Control Engineer Apprentice

British Sugar is a home-grown success story and one of the most efficient and competitive beet processers in the world. Around 3,500 farmers based in East Anglia and the East Midlands supply our four advanced manufacturing sites with eight million tonnes of sugar beet every year. We, in turn, make this in to over 1 million tonnes of sugar, serving customers across the UK, Ireland and increasingly growing commercially in the EU and world sugar markets.

Job Details

Full-Time, Apprenticeship

Duration: 55 months +

Location:

Bury St Edmunds

Salary: £25,000.00

In this apprenticeship, you will follow a Control Engineering pathway, focusing on understanding, configuring, and optimizing the systems that automate and regulate sugar production. You will delve into the science behind control systems and automation, gaining expertise in programmable logic controllers (PLCs), Supervisory Control and Dat Acquisition (SCADA) distributed control systems (DCS), and other advanced automation technologies. This includes studying a broad range of topics such as control theory, process dynamics, sensors, actuators, and instrumentation, alongside related mechanical and electrical subjects like motor control, pneumatics, conveyors, and elevators.

A 55-month programme, following the Automation & Control Engineering Technician Standard, achieving a Level 4 qualification recognised by the Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET) for Engineering Technician (Eng Tech) and all the practical experience alongside, to be ready to move into a Control Engineer (Development) role.

During your scheme you will be working from our Bury Customer Supply site, 5-days a week, Monday-Friday for 8 hours each day. During periods of site support, you may occasionally be required to work on weekends and bank holidays.

This scheme gives you the opportunity to:

Understand how the key operational functions work within our factories.  
Gain a good knowledge of our processes and equipment.
Understand our systems and procedures to work safely and efficiently.
Develop the behavioural skills to be a great team member.
Develop skills to troubleshoot and fault find on plant using tools including system tools and technics, through commissioning, maintenance, and operational periods.
Develop skills to troubleshoot and fault find control system faults.
Develop skills to design, development and management of modern PLC based control systems and distributed control system on our sites.
Gain knowledge of operational technology (OT) systems and how the modern control systems and OT integrate with information technology (IT) systems.  

What will you need?  

You will need a minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at Level 5/C or above which must include Maths, English and a Science. Plus, a Level 3 qualification in Engineering or A Levels in Maths and Physics.

Candidates must be able to travel to the workplace and to attend College.

Final date to receive applications: 5th April 2026

We will be considering candidates as they apply and we will occasionally close job adverts early, in the event we receive sufficient applicants, so please do not delay in submitting your application