We are looking for motivated, safety‑focused individuals to join our team as Apprentice Operators. This is an exciting opportunity to begin a career within one of the UK’s largest and most advanced oil refining and energy production facilities.

As an Apprentice Operator, you will gain hands-on experience working alongside experienced Process Operators who ensure the safe and efficient running of refining units. You will learn how we convert crude oil and feedstocks into essential fuels and products used across the UK and beyond.

This apprenticeship combines practical site-based training with formal study toward an industry-recognised qualification.

Job Description

We are looking for motivated, safety‑focused individuals to join our team as Apprentice Operators. This is an exciting opportunity to begin a career within one of the UK’s largest and most advanced oil refining and energy production facilities.

As an Apprentice Operator, you will gain hands-on experience working alongside experienced Process Operators who ensure the safe and efficient running of refining units. You will learn how we convert crude oil and feedstocks into essential fuels and products used across the UK and beyond.

This apprenticeship combines practical site-based training with formal study toward an industry-recognised qualification.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting day-to-day operations across refinery processing units

• Monitoring equipment, temperatures, pressures, and process flows

• Learning to operate plant systems safely and efficiently

• Assisting with start-up and shutdown procedures

• Completing routine process checks, sampling, and reporting

• Following strict safety, environmental, and compliance standards

• Working closely with operational teams to resolve issues and maintain plant reliability

Candidate Requirements

• A genuine interest in engineering, energy, or industrial operations

• Strong commitment to safety and teamwork

• Good problem‑solving skills and attention to detail

• Willingness to work both indoors and outdoors in an industrial environment

• Ability to follow procedures and work in a disciplined way

• Enthusiasm to learn and develop technical skills

About EET Fuels (ESSAR)

Do you want to work for the company that’s playing a leading role in delivering the North West’s low carbon future? EET Fuels (Trading name of Essar Oil (UK) Limited) produces over 16% of the UK’s road transport fuels, provides key feedstocks to Britain’s petrochemical industry and is investing in developing low carbon fuels.

We are a major supplier in the North West and beyond with customers including most of the major retail brands operated by international oil companies and supermarkets, Manchester Airport, leading commercial airlines and the region’s trains and buses.

And we’re central to the innovative HyNet project which is redefining energy to achieve our regional low carbon ambitions and national policy targets.

We employ over 800 expert and engaged colleagues, who are at the heart of everything we do. The company has an embedded safety culture, technically challenging work across all the different parts of the business and some of the best training available in the energy industry.