Polymer Processing Operations

This Apprenticeship deals with the manufacture and production of polymer and synthetic substances such as plastic, nylon and PVC.

Plastic is incredibly versatile and can be made from different ingredients, moulded into any shape, and put to a huge range of uses across industry and the rest of society, from carrier bags to electrical cables. It’s no surprise that the polymer industry is one of the most important areas of manufacturing in the UK.

While many household items from bags to CDs are plastic, it’s also produced for larger-scale items – cars, aeroplanes, and even space shuttles all contain plastic parts. One factory is likely to produce many different kinds of plastic items.

As an apprentice, you’ll work in either a factory or workshop setting and learn how to mass-produce plastic items. You’ll weigh and mix raw materials; learn about the production process; test products; maintain machinery; and make sure items are made on time and without wasting materials.

On the Advanced Apprenticeship, you could take on a supervisory role and work as a polymer engineer, production technician, estimator or laboratory assistant.

Production requires practical skills. You’ll need to work quickly on complicated tasks, use numeracy skills to mix materials, and have an eye for detail.