Level 6 Digital Technology Solutions Professional – IT Consultant Apprentice

Duration: 3years
Qualification:BSc (Honours) Digital and Technology Solutions (IT Consultant)

Salary: £24,000

As a Level 6 Digital Technology Solutions Apprentice specialising in IT Consultancy, you will play a key role in supporting factory IT systems that keep our production lines running smoothly and safely. You’ll learn how technology underpins modern manufacturing and gain hands-on experience working across automation, infrastructure, data, and operational technology.  

You will work alongside experienced IT and Engineering teams, gradually taking on more responsibility as your skills grow. By the end of the programme, you’ll be equipped to support, design, and improve factory IT solutions that directly impact our production performance and business operations.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop into a highly skilled IT professional with a deep understanding of manufacturing technology.

What will be your key responsibilities?

Throughout the apprenticeship, you will develop both technical and consultancy skills through real-world projects and responsibilities such as:

1. Supporting Factory IT Operations

• Act as a first point of contact for IT issues impacting production systems and equipment.

• Support site teams (Operations, Engineering, Maintenance) with IT tools and systems they rely on daily.

2. Delivering IT Solutions

• Support the implementation of factory IT projects following global standards and best practices.

• Assist with maintaining the site’s factory IT understanding long-term technology needs.

• Help manage IT assets, including inventory, health checks and lifecycle planning.

• Learn to create and monitor Key Performance Indicators for system performance, availability, and reliability.

3. Developing Consultancy Skills

• Build strong working relationships with production, engineering, and external suppliers.

• Understand business needs and help translate them into IT requirements.

• Participate in meetings to explain technical issues in a clear and simple way.

• Support communication and awareness of new IT tools, solutions, and services across the site.

4. Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement

• Assist with issue resolution for factory IT systems and escalate problems when needed.

• Work with Engineering and Maintenance teams to update procedures and drive improvements.

• Contribute ideas for digital and automation enhancements within the factory environment.

Technical Skills You Will Develop:

You will build capability in key Digital & Technology Solutions areas, including:

• Server and virtual infrastructure administration

• Network fundamentals (e.g., Cisco architectures)

• Database concepts and SQL

• IT/Organisation Technology security principles

• Cloud and enterprise systems awareness

• Data handling, reporting and advanced Excel/VBA

• Understanding automation layers in manufacturing

• Maintain and troubleshoot factory IT infrastructure across automation levels 

All required technical training is provided and supported through the apprenticeship programme.

The apprenticeship requires you to attend a fully funded residential over the course of the apprenticeship programme.  Subject to change, the timetable is as follows:

• Year 1: September – end November  

• Year 2: 1 week in September, January and May  

• Year 3: September  

​What You’ll Gain

• A fully funded BSc (Hons) Digital & Technology Solutions – IT Consultant degree

• 3 years of paid, real-world industry experience

• Skills in IT consultancy, infrastructure, automation and digital transformation

• Opportunity to progress into roles such as:

• Factory IT Specialist

• Data base Administrator

• Controls Engineer

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with like-minded and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.

• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

• A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.