Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprentice

Introduction

Whitman Laboratories is seeking an engineering apprentice to support our manufacturing environment. In this role you’ll develop the technical skills needed to maintain, service, and repair production machinery and equipment, ensuring everything operates safely, efficiently, and to the high-quality standards our site is known for. 

About the Employer

Whitman Laboratories, part of The Estée Lauder Companies, is a long established and highly respected cosmetics manufacturing site with decades of expertise in producing premium skincare, makeup, and fragrance products. The facility is recognised for its advanced production technologies, high precision processes, and commitment to delivering world class beauty products to consumers across the UK and global markets.

Over the years, Whitman Laboratories has continued to grow steadily, driven by a strong focus on quality, innovation, and operational excellence. This sustained success reflects the dedication of its teams and their commitment to maintaining the highest manufacturing standards. With a culture built on continuous improvement, collaboration, and customer satisfaction, the site plays a key role in supporting Estée Lauder’s reputation for exceptional product performance and reliability.

What You'll Do

Are you naturally curious about how machinery works and have a keen eye for detail? Whitman Laboratories, part of Estée Lauder Companies, is seeking a motivated Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprentice to support our fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

As an Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprentice, you will be trained to become highly skilled at maintaining and improving the advanced machinery.

Your apprenticeship will give you hands‑on experience across a wide range of engineering activities, including responding to breakdowns, supporting 24‑hour production, completing planned preventative maintenance, and contributing to continuous improvement projects. You’ll work closely with production teams, support changeovers and set‑ups, promote safe working practices, and build strong cross‑functional relationships. As technologies evolve, you’ll maintain and grow your engineering knowledge, sharing best practices with colleagues and contributing as a subject matter expert to wider company initiatives.

Your core responsibilities will include:

• Respond to breakdowns, systematically fault-find, and identify the root cause and then implement solutions to prevent recurrence
• Support 24-hour Site Production Operations and proactively engage with all departments to supply an effective, efficient, compliant service on a right first-time basis
• Carry out Planned Preventative Maintenance. Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities to increase equipment efficiency, effectiveness, reliability and process robustness
• Provide engineering support for production activity to meet customer requirements and site operations where required
• Provide proactive, flexible support for production activities with changeovers, set-ups, change parts and skills transfer
• Actively build internal and external departmental relationships
• Support cross-functional activity relating to Safety, Quality and Project Work etc. with supporting documentation
• Promote safe systems of work, adhering to Safety, Compliance, GMP and Audit working practices
• Maintain skills and knowledge of equipment and changing technologies with training and sharing of best practices with peers and other support groups
• Participate in company initiatives as Subject Matter Expert to seek resolutions to common issues
• Adhere to Regulations and Legislative working practices

Training Outcome

For the right candidate, a full‑time position may be offered upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Skills Required

• IT skills
• Customer care skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Mechanical aptitude
• Skilled in using tools

Qualifications

• Essential - GCSE - English - C/4
• Essential - GCSE - Maths - C/4

Course Information

Course: Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline (level 3)

Level: 3

Route: Engineering and manufacturing

Apprenticeship Level: Advanced

Working Arrangements

Working Week: Monday - Friday 7am to 3pm OR Monday - Friday 3pm to 11pm (2 roles available for each shift).

Expected Duration: 3 Years 10 Months

Number of Positions Available: 4

Training Provider: PETA LIMITED