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Plant & Utilities Technician

Job details
Posting date: 27 March 2026
Salary: £54,561 per year
Additional salary information: £54,561 on Double Days, rising to £57,300 per annum on 24/5 shift pattern. Upon successful completion of a 6-month probation period, this will rise to £58,286 per annum.
Hours: Full time
Closing date: 05 April 2026
Location: Loughton, Essex
Remote working: On-site only
Company: De La Rue
Job type: Permanent
Job reference:

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Summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Utilities and Facilities Plant Technician to join our Engineering team at our site in Loughton, Essex. Reporting to the Facilities & Utilities Supervisor, you will be responsible for the reliable, safe, and efficient operation of all site utilities and facility systems that support secure, high-quality currency manufacturing.
In this role, the successful candidate will own and support a variety of utilities including (but not limited to) effluent treatment, compressed air, chilled water systems, pre-press services and ink production services.
This is a hands-on, multi-skilled engineering role covering a broad range of service infrastructure across the site.
Key Responsibilities (For full job description, pleas visit our website.)
Utilities Engineering (Hands-On)
Responsible for day-to-day operation, maintenance, and fault-finding across a wide range of site utilities, including but not limited to:
• Effluent Treatment Plant (chemical dosing, filtration, pH control, pumps, tanks)
• Compressed Air Systems (compressors, dryers, receivers, leak management, distribution lines)
• Chilled Water Systems (chillers, pumps, heat exchangers, process cooling loops)
• Pre Press Utilities (environmental controls, ventilation, filtration, specialist services)
• Ink Section Services (temperature-controlled services, extraction, agitation systems, utilities feeding ink preparation areas)
• Water treatment systems (softened/process water)
Facilities & Building Services
• Maintain facility infrastructure including ventilation, lighting, extraction, and environmental controls.
• Ensure all utility and facility systems operate within safety, environmental, and regulatory limits.
Compliance, Safety & Documentation
Ensure compliance with:
o PUWER, LOLER, COSHH
o Environmental permits related to effluent discharge and emissions
o Site H&S standards and secure manufacturing protocols
• Maintain accurate records including PPMs, inspections, and maintenance logs.
Continuous Improvement and Reliability
• Carry out root-cause investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Improve the reliability, energy efficiency, and performance of utility systems.

Contract type: Permanent
Working hours: Double Day shift pattern – Monday to Friday, 6am – 2pm or 2pm - 10pm (alternated weekly).
From 31st August 2026, we will transition to a 24/5 Shift Pattern - consists of 3 crews of 12-hour shifts of either: 6.00 am to 6.00 pm; and 6.00 pm to 6.00 am, Monday to Friday rota. Attendance is 40 hours per week on average, including a 30-minute unpaid break plus a 15-minute unpaid break to be taken during the shift.

Base location: Debden
Basic Salary: £54,561 on Double Days, rising to £57,300 per annum on 24/5 shift pattern. Upon successful completion of a 6-month probation period, this will rise to £58,286 per annum.

Skills, Qualifications & Experience
• Time-served apprenticeship or HNC/HND in Mechanical, Electrical, or Building Services Engineering
• Hands-on experience maintaining industrial utilities (compressed air, chilled water, pumps, effluent, HVAC, etc.).
• Strong practical fault-finding and diagnostic skills.
• Experience in secure, print, chemical, process, or manufacturing environments (Desirable)
• Knowledge of chemical handling, waste-water systems, filtration, or dosing systems (Desirable)
• Familiarity with controlled-environment ventilation or air-quality systems (Desirable)
• Experience using CMMS systems and improving maintenance plans (Desirable)

About De La Rue

De La Rue is a leading supplier of currency solutions and a long-standing trusted partner to central banks and governments worldwide. Our products underpin the integrity of economies and trade, enabling businesses and citizens to participate securely in their respective economies.

With a heritage spanning over 200 years, we remain a global leader in advancing security and integrity for currency solutions, supplying 54% of the world’s central banks and manufacturing in the UK, Europe & Asia. We produce fully finished banknotes, polymer substrate, security and currency services.

Benefits
• 26 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Contributory pension scheme (De La Rue pay 1.5x the employee’s contribution – employee contributions up to a maximum of 6%, with employer contributions up to a maximum of 9%)
• Life assurance - 4x your annual salary
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Subsidised Gym Memberships
• Various other perks and Employee Assistance packages
• Enhanced family friendly policies (e.g., four weeks paid paternity leave)

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