2)

Level: 2

Route: Engineering and manufacturing

Apprenticeship Level: Intermediate

Working Arrangements

Working Week: For the first 12 months, normal day shift (9 am-5 pm Monday to Friday), Then possible afternoon shifts mixed with days beyond that point.40 hours per week, 37.5 hours with paid breaks.

Expected Duration: 1 Year 4 Months

Number of Positions Available: 2

Training Provider: ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE