Apprentice Mechanical Technician

Apprentice Mechanical Technician

Location: Loch Ewe, Aultbea, Ross-Shire

The organisation: The Oil and Pipelines Agency is a Public Corporation formed by the Oil and Pipelines Act 1985. Our primary purpose is to manage, operate, and maintain 6 Naval OFD’s (Oil Fuel Depots) and 1 Petroleum Storage Depot for the Secretary of State for Defence.

Our sites are spread across the UK and overseas, with four in Scotland, two on the south coast of England, a Petroleum Storage Depot located in Cheshire, and a fuel depot in Singapore. We have around 200 employees.

The role: A new and exciting opportunity has arisen for an apprentice Mechanical Technician to join our team at our OFD (Oil Fuel Depot), at Loch Ewe, Aultbea, Ross-Shire.

The successful candidate will be enrolled on a 3–4-year Mechanical Technician apprenticeship programme. The Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship Program is designed to develop your expertise across a breadth of operational and technical areas of the business. Your plant-based training program is supported by the nationally recognised apprentice framework structure (Performing Engineering Operations Level 2 in Engineering, Certificate & SVQ Level 3 in Engineering Maintenance). We support the apprentice framework/standard with all the relevant technical certificates to enable apprentices to develop their skills in all aspects of mechanical engineering.

You will gain valuable skills and knowledge around Engineering and learn all aspects of working within a COMAH Bulk Liquid Operations Site. In the area of Process Safety, you will gain insights into all aspects of Process Safety study techniques, COMAH requirements, Human Factors, and Functional Safety. We provide a positive environment together with a strong safety and team working culture. The programme is delivered in conjunction with West College Scotland in Glasgow.

The first year (30 weeks) will be based at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Inverness. The first year is structured around a term time framework, with the successful candidate required to attend college and live on campus in Inverness.

Years two and three will be based at the OFD Loch Ewe under a mentorship programme. Our Engineering Apprentice Program will ensure a well-rounded exposure to all of these areas of Engineering, and we will provide you with the opportunity to make a genuine impact in a company with a pioneering spirit.

Responsibilities:

1. Routine maintenance of fuel storage equipment.
2. Fault finding and repair for OFD Loch Ewe, including plant and equipment.
3. Fixing faults or arranging for replacements to be installed.
4. Overhauling and replacing parts according to schedule.
5. Fit and assembly of mechanical components using appropriate machinery/hand tools.
6. Responsible for filling out job sheets and planned maintenance cards.
7. Carry out PPM and extra work requirements in adherence to set engineering standards in accordance with HASAWA requirements.

The candidate: We are looking for candidates who are hardworking, reliable, trustworthy, and keen to learn and develop themselves within the Engineering and Bulk Liquid Storage Industry. You must demonstrate good communication and problem-solving skills and be able to work as part of a team.

You must have minimum qualifications of 5/Intermediate1/Credit Standard Grade in Maths, English, and a Science.

Remuneration: The starting salary is currently £13,445 per year (dependent on age), rising to £20,625 in the final year of the apprenticeship. The hours are 7.30am to 4.00pm Monday to Thursday and 7.30am to 12.30pm on Friday (37 hours per week). Once you are fully trained, qualified, and have gained sufficient experience, your salary will increase through the organisation's pay grades and spines structure.

Progression: Whilst this vacancy is for an Apprentice Mechanical Technician at our Loch Ewe Depot, we offer opportunities for individuals to develop their careers across other aspects of the OPA business (Project Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Process Safety Engineer, etc).