Process Industry Manufacturing Technician Apprentice (Process Operator)

Apprenticeship summary

As an Apprentice Operator, you will gain hands-on experience working alongside experienced Process Operators who ensure the safe and efficient running of refining units. You will learn how we convert crude oil and feedstocks into essential fuels and products used across the UK and beyond.

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Closing date: April 10, 2026

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Wage:

£16,500 a year

Total hours per week:

37.5

Expected duration (weeks):

156

Positions (available):

12

Date posted:

March 20, 2026

Possible start date:

September 1, 2026

Apprenticeship level:

Advanced

We are looking for motivated, safety‑focused individuals to join our team as Apprentice Operators. This is an exciting opportunity to begin a career within one of the UK’s largest and most advanced oil refining and energy production facilities.

As an Apprentice Operator, you will gain hands-on experience working alongside experienced Process Operators who ensure the safe and efficient running of refining units. You will learn how we convert crude oil and feedstocks into essential fuels and products used across the UK and beyond.

This apprenticeship combines practical site-based training with formal study toward an industry-recognised qualification.

What You’ll Be Doing

Supporting day-to-day operations across refinery processing units
Monitoring equipment, temperatures, pressures, and process flows
Learning to operate plant systems safely and efficiently
Assisting with start-up and shutdown procedures
Completing routine process checks, sampling, and reporting
Following strict safety, environmental, and compliance standards
Working closely with operational teams to resolve issues and maintain plant reliability

Qualification to be delivered: SIAS L3 Diploma in Process Industry Manufacturing.

Apprenticeship Standard: Level 3 Process Industry Manufacturing Technician.

Training Provider: Cogent Skills.

Delivery model: Block release – Ellesmere Port.

Potential to progress onto an HNC qualification.

Employer

EET Fuels

Do you want to work for the company that’s playing a leading role in delivering the North West’s low carbon future? EET Fuels (Trading name of Essar Oil (UK) Limited) produces over 16% of the UK’s road transport fuels, provides key feedstocks to Britain’s petrochemical industry and is investing in developing low carbon fuels. We are a major supplier in the North West and beyond with customers including most of the major retail brands operated by international oil companies and supermarkets, Manchester Airport, leading commercial airlines and the region’s trains and buses. And we’re central to the innovative HyNet project which is redefining energy to achieve our regional low carbon ambitions and national policy targets. We employ over 800 expert and engaged colleagues, who are at the heart of everything we do. The company has an embedded safety culture, technically challenging work across all the different parts of the business and some of the best training available in the energy industry.

Training

Training Provider:

COGENT SSC LIMITED

Apprenticeship standard:

Process industry manufacturing technician (level 3)