PLC & SCADA Training in Leicester
CPD Accredited Industrial Automation Training for Leicester Professionals
In-person at our Milton Keynes centre or live online from Leicester
Industrial Automation in Leicester
Leicester's manufacturing sector is diverse and productive, spanning food processing, textiles, plastics, and engineering. The city's industrial areas around Beaumont Leys, Meridian Business Park, and the historic textile quarter house hundreds of manufacturing firms increasingly adopting automation. Major food producers like Walkers Crisps (PepsiCo) and Samworth Brothers run highly automated production lines that rely on PLC and SCADA systems. Leicester is conveniently located just over an hour from our Milton Keynes training centre.
Key Industries in Leicester
Major Employers
Also Serving
Loughborough · Market Harborough · Hinckley · Melton Mowbray · Wigston · Coalville
The Automation Landscape in Leicester
Leicester's automation landscape reflects its diverse manufacturing economy, where food production, textiles, and plastics processing all require PLC and SCADA systems. The Walkers Crisps (PepsiCo) factory at Beaumont Leys is one of the largest snack food facilities in the world, producing 11 million bags of crisps daily on highly automated production lines with Allen-Bradley and Siemens PLCs. Samworth Brothers operates multiple food manufacturing sites across Leicester with automated production, packaging, and palletising systems. The Meridian Business Park and Braunstone industrial areas house plastics and packaging manufacturers increasingly adopting robotic automation. Caterpillar's Leicester facility produces diesel and gas engines with precision-automated assembly processes.
Did You Know?
The Walkers Crisps factory in Leicester produces 11 million packets per day across 14 production lines, with each line controlled by networked Allen-Bradley PLCs that coordinate potato slicing, frying, flavouring, and packaging at speeds exceeding 100 bags per minute.
Career Outlook in Leicester
Leicester automation engineers earn £30,000-£46,000, with food manufacturing roles at PepsiCo and Samworth Brothers often including shift premiums. The East Midlands logistics corridor along the M1 is driving demand for warehouse automation and conveyor system PLC engineers. Leicester's diverse manufacturing base means engineers with broad PLC skills across different industries are particularly employable, as companies frequently hire from adjacent sectors.
Real Automation Projects in Leicester
The skills you learn with EDWartens are directly applicable to these types of projects happening in and around Leicester.
Walkers Crisps Beaumont Leys high-speed packaging line Allen-Bradley PLC upgrade
Samworth Brothers chilled food production line Siemens S7-1200 integration
DHL East Midlands Gateway automated parcel sortation system commissioning
Caterpillar Leicester engine assembly automated torque and test station PLC programming
Our Courses
Training Programmes for Leicester Professionals
Professional Module
PLC, SCADA, HMI & FactoryIO
- Duration: 5 Working Days + Online Recorded Sessions
- Language: English
- Delivery: Live Online + In-person (Milton Keynes, UK)
- Covers: Siemens TIA Portal, SCADA, HMI, FactoryIO
- Certificate: CPD Accredited
£2,140 + VAT full programme
View full course detailsAI Module
AI in Industrial Automation
- AI & Machine Learning for Automation
- Computer Vision for Quality Inspection
- Predictive Maintenance with AI
- CPD Accredited Certification
What You'll Learn in the Professional Module
A comprehensive 5-day intensive programme with online recorded sessions covering everything from PLC fundamentals to advanced SCADA systems — designed to make you job-ready.
Day 1–2: PLC Fundamentals
- •Siemens S7-1200 & S7-1500 hardware
- •TIA Portal software setup & navigation
- •Ladder Logic & Function Block programming
- •Digital & analog I/O configuration
Day 3: Advanced PLC Programming
- •Structured Text (ST) programming
- •Timer, counter & comparator functions
- •Data handling & memory management
- •Program debugging & testing
Day 4: SCADA & HMI Systems
- •WinCC SCADA configuration
- •HMI screen design & navigation
- •Alarm management & trending
- •Data logging & historical reports
Day 5: Networking & Projects
- •PROFINET & PROFIBUS protocols
- •Ethernet/IP communication
- •PLC-to-PLC data exchange
- •Network troubleshooting techniques
Online: Simulation & Assessment
- •FactoryIO 3D simulation
- •Real-world automation scenarios
- •Conveyor, sorting & batch processes
- •Final capstone project & assessment
Career & Certification
- •CPD Accredited certificate
- •CV building & LinkedIn optimisation
- •Interview preparation & mock interviews
- •Direct introductions to hiring employers
Automation Opportunities in Leicester
The industrial automation sector in Leicesteris growing rapidly. Here's why PLC and SCADA skills are in high demand.
£35k – £75k
Average automation engineer salary range in the UK
Career Roles Available in Leicester
Leicester Industry Demand
The Food Manufacturing, Textiles & Clothing, Plastics sectors in Leicester are actively investing in automation. Companies like Walkers Crisps (PepsiCo), Samworth Brothers, Caterpillar regularly recruit PLC and SCADA engineers.
Average salaries for automation engineers in the UK range from £35,000 to £65,000, with senior roles commanding £70,000+.
The UK faces a shortage of over 20,000 automation engineers, making this one of the fastest routes to employment after training.
Technologies Covered
Why Train Now?
Upcoming Batches
Reserve Your Spot
All courses are delivered as live online sessions in English with limited seats per batch for personalised attention. In-person attendance also available at our Milton Keynes training centre.
UK-PROF-W13-2026
UK-PROF-W14-2026
UK-AI-W14-2026
Why EDWartens
Why Leicester Engineers Choose EDWartens
CPD Accredited
Internationally recognised CPD accreditation, valued by UK and European employers.
Hands-on Labs
Real Siemens S7-1200/1500 PLCs, Allen-Bradley, SCADA systems, and FactoryIO simulation.
Career Support
Dedicated placement team connecting graduates with employers like Walkers Crisps (PepsiCo) and Samworth Brothers.
Flexible Delivery
Attend in-person at our Milton Keynes centre or join live online sessions from Leicester.
Getting to Our Training Centre from Leicester
Our training centre is located in Milton Keynes, easily accessible from Leicesterby train or car. Milton Keynes Central station has excellent connections to all major UK cities. Can't travel? Join our live online sessions instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
PLC Training in Leicester — FAQs
Is PLC training available in Leicester?
Yes — EDWartens offers CPD accredited PLC training just one hour from Leicester. Our Milton Keynes centre provides hands-on access to Siemens and Allen-Bradley PLCs, or you can join live online sessions from anywhere in the East Midlands. The course covers TIA Portal, SCADA, HMI, and FactoryIO.
What PLC jobs are available in Leicester?
Leicester offers PLC engineering roles in food manufacturing (Walkers/PepsiCo, Samworth Brothers), logistics automation (DHL, Amazon), heavy equipment (Caterpillar), and plastics/packaging. Salaries range from £30,000 for entry-level to £46,000+ for senior controls engineers.
Is food manufacturing a good career path for PLC engineers?
Yes — food manufacturing is one of the fastest-automating sectors in the UK, and Leicester is a major hub. Companies need PLC engineers who understand hygiene requirements, high-speed packaging, and vision inspection systems. The work is varied and the sector offers good long-term stability.
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