Food and Drink Maintenance Engineer Advanced Apprenticeship Level 3

Part Time
4 Years
Boston
September 2025

The FDME Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Food and Drink Maintenance Engineer course is designed to prepare you for Maintenance Engineering roles in the food and drink industry by developing technical skills, safety awareness, and practical expertise. Apprentices gain core knowledge in Electrical, Mechanical, and Fluid Power Systems, Welding, and Equipment Maintenance, with a strong emphasis on safety, environmental regulations such as HACCP, and quality standards.

The qualification equips you to troubleshoot, repair, and optimize machinery while maintaining strict food safety and hygiene protocols. It also promotes key industry skills including sustainability practices, continuous improvement methods like Kaizen, and effective teamwork. The curriculum provides foundational knowledge in areas such as Electrical Operations, Engineering Mathematics, and Safety Regulations.

Assessment through a combination of practical observations, written tests, and interviews ensure your competencies align with the practical demands of the industry and prepare you for successful careers in the food and drink manufacturing sector.

What will I do?

During the course, you will study a range of 12 mandatory units designed to build foundational and advanced skills for Food and Drink Maintenance Engineers, including:

Principles of Food and Drink Sector Engineering: Core Engineering Principles, Machinery Types, and Processes in Food and Drink Production
Principles of Safety and Environmental Regulations: Compliance with health and Safety standards, Hazard Identification, and Environmental Practices
Principles of Electrical Engineering Operations: Electrical Systems, Circuits, and Safety Protocols in Food and Drink Manufacturing Environments
Install, Commission Check, and Decommission Electrical Equipment: Hands-on Skills for Installing, Testing, and Safely Removing Electrical Systems
Perform Mechanical Engineering Operations: Maintenance of Mechanical Systems and Fault Diagnosis
Perform Engineering Maintenance Operations: Preventive Maintenance, Lubrication, and Calibration of Machinery
Produce Replacement Components for Maintenance: Fabrication of Parts using Machining Tools
Weld Replacement Components for Maintenance: Welding Techniques Specific to Food-safe Equipment
Principles of Quality and Continuous Improvement: Quality Control, Kaizen, and Lean Methodologies to Optimize Production Efficiency
Principles of Maths and Science in Engineering: Applied Math and Scientific Principles
Principles of Using Representations, Drawings, and Graphs: Interpreting Technical Drawings, Schematics, and Data Visualization for Maintenance Tasks
Principles of Teamwork and Self-development: Collaboration, Communication, and Professional Growth in Engineering Roles

Entry Qualifications

To study the Food and Drink Maintenance Engineer Advanced Apprenticeship Level 3, you will need to have GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 or above (old GCSE grade C or above) or equivalent.

Attendance

The Food and Drink Maintenance Engineer Advanced Apprenticeship Level 3 will take you approximately 4 years to complete. You will attend college for 1 day per week at our Rochford Campus in Boston. You will also attend your Apprenticeship with your Employer for 4 days per week.

Fees

As an Apprentice, you will pay no course fees. However, your employer may have to pay towards your training as well as providing you with a wage (please see below).

For information regarding employer contributions and any further costs related to the Apprenticeship programme, please call our dedicated Apprenticeship team on 01205 365701 ext 3248.

There are different rates of pay for apprentices depending on your age and what year of your apprenticeship you’re in.

Aged 16 to 18.

The current National Minimum Wage rate for an apprentice is £6.40 per hour.

Aged 19 or over and in your first year.

The current National Minimum Wage rate for an apprentice is £6.40 per hour.

Aged 19 or over and have completed your first year.

You’re entitled to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate for your age.

If you are an employer and want to find out more information regarding employer contributions and any further costs related to the Apprenticeship programme, please call our dedicated Apprenticeship team on 01205 365701 ext. 3248.

How Will I Be Assessed

You will be assigned an Assessor who will observe your practice throughout the duration of your course. Your Assessor will offer support and guidance while using a variety of assessment methods to help you achieve the requirements of the qualification.

When you, your Employer and your Assessor feel you are ready, you will be put forward for the End Point Assessment which will be carried out independently.

Where Could It Lead?

Successfully completing the Cyber Security Apprenticeship Level 3 can lead to roles such as Maintenance Engineer, Technician, or Quality Assurance Professional in the food and drink manufacturing sector. It prepares you to maintain and optimise equipment, ensure safety compliance, and implement process improvements. You will be able to enter the workforce immediately or pursue long-term career growth. The qualification also offers flexibility, enabling work across various sectors including food production, beverage manufacturing, and packaging or automation industries involving robotics and conveyor systems. Additionally, you may choose to further your education with Higher Education qualifications in Engineering or Manufacturing.

To explore University Level courses available at Boston College, visit our University Level page.

Additional costs

Additional costs include purchasing corporate workwear (polo shirts, overalls and safety footwear).

How to Apply.

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Creating an account is easy, just click ‘Apply for this course’ below.

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