The programme runs for either 46 months (standard route) or 18 months (fast track) on-programme, followed by an End-Point Assessment period which is typically completed within 3 months.

Fast Track is subject to prior learning, experience and employer agreement in line with apprenticeship funding rules.

Food and Drink Maintenance Engineers maintain machinery and equipment used to manufacture, process and package food and drink products.

They work within highly automated production environments and are responsible for maximising equipment reliability and performance while ensuring engineering activities comply with food safety, health and safety, environmental and organisational requirements.

Their responsibilities may include:

• Carrying out planned, preventative and predictive maintenance
• Responding to engineering breakdowns and production issues
• Diagnosing mechanical, electrical, fluid power and control system faults
• Repairing and replacing engineering components
• Testing machinery and equipment following maintenance
• Supporting the installation and commissioning of new equipment
• Maintaining automated and programmable control systems
• Working with motors, drives and control systems
• Using engineering drawings, technical information and maintenance documentation
• Completing risk assessments and engineering records
• Applying food safety, hygiene and contamination control requirements
• Contributing to equipment reliability and continuous improvement
• Supporting efficient and sustainable manufacturing operations
• Working collaboratively with production, technical, quality and engineering teams

Food and Drink Maintenance Engineers must balance engineering requirements with the stringent food safety and hygiene standards required within food and drink manufacturing.

Funding: Levy and non-levy employer funding available.

Find out how apprenticeship funding works for your organisation on our apprenticeships for employers page, or speak to our team.

Delivery Model: Workplace-based with structured technical training and remote learning support.

Delivery combines workplace engineering experience with structured technical learning and completion of the mandatory Level 3 Diploma in Food and Drink Engineering Maintenance.

Delivery includes:

• Workplace-based learning
• Structured off-the-job training
• Practical engineering maintenance training
• Tutor-led technical workshops
• Remote learning support
• Level 3 Diploma delivery and assessment
• Mechanical, electrical and fluid power development
• Food safety and food manufacturing knowledge
• Fault-finding and diagnostic activities
• Workplace observations and practical activities
• Professional discussions and reflective practice
• Portfolio development
• End-Point Assessment preparation

Apprentices must complete a minimum of 1,066 off-the-job training hours as part of their programme.

Employers must provide protected time during working hours for this training and suitable workplace opportunities for apprentices to develop and demonstrate the full breadth of engineering maintenance competence required by the standard.

Before entering End-Point Assessment, apprentices must:

• Achieve Level 2 English and Maths (if required in line with current apprenticeship funding rules)
• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by the apprenticeship standard
• Successfully achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Food and Drink Engineering Maintenance
• Complete their on-programme portfolio
• Complete a minimum of 1066 off-the-job training hours
• Be confirmed as occupationally competent by their employer

The EPA is conducted by an independent End-Point Assessment Organisation and typically includes:

• Observation with Questions: the apprentice is observed carrying out their normal engineering maintenance duties within the workplace and is asked questions by an independent assessor
• Interview Underpinned by a Portfolio of Evidence: a structured professional interview exploring how the apprentice has applied their engineering knowledge, skills and behaviours within their role
• Written Test: assessing areas of technical knowledge and application that require more detailed written responses
• Multiple-Choice Test: assessing the apprentice's underpinning technical and occupational knowledge

The apprentice must successfully pass the EPA to achieve the full apprenticeship standard.

Full details are published in the official Food and Drink Maintenance Engineer apprenticeship standard (ST0195) on Skills England.

• Employment within a suitable food and drink engineering maintenance role
• Access to appropriate food processing, manufacturing or packaging machinery and equipment
• Sufficient workplace opportunities to undertake planned, predictive and reactive maintenance
• Opportunities to develop mechanical, electrical and fluid power engineering competence
• Opportunities to undertake fault-finding and diagnostic activities
• Commitment to food safety, health and safety and professional engineering standards
• Motivation to develop advanced engineering maintenance knowledge and skills

Individual English and Maths requirements will be identified during the initial assessment and enrolment process.

As part of initial assessment, High Ridge Training will work with the apprentice and employer to ensure that the job role and workplace provide sufficient opportunities to develop and demonstrate the full requirements of the standard.

Employers can enquire about enrolling an apprentice onto this programme.

On successful completion, apprentices may progress into more advanced engineering, specialist, supervisory or management roles within the food and drink manufacturing industry.

Progression opportunities may include further development within:

• Level 3 Food and Drink Technical Operator
• Level 5 Food and Drink Engineer
• Engineering maintenance
• Reliability engineering
• Automation and control
• Electrical or mechanical engineering
• Asset management
• Continuous improvement
• Engineering leadership and supervision
• Advanced food and drink engineering

Career progression opportunities may include:

• Food and Drink Maintenance Engineer
• Multi-Skilled Maintenance Engineer
• Mechanical Maintenance Engineer
• Electrical Maintenance Engineer
• Automation or Controls Engineer
• Reliability Engineer
• Senior Maintenance Engineer
• Engineering Team Leader
• Engineering Supervisor

With further occupational experience and professional development, apprentices may also progress towards higher-level engineering programmes, including the Food and Drink Advanced Engineer apprenticeship.

• Develop advanced engineering maintenance skills within the food and drink manufacturing industry
• Build competence across mechanical, electrical and fluid power equipment
• Develop systematic fault-finding and diagnostic skills
• Understand automated and programmable manufacturing systems
• Gain specialist knowledge of food safety, hygiene and regulatory requirements
• Achieve a mandatory Level 3 engineering Diploma alongside the apprenticeship
• Gain an industry-recognised Level 3 apprenticeship
• Develop skills that support equipment reliability, production efficiency and continuous improvement
• Build a strong foundation for progression into senior engineering roles

Explore our engineering apprenticeships and food and drink apprenticeships, or read more about apprenticeships for employers.

In addition to achieving the full apprenticeship standard, apprentices benefit from carefully selected added-value opportunities designed to strengthen professional credibility, workplace readiness and long-term career progression.

Professional Membership: IMechE

Apprentices are supported to access appropriate professional membership with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), providing an introduction to professional engineering membership and the wider engineering community.

Professional membership helps apprentices to:

• Begin developing their professional engineering identity
• Engage with a recognised professional engineering institution
• Access engineering knowledge, resources and professional development opportunities
• Build awareness of professional engineering standards
• Develop an understanding of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• Explore future professional registration pathways
• Support longer-term progression within the engineering profession

The apprenticeship itself is also aligned with the professional requirements for Engineering Technician (EngTech), supporting apprentices who wish to consider professional registration as their career develops.

Engagement with a respected professional body reinforces high standards of service delivery and supports apprentices in developing their professional identity.

Accredited CPD: Food Allergen Awareness Training

Apprentices also complete an accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course in Food Allergen Awareness, complementing the food safety and hygiene requirements embedded throughout the apprenticeship.

The training supports apprentices to:

• Develop awareness of food allergens and allergen-related risks
• Understand the importance of effective allergen management within food manufacturing
• Recognise how cross-contact can occur
• Understand the importance of cleaning, hygiene and production controls
• Develop awareness of relevant food information and allergen requirements
• Understand how engineering and maintenance activities can affect allergen controls
• Contribute to safe and compliant food manufacturing practices

This additional training is particularly relevant to maintenance engineers, whose work may require equipment to be opened, dismantled, repaired or moved within production environments.

Understanding allergen controls helps apprentices recognise how engineering interventions can affect food safety and reinforces the importance of following site-specific hygiene, cleaning and production procedures.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all learners. Apprentices receive ongoing pastoral, academic and professional support throughout their programme.