Engineering, Slough - 4 years

Over the 4 years you will be working towards the Mechatronic standard, gaining skills in mechanical and electrical disciplines. You will spend the first year full time at college, working towards the Mechatronic standard and a BTEC Level 3. Year 2 is spent in the factory, getting hands on experience alongside your BTEC Level 3 qualification. In years 3 and 4, you will continue with the Mechatronic standard, working in the factory as well as attending college to study towards a HNC in Electrical Engineering. 

Manufacturing, Slough - 4 years 

You will get the Advanced Food Process Operator standard through this apprenticeship. Your first year will be spent full time at college, working on the Mechatronic standard foundation and a BTEC Level 3. Year 2 is spend in the factory, gaining hands-on experience whilst working towards the Advanced Food Process Operator standard and BTEC Level 3. During years 3 & 4, work towards the Advanced Food Process Operator standard is continued and a HNC in Mechanical Engineering is started alongside working in the factory.

Engineering, Melton Mowbray - 4 years 

Two days per week is spent at Vogal's Training Centre and one day per week at Loughborough College in year 1, the remaining two days per week will be spent getting hands-on experience in the factory. The remaining years will be spend with four days a week in the factory and 1 day a week at college. At the end of the four year apprenticeship, a Level 3 Maintenance & Operations Engineering Technician Apprenticeship Mechanical or Electrical Engineering as per MOET standard ST0154/03 & HNC (Level 4) in Engineering will be achieved.

Engineering, Kings Lynn - 4 years

Through this apprenticeship, the City & Guilds Level 3 Food and Drink Engineering Maintenance qualification, followed by a Level 4 qualification in engineering are gained. In partnership with the College of West Anglia, each apprenticeship year is broken down into four 13 week placements where to learn about specific technologies. The second half of the Apprenticeship is on shift, working with the shift technical teams to ensure you get a practical grounding throughout your qualified engineering technician training. The robust and structured development support is also designed to enhance soft skills, through one-to-one business mentors and regular opportunities to engage with higher management throughout the scheme.

Manufacturing, Kings Lynn - 3 years

The 3 year Manufacturing Apprentice Scheme is designed to provide the necessary training and experiences to develop high calibre Lead Operators with qualifications in Food & Drink Manufacturing Standard. A technical foundation will be built upon throughout the apprenticeship. The emphasis of the apprenticeship will be on acquiring operational skills, working on site, learning how to operate the machinery and the basic maintenance skills required to ensure the plant runs efficiently. The final year of the apprenticeship is spend as a shift based lead operator in training running a production area demonstrating Operational Excellence and Leadership skills. With the help of an assigned mentor to guide and support you throughout the apprenticeship a succesful career at Mars is promising. 

Engineering, Birstall - 4 years

The first year of the apprenticeship is spent developing a range of engineering skills through ‘off the job’ training and studying at a local college for a Level 3 Technical Certificate. During college holidays, there is the opportunitiy to work at the Mars Birstall site, to meet colleagues and gain valuable hands-on experience to support your knowledge. The remainder of the apprenticeship is spend on the Birstall site 4 days per week, experiencing a variety of engineering placements. As well as one day per week at college continuing working towards more qualificatoins. At the end of the four year apprenticeship, a Level 3 Maintenance & Operations Engineering Technician Apprenticeship (Mechanical or Electrical Systems/ Process Control) and a Level 4 HNC in Engineering will be achieved.

Engineering, Plymouth - 4 years

The Engineering Technician programme runs over four years with the first year being spent full time at Cornwall College working towards a BTEC National Diploma in Engineering Level 3 and a Performing Engineering Operations NVQ Level 2. Year 2 is spend in the factory, working in all of the Engineering and Production areas of the business and continue college at day release working towards the BTEC National Diploma in Engineering Level 3 and an NVQ Level 3 in Engineering Maintenance. A HNC in engineering will be gained during the remainder of the apprenticeship at a local college.

Manufacturing, Plymouth - 3 years

The Technical Operations programme runs over three years taking the same route as the Engineering Technician in Years 1 and 2. At the end of Year 2, Mars will decide on whether the programme continues down the Engineering Technician or Technical Operations route, based on the selection process aligned with business requirements. In Year 3 as a Technical Operations Associate you will work in the factory and spend time in a Production area of the business working towards a Technical Operations role.

Making Your Application

Applications for the Mars vacancies are currently open and close on 28th January. If you are successful on getting an apprenticeship, there is a start date of September 2018.

There are three stages to the application process with Mars:

Application Form - Including some essay questions

Telephone Interview

Assessment Day - Including a group discussion, problem solving, a presentation and an interview. 

During the assessment day there is an opportunity to get a factory tour with one of the current apprentices to see the Mars environment for yourself, and hear about life with Mars as an apprentice. For all of their apprenticeship schemes you'll need a minimum of 5 GCSEs A*-C (or equivalent) and you must be able to travel to site as well as to college.