Drinks Dispense Technician Apprenticeship Level 3

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Study Mode: Full Time Programme Component Course Level: 3

This occupation is found in the engineering sector working in the hospitality, retail, leisure and catering industries, in a variety of venues that serve soft-drinks and/or alcoholic beverages to the public on a daily basis, including public houses, bars, clubs, retail outlets, leisure centres, hotels, festivals/events, clubs, schools, cinemas, theatres, stadiums and many more.

Drinks dispense technicians may work directly for a brand owner or brewery, or contractors that provide engineering services work on their behalf.The broad purpose of the occupation is responsibility for the installation and maintenance of drinks dispense systems. The aim is to build, install, maintain and repair complex drinks dispensing equipment to ensure that their customer can,in turn, deliver drinks of the right specification and quality to their customers.

Some drinks dispense technicians will specialise in certain types of drinks and/or brands, whilst others will work across a wide spectrum, for example beer, wine, cider, nitrogenated coffee and soft drinks. The role involves the application of a broad range of knowledge and skills including fault-finding, plumbing, electrical, refrigeration, gas pressure systems and pipework.

Tasks are often complex and non-routine requiring the technician to identify and initiate the appropriate solution; problem solving, use of diagnostic skills and own initiative will be needed to address out of specification issues that may be encountered. An essential part of the role is informing, educating and providing guidance to the customer in equipment use, beverage quality and delivery of the perfect pour. Product sampling may be required.

Depending on the work required, they may spend the day at one venue or working across a number of outlets, working to deadlines. It will often involve working in confined spaces, such as a cellar.

They may be working on the dispense system as a whole or on certain parts, such as the python (pipework composite encompassing capacity for multiple product linesand temperature control), coolers or dispense fonts.In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with venue staff for example managers, service staff and site security; other drinks dispense technicians; colleagues, for example operations managers, call centre staff, quality managers and logistics managers; and members of the public.

Technicians will self-manage workload and flow and will typically report to a technical manager. Depending on the size of the project technicians may have responsibility for leading and supervising a team of technicians. When working on new builds/renovations, they may interact with site supervisors and other trades for example plumbers and electricians.An employee in this occupation will be responsible for planning tasks and the resources required in response to schedules, ensuring the quality and accuracy of work carried out. They have the authority to determine the action required in relation to the drinks dispense system in a venue; including shut down. They will need to make informed judgements and decisions, taking account of the situation. They work autonomously, responsible for adhering to health & safety, current legislation, asbestos guidelines, working at height regulations and British Beer and Pub Association and British Soft Drinks Association Codes of Practice. They are responsible for assetmanagement, including vehicle, tools, specialist equipment and devices. Typically, a driving licence will be required as they may be expected to drive to their place of work, using a company vehicle, and coordinate logistics for other technicians.Typicaljob titles include technical services technician, drinks dispense technician, beer quality technician, cellar technician, technical representative, softs drinks engineer, customer technical engineer, field service technician

Determined by the employer

CORE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND BEHAVIOUR REQUIREMENTS

KNOWLEDGE

Apprentices will develop knowledge of:

Drinks dispense system installation, commissioning and decommissioning requirements including site survey, system components, system limitations, testing
Drinks dispense system maintenance requirements and techniques including fault-finding, troubleshooting, diagnostic techniques, repair, total preventative maintenance, testing; common faults and causes.
System specifications for example, keg, cask, soft drinks, nitro coffee, frozen, carbonated, manufacturer specifications, temperature, gas type, flow speed, couplers, post-mix; what they are, the effects they have and how to use them.
Brand/drink specifications including pipework and plumbing, temperature, gas pressures, fluid mechanics/dynamics, management, composition, characteristics, brewing process, ingredients, cask ale conditioning, manufacturers' specification, stock rotation; what they are and how to use them.
Electrical systems including polarity testing, codes, portable appliance testing (PAT), use of a multimeter; principles of electricity, voltage, types of current: alternating current/direct current (AC/DC).
Refrigeration principles, types of refrigerant, integral and split systems, requirements relating to hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), both gas and water-cooled systems
Drinks dispense system pipework including different materials, joints and routing; requirements including length and building restrictions.
Asset management, including identification of equipment/parts, value of stock and equipment, correct handling of parts, salvageability of parts to be removed, returns process, disposal.
Stock management for example stock requirements, lead times, and stock management systems.
Proper tool usage including hand tools, power tools, carbonation tester, refractometer, ratio cup, gas monitors, hygrometer, pressure gauges, CO2 monitors, correct/appropriate tool selection.
Cleaning (line & glass) including different systems, symptoms of infected/contaminated line, cleaning process, health and safety dangers, fault-finding, effect of bacteria in lines, the need for effective pest control around products and manufacturers guidelines.
The perfect pour, for example how to create one, problem solving when pours are imperfect e.g. cleaning of vessels/glassware, operation of glasswashers and icemakers.
Codes of Practice (COP) and guidelines, including British Soft Drinks Association, British Beer and Pub Association, Brewing Food & Beverage Industry Trade Association, Brand Dispense Association, British Soft Drinks Association electrical guidelines, British Beer and Pub Association electrical guidelines, brand matrix, Brands Dispense Association Drinks Installation Manual.
Legal requirements and compliance including authority to work, trading standards, transport regulations (e.g. overloading, gas canisters), ullage (RBUS -return beer unfit for sale), general data protection regulations (GDPR), electric compliance, pressure systems compliance.
Health and safety including Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Risk Assessment, method statements, manual handling, personal protective equipment, asbestos, confined spaces, working at height, Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) compliance, food hygiene, vehicle safety.
Environmental considerations including Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE), recycling, fluorinated greenhouse gas (F Gas)
Planning techniques including time management skills, workflow (e.g. job acquisition point)
Improvement techniques including the 5 S' (sort, set, shine, standardize and sustain), PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act).
Training, mentoring and coaching techniques: how to pass on knowledge, and provide guidance to customer/stakeholder, in a clear, concise and easy to understand manner.
Team leadership and management techniques.
Equality and diversity in the workplace considerations.
Professional relationships including etiquette; expectations, responsibilities.
Documentation requirements, for example job sheets, bar records, written scheme of examination, vehicle safety checklist, cleaning logs.
Information technology, for example processing software, email systems, handheld devices, job management systems, asset tracking systems.
Service Level Agreements for example employer/employee responsibilities, limitations, commercial contracts (e.g. expectations, response times).•Industry insight, for example appropriate timing, peak business hours, local geography, parking restrictions, access, dispense system ownership (Must Buy Must Sell system), position in supply chain, identity of stakeholders and motivations

SKILLS

Apprentices will develop skills to enable them to:

Interpret, follow and adhere to Service Level Agreements, legal requirements, COPs, specifications and customer needs
Plan, organise and schedule own/others' work for example task delegation, workflow, route planning, time management
Conduct site survey, including risk assessments
Interpret job requirements for example job specification, technical drawings, instruction booklets, identifying trends
Determine and source resources for example materials, time and equipment
Manage stock levels
Plumb pipework for drinks dispense equipment or components
Conduct electrical installations or maintenance of drinks dispense equipment or components.
Install or maintain refrigeration components for drinks dispense equipment
Install or maintain gas dispense pressure system
Operate tools and instruments for example drills, power tools, spirit levels, specialist tools/instruments
Commission and connect specified equipment and/or components in adherence to Service Level Agreements, legal requirements, COPs, specifications and customer needs
Assess condition of components and equipment and identifying action
Decommission and disconnect specified equipment or components in adherence to Service Level Agreements, legal requirements, COPs, specifications and customer needs
Diagnose dispense, product or equipment faults and identify solutions
Test equipment and quality assure product dispensed, for example sampling final product.
Clean lines, vessels and/or other equipment
Categorise decommissioned equipment for reuse, disposal or recycling
Pack decommissioned equipment to prevent further deterioration/damage
Isolate and document unsaleable product for return, destruction or further investigation
Complete documentation for example asset management records, work sheets, waste environmental records
Collect, record and provide data, for example pressure readings, stock usage.
Communicate with stakeholders, internal or external for example customers, colleagues, managers, general public
Provide information, guidance or training to colleagues and/or stakeholders.
Conduct all duties in adherence with health and safety directives and environmental policy and procedures

BEHAVIOURS

Apprentices will demonstrate the expected workplace behaviours:

Health and safety-first attitude
Reliable, for example, acts with integrity, punctual, meticulous, trustworthy, honest, determined, perseveres
Adaptable, for example, responds to unforeseen circumstances, improvises in environment or time challenged conditions, resilient under pressure
Takes responsibility for job, for example, a desire to see a job through from start to finish and verify that it has been completed to a high standard
Quality focus for example attention to detail, accuracy, customer orientated, implements quality and lasting repairs
Professional, for example, represents themselves/employer well, presentable, passion for product, ambassadorial nature, instils confidence
Team player, for example works with others toward a common goal, with an obvious willingness and positive attitude, has regard for equality and diversity consideration
Maintains a commitment to continuous professional development in order to ensure growth in ability and standards of work

A qualified assessor will provide an induction and regular one-to-one reviews

Full time engineer, site supervisor, team leader