26 months (excluding EPA)
October and January
Level 3
Food and Drink Technical Operator Apprenticeship Certificate
Technical Operators conduct start-up, close-down, changeover, and handovers in the manufacturing process, often using highly automated equipment and technology. This course will aim to develop your understanding of food safety through monitoring Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) and recording results. By conducting and supporting internal and external audits, as well as completing risk assessments, collating documents, and traceability records, you can learn about compliance. Your learning can be enhanced by interacting with a wide range of colleagues working toward collective goals to manufacture safe and compliant products, meeting customer and consumer expectations.
This course is designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive. You'll be taught by industry experts and active researchers in a supportive and inclusive environment. We'll also help you to apply your new skills and behaviours to your place of work.
You will learn through three on-campus study blocks per year (Monday to Friday for each block), online lectures and tutorials, work-based projects, problem solving exercises, class discussions, presentations by subject matter experts and peers, group activities, and independent study.
All years of the course are structured around applied learning. This links your studies to real-word situations within your workplace, allowing you to undertake live projects such as developing high quality and sustainable products in line with consumer trends.
The programme adopts a blended learning approach with modules delivered through a combination of lectures, class-based seminars, online teaching and practical work.
Your assessments will vary in format with opportunities to choose an area of focus related to your workplace and role. You will progress through the programme following successful achievement of assessments, which address the learning outcomes for each module and allow you to work towards End Point Assessment.
All years of the course are structured around applied learning. This links your studies to real-world situations within your workplace.
You will progress through the programme following successful achievement of academic assessments, which address the learning outcomes for each module and allow you to complete End Point Assessment.
Applications can be from existing employees looking to develop their careers, or new applicants to the employer with employer approval.
Applicants must:
School Grades
For school leavers, employers may have requirements linked to job role:
For applicants with relevant work experience in food and drink manufacturing, we will consider each application on an individual basis to ensure that you are selecting the right level of programme.
If you are an employer:
If you want to offer this apprenticeship to an existing employee or a new recruit and have any questions, get in touch at oas@lincoln.ac.uk.
If you are an applicant:
To apply for this apprenticeship, you must first have a suitable employer who can support your application. We can support you to encourage your employer to offer an apprenticeship. You will then apply for the programme through them.
At Lincoln, we have partnered with hundreds of businesses and public sector organisations, including the NHS and local councils, as well as industry giants Coca-Cola and Nestlé, to fulfil their training needs. Explore our range of apprenticeships to see how we can support you.
