Engineering Degree Apprenticeship L6

Who are we, and what do we do?

Avara Foods is one of the UK’s leading food businesses, supplying chicken and turkey to the country’s major supermarkets and well-known restaurants. We own and manage our entire supply chain, from farms to factory and all the way to the customer door – meaning we have careers that cover a whole range of functions. We have major processing sites across England and Wales, and an agricultural network of over 350 farms, spanning from North Yorkshire to the South Coast and Wales.

Our advanced manufacturing site in Hereford is one of our main processing facilities, processing up to 2 million birds per week. There are over 1,500 talented people employed at our Hereford site, helping us to deliver high quality products to our customers and making the business a trusted leader in fresh foods. We’ve recently invested £1.2 million in technology and equipment, making it one of the most advanced food manufacturing facilities in the UK.

As a Degree Engineering Apprentice, you will enjoy a secure, supportive, and progressive working environment, where your contribution and achievements will be recognised and rewarded. On completion of the 4-year course, you will gain a Level 6 Manufacturing Engineering Degree from Aston University.

• Competitive starting salary increasing after successful completion of each year.
• Structured apprenticeship pathway with placements across the site to ensure rounded development.
• Mentoring and training provided by experienced engineers and managers.
• Safety focused fundamentals training package including abrasive wheels, LOLER, COSHH & PUWER.
• Develop your mechanical skills through delivery of the site’s mechanical rebuild schedule.
• Develop your electrical skills through our onsite electrical workshop.
• Opportunities to develop fabrication skills including Welding.
• Merging practical experience with skills‑based learning, you will be attending Aston University learning on scheduled days.

Are you passionate about starting your career within Engineering? Do you have an ambitious nature that strives towards high performance? We are looking for a highly competent and motivated Degree Engineering Apprentice to be part of our high-performance Engineering team at our advanced manufacturing site in Hereford.

Merging practical experience with skills‑based learning, our apprenticeships are designed to kick‑start your career. The programme offers you the opportunity to gain valuable skills and experience, where you will combine university‑based learning at Aston University with on‑the‑job training. You will attend Aston University for block weeks and will be staying on campus during these periods. You will collaborate with experts, on real projects that shape our future, and you will have a mentor who will support you throughout the programme.

Professional Engineering Manufacturing Engineer Degree Apprenticeship.

Aston University has been awarded Triple Gold – the highest possible rating for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023.

The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) is a national scheme run by the Office for Students (OfS). It assesses and rates universities and colleges for excellence above a set of minimum requirements for academic quality and standards.

Aston University is ranked 25th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide, 2024.

In the first year, you will undergo technical training to operate as Continuous Improvement or Reliability Engineers. This will include the development of practical hard skills, root cause analysis, trend analysis and maintenance techniques.

• Support the Engineering Team with a fresh and innovative way of thinking to ensure that our advanced automated technology is working productively and efficiently.
• Work to solve operational problems and have an impact on operational performance within a FMCG environment.
• Use the skills you are gaining within your off the job learning to help you excel within your day-to-day role.
• Follow good engineering standards and good hygiene practice for the…