What is a Higher Apprenticeship?
On a Higher Apprenticeship framework, you will begin your journey by attending college to gain your qualifications. These qualifications include:
- Level 4 Higher National Certificate (HNC)
- Level 4 NVQ
- Level 2 Performing Engineering Operations (PEO)
- Personal Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS)
- Employees Rights & Responsibilities (ERR)
- With the opportunity to progress onto a Level 5 Higher National Diploma (HND)
Do you have what it takes?
At Ishida we look for a combination of qualifications and personal qualities when recruiting Apprentices.
Qualification Entry requirements for a Higher Apprenticeship framework starting at Level 4 HNC:
- 5 GCSE grades A*-C (5-9) in Mathematics, English and Science or equivalent.
- 3 A – Levels including maths and at least 1 other engineering related subject or equivalent qualification, e.g. Level 3 BTEC in Engineering.
Personal qualities that Ishida look for:
- Hardworking and enthusiastic, with excellent interpersonal skills.
- Mature and Self-Motivated, with a positive attitude to work.
- Willing to accept personal responsibility and take on challenges and projects.
- Committed to working hard and developing themselves.
- A good team worker with the ability to integrate quickly into a team.
- Strives for the very best results, in college and work.
EEF Technology Centre
During your first year you will attend our Training provider, EEF The Manufacturers’ Organisation, located over in Aston, Birmingham. The Technology Training Centre is a state-of-the-art facility which aims to provide the highest quality training to apprentices on the use of equipment and machinery commonly found in manufacturing and engineering environments.
To find out more about EEF please follow this link - http://www.eef.org.uk/training/eef-training-centres/aston-training-campus/aston-technology-training-centre
For your first year as an Ishida apprentice you will spend 4 days a week at the EEF Technology Training Centre. During this time, you will be completing your practical Performing Engineering Operations units (PEO) and one day a week you will be completing your Level 4 Higher National Certificate (HNC). Throughout the year you will complete additional units, such as Personal Learning & Thinking Skills (PLTS) and Employees Rights & Responsibilities (ERR).
On a Friday you will return to company where you will be integrating into the different departments of the business (dependent upon your pathway).
Day Release - Ishida Woodgate
Ishida Europe is the market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of packaging lines and equipment. Our main manufacturing site is located in Woodgate Valley Business Park. Of a Friday you will return to Ishida and begin your integration into the department you work in.
Assembly Technician
During your first year as an Assembly Technician Apprentice you will begin your journey and start to integrate onto the shop floor, rotating every 3 around the three core products we produce; CCW, DACS and Traysealer, and working alongside our skilled Assembly Technicians to assemble our core products. During this time, you will learn key hand-fitting skills whilst developing your soft-skills.
You will also experience an ‘Outwards Bounds’ experience with EEF, where you will journey to the Lake District and participate in challenges which aim to develop your team working skills.
Field Service
In your first year as a Field Service Apprentice you will begin your journey and start to understand how our core products work and how to assemble them. You will be rotating around the core products every 3 months and work with our skilled Assembly Technicians to assemble our 3 core products, CCW, DACs and Traysealer. You will also have the opportunity to meet with the Field Service Team and go on site with them.
With EEF you will also experience an ‘Outwards Bounds’ trip, where you will journey to the Lake District and participate in challenges which aim to develop your team working skills.
Product Design
In your first year you will be in the design office for 1 day a week. For the first few months you will be learning how to use the design software SolidWorks, this is done through different tutorials and courses. Once you are familiar with the software, you will learn how to formulate Bills of Materials and construct engineering drawings so that you can work with and contribute to the day-to-day tasks of the design engineers. Over your first year you will experience exposure to our core products and work in the different design teams, learning what goes into the design of our two main products. Alongside this, apprentice related projects will be launched in order to develop your soft skills and get you involved in the business.
Manufacturing Operations
You will spend the first year working on the shop floor for 1 day a week, getting familiar with our machines and getting hands on to develop your practical skills. Every 3 months you will rotate around our 3 core products, CCW, DACS and Tray Sealer helping build the machines and learning the production processes behind them.
Alongside this, apprentice related projects will be launched in order to develop your soft skills and get you involved in the business.
EEF Technology Centre
After successfully completing your First Year and moving into your Second Year you will only attend EEF’s Technology Training Centre 1 day a week. During this time, you will complete your second year of HNC, studying a HNC that is tailored to your pathway that includes specific work-related topics.
Day Release - Ishida Woodgate
Ishida Europe is the market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of packaging lines and equipment. Our main manufacturing site is located in Woodgate Valley Business Park. In the second year you will spend four days a week at Ishida integrating into your appropriate sections.
Assembly Technician
Your Journey continues as you return to work for 4 days of the week (which days depend upon your BTEC day). You will continue to rotate around the shop floor and develop your practical skills further. Your time on section will increase from 3 months to 10 months, providing you with the best opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of our core products. There will also be an opportunity to get involved in the development of new products we are soon to be manufacturing at our Woodgate facility.
You will also begin to become involved in our ever-growing exchange scheme and participate in potential exchanges with suppliers and customers, for example Festo and Recol. The responsibility of managing a project will be delegated to you during this time.
Field Service
As you return to work for 4 days a week (which days depend upon your BTEC day) your journey will continue. You will continue to rotate around the shop floor developing your understanding and practical skills of assembling our core products. Your opportunities to visit sites with the Field Service Team will increase and you will integrate further into the After-sales team.
Towards the end of your second year you will spend a duration of time in the Pre-Delivery Inspection and Repairs departments, equipping you with the necessary knowledge you need to become a successful Field Service Engineer.
Product Design
Once you are back in the company for 4 days a week, you will begin to become exposed to more of the business and take on more challenging design projects. At the start of the second year, you will have a 1-month placement on the shop floor so that you can become more familiar with the products that you are designing. From here you will go onto placements in further design departments such as the applications teams and the rectification teams. During this time, you will be given exciting new design projects to work on as well as working on apprenticeship related projects such as exchange schemes.
Manufacturing Operations
The first half of the year is continued on shop floor working on the machines to develop your knowledge further, alongside working on apprentice related projects. You will continue to rotate around the sections working more independently on the machines, this allows you to gain a greater understanding of the production processes.
After 6 months you will begin your department rotations between Supply Chain, Production Planning and Quality. When you begin the apprenticeship, you will be informed of what order this is done in, with each placement lasting for 6 months. In Year 2 you will complete the first of your three placements.
EEF Technology Centre
After successfully completing your Second Year and moving into your Third Year you continue to attend EEF’s Technology Training Centre 1 day a week. During this time, you will complete your first year of Higher National Diploma (HND) Level 5, studying topics tailored to your pathway.
Day Release - Ishida Woodgate
Ishida Europe is the market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of packaging lines and equipment. Our main manufacturing site is located in Woodgate Valley Business Park. In the third year you will spend four days a week at Ishida integrating further into your appropriate sections, rotating around different sections within the company.
Assembly Technician
Your Journey continues as you carry on working at Ishida 4 days a week working on the shop floor and develop your practical skills further. You will rotate around our core products, CCW, DACS, and Traysealer, providing you with the best opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of our core products. There will also be exciting opportunities to get involved in the development of new products we are soon to be manufacturing, for example, X-Rays, Graders and Airscans.
The potential for great new projects increases in your third year as your network of communications continues to expand.
Field Service
You will begin your Third Year by spending time on the Service desk, providing support to our customers who have problems with our machines. From here your Field Service development for the UK begins, with you travelling to sites with our Field Service Engineers to help with installs, commissioning, repairs and after-sales care on our DACS, CCW’s, Traysealers, X-Ray’s and Bag Makers. These experiences will provide you with the best opportunity to expand your knowledge of our core products and the machines Ishida Japan manufacture.
Product Design
During your third year you will continue to rotate around different design areas expanding and developing your technical skills and knowledge on Ishida’s products. You will become a valued member of the design teams as well continuing to assist the design engineers with product applications and developing general and complex design knowledge. In your third year you will have a second 1-month placement on the shop floor in the other section to the last year. You will continue to work on both internal and external exchanges so that you can have an appreciation of all aspects of the business.
Manufacturing Operations
You will continue working on any apprentice related projects through the year. Every 6 months you will rotate between the sections so that your second and third placements will be completed in Year 3. The length and position of the placements in Supply Chain, Planning and Quality can be subject to variance based on demand and project work.
EEF Technology Centre
After successfully completing your Third Year and moving into your Forth & Final Year you continue to attend EEF’s Technology Training Centre 1 day a week. During this time, you will complete your second year of HND Level 5, studying topics tailored to your pathway. Upon completion of your programme you will graduate with the professionally recognised qualifications you have achieved.
Day Release - Ishida Woodgate
Ishida Europe is the market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of packaging lines and equipment. Our main manufacturing site is located in Woodgate Valley Business Park. In the forth and final year you will continue to spend four days a week at Ishida integrating into your appropriate sections. During your last year you will rotate around your final sections according to your pathway plan.
Assembly Technician
In your Fourth and final year you will complete your rotations of the shop floor for 4 days a week. At this point you should have an extensive knowledge of the machines and experienced in assembling each of our machines. As we continue to expand and grow your experience will allow you to transfer onto new products and areas. There is an opportunity in your final year to experience a 3-month stint in both production planning and supply chain.
The end of your journey does not end there. After completing your programme, you will continue to grow and develop within Ishida, as we provide you with many exciting opportunities.
Field Service
In your Fourth and final year you will be mainly on site with Field Service Engineers. During this time, you will be installing, commissioning, repairing and providing great after-sales care. At the end of your apprenticeship you will be a reputable Field Service Engineer with a great mass of skill and knowledge. There will be exciting career prospects on the horizon.
Product Design
In your final year you will continue to work in the design departments and start to tailor your work to the role you plan to have in the future. You will be an integral part of the design team as well as the apprentice team, therefore leading a variety of projects whether it be technical or interpersonal.
Manufacturing Operations
Once you have completed your time in each of the manufacturing departments, you will go onto to work on manufacturing operations projects within the business. As the business is constantly developing and expanding there are always new projects to get involved with. There is then the option to review and analyse the last 2 years placements and determine what role in the company is best for you in the future.
Why Ishida?
Ishida are not only leaders in the food industry, but also a leading apprenticeship provider with a proven track record. In the past four years, Ishida have had three advanced apprentices win 1st place regional apprentice of the year and one 2nd place, then in 2017 a winner of national apprentice of the year in Emily James. All Ishida apprentices are highly regarded within the EEF, with all apprentices to date achieving straight distinctions in their qualifications.
The apprentices are also highly regarded within the company, meaning they get involved with a variety of departments and work with people from all levels of the business. As soon as an apprentice joins the team, there is a training plan set out for them for their whole apprenticeship so that they can maximise the time and opportunities they have.