About Ishida

Ishida a world leader in the design, manufacture and installation of weighing and packing line solutions, Ishida has an in-depth understanding of many diverse industries – from meat to confectionery, from snacks to frozen food and more. Ishida Europe has its headquarters in Birmingham, UK, and serves Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). We have wholly owned Ishida sales companies in 9 countries, and committed, experienced agents and distributors in a further 15 countries. Innovative weighing and packaging equipment plus complete line solutions for these territories are developed and constructed in our UK manufacturing facility.

Our people:
The wealth of knowledge and experience of Ishida personnel enables manufacturers to benefit from the best solutions to improve their weighing and packing operations. This allows customers to focus on their own business, while we focus on solving their challenges.

Our innovations:
Ishida Europe uses know-how, creativity and state-of-the art technology to develop weighing and packing solutions enabling our customers to stay ahead. We aim for continuous technical improvement - from our revolutionary multihead weighers and check weighers to our latest innovations such as the tray sealers and case packing systems.

Vacancy Description
We are seeking to employ and train a Technical Electrical Apprentice through advanced apprenticeships.

As an apprentice, you will be highly trained to work in the world of Engineering and Manufacturing in the Food Industry Sector the world’s leading supplier of Food Packaging Machines and Equipment.

The initial training and development phase will provide broad-based exposure to various aspects of electrical engineering within food packaging systems and production lines. Following this phase, the successful candidate will be appointed as an Electrical Project Engineer, with a focus on the electrical functional design of automation systems. This role involves using proprietary software and engineering tools to create detailed electrical designs, which will be implemented, installed, and commissioned at customer sites.

The roles mentioned above will feature a range different engineering activities aligned to the job roles with a detailed development plan for the four years of their apprenticeship programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in designing control panels, wiring layouts, and PLC integration of both Ishida manufactured equipment and OEM suppliers.
• Help ensure all designs comply with hygiene and safety standards (e.g. ISO, CE, EHEDG, IP ratings etc).
• Assist with Project Planning and Equipment Integration
• Collaborate on integrating electrical systems into existing production lines with minimal downtime.
• Help prepare electrical specifications, BOMs (bills of materials), and documentation packages for new equipment installations.
• Support senior engineers during site visits to install and commission equipment.
• Assist in I/O checks, motor testing, sensor calibration, and verifying automation functionality.
• Aid in FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing) and SAT (Site Acceptance Testing) procedures.
• Help troubleshoot and validate system performance based on food industry requirements.
• Help maintain accurate as-built drawings and manuals for electrical systems.
• Continuous Learning and Industry Familiarization
• Learn the unique challenges of the food production environment, including washdown requirements, clean design principles, and equipment reliability.
• Participate in training on automation systems, food safety standards.

Requirements and prospects

Desired skills

• Good attention to detail and accuracy
• Team player with strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Curious, proactive, and solution-focused
• Commitment to safety, ethics, and continuous improvement
• Ability to take responsibility and manage time effectively
• Interest in electrical engineering and problem solving.
• A strong work ethic and willingness to learn.

Personal qualities

We value:

• Accountability – personal responsibility
• Commitment - don’t give up when things get tough
• Cooperation – to be a team player
• Excellence – set high standards and strive to meet them
• Innovation – look for ways to do your job better
• Integrity – tell the truth and treat others with respect

You must be able to demonstrate a passion for engineering combined with a desire to start your career through an apprenticeship.

Desired qualifications

• 4 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including Maths, English, and Science (or equivalent).

Future prospects

• Level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Foundation Competence)
• Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Competence Technical Support)
• Level 3 Extended Diploma in Electrical Engineering (Development Knowledge)
• Skills in wiring/testing electrical equipment and circuits, programmable control systems, and component assembly.
• Understanding of how to interpret and apply electrical principles in a real-world setting.
• Competence in CAD software and technical report writing.