Composites Technician Apprentice (Level 3)

Summary

Join SGI Composites – a UK-leading GRP and FRP manufacturer based in Colchester – and earn while you learn. You will develop hands-on skills in composite manufacturing, working alongside experienced technicians to produce high-quality industrial and commercial composite products.

Wage

£17,680 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course

Composites technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday, 7:45am - 5:00pm, with a 15-minute tea break and 30 minutes unpaid lunch break. Additional short breaks in line with Working Time Regulations 1998.

42 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

3 years

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Role responsibilities will include: 

• Prepare composite materials including GRP and FRP laminates, resins, and fibreglass in line with production schedules and quality specifications
• Operate hand lay-up and spray-up moulding processes under the supervision of senior technicians, developing proficiency in a range of composite manufacturing techniques
• Assist in the fabrication, trimming, and finishing of composite components such as tanks, bunds, enclosures, anti-slip systems, and architectural mouldings
• Support site installation activities including the application of protective linings and coatings to industrial structures such as storage tanks, bund walls, and cooling towers
• Carry out surface preparation tasks including abrasive blasting and cleaning of substrates prior to lining or coating application, following COSHH and PPE requirements at all times
• Conduct quality checks on finished components, identifying and reporting defects or non-conformances to the Production Manager
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organised workshop environment, adhering to all health & safety protocols, site-specific safety procedures, and SGI Composites’ company standards
• Complete all apprenticeship off-the-job learning requirements and portfolio evidence as required by the apprenticeship standard
• Support the team across multiple product lines including spill containment, enclosures, furniture and planters, and anti-slip grating as business needs require
• Participate in continuous improvement activities and contribute ideas to enhance production quality and efficiency

Where you'll work

The Chandler Centre
Hythe Quay
Colchester
CO2 8JF

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

COLCHESTER INSTITUTE

Training course

Composites technician (level 3)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand task.
• Plan work. Identify and organise resources.
• Identify hazards and risks in the workplace.
• Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
• Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
• Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
• Prepare and use mould tools.
• Select and check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record.
• Use or operate hand tools, equipment, and machinery.
• Store mould tools, hand tools, and equipment.
• Select, check, and prepare materials for example, weigh resins, cut reinforcement.
• Follow quality control processes during manufacture for example, check for contaminants, record batch numbers or expiry dates.
• Apply laminate to mould for example, cut, add darts, corner definition, orientation, position, and order.
• Complete preparation for and start curing process for example, select and apply consumables for example vacuum bag, infuse with resin, add heat or pressure.
• Extract product from mould (break out).
• Conduct final product quality assurance procedure. For example, conduct grading parameters checks (size, appearance, weight), and take samples for laboratory testing.
• Identify issues for example, de-laminations, inclusions, surface defects, surface imperfections, and maintenance requirements.
• Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
• Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
• Record or enter data - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
• Interpret data for example, defect data and geometrical measurements. Use data to validate suggestions.
• Investigate a problem to identify the underlying cause. Identify a solution to the problem.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process, or task.
• Apply team working principles.
• Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
• Use information technology for work tasks. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
• Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
• Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand task.
• Plan work. Identify and organise resources.
• Identify hazards and risks in the workplace.
• Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
• Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
• Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
• Prepare and use mould tools.
• Select and check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record.
• Use or operate hand tools, equipment, and machinery.
• Store mould tools, hand tools, and equipment.
• Select, check, and prepare materials for example, weigh resins, cut reinforcement.
• Follow quality control processes during manufacture for example, check for contaminants, record batch numbers or expiry dates.
• Apply laminate to mould for example, cut, add darts, corner definition, orientation, position, and order.
• Complete preparation for and start curing process for example, select and apply consumables for example vacuum bag, infuse with resin, add heat or pressure.
• Extract product from mould (break out).
• Conduct final product quality assurance procedure. For example, conduct grading parameters checks (size, appearance, weight), and take samples for laboratory testing.
• Identify issues for example, de-laminations, inclusions, surface defects, surface imperfections, and maintenance requirements.
• Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
• Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
• Record or enter data - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
• Interpret data for example, defect data and geometrical measurements. Use data to validate suggestions.
• Investigate a problem to identify the underlying cause. Identify a solution to the problem.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process, or task.
• Apply team working principles.
• Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
• Use information technology for work tasks. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
• Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.

Training schedule

• The apprentice will be working towards the Level 3 Composites Technician Apprenticeship Standard
• This is a 3 year apprenticeship with college attendance required one day per week
• All college attendance will be at Colchester Institute at our Colchester Campus one day per week

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

maths and English (grade A*-C/9-4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Patience
• Physical fitness

Other requirements

This role involves working in a manufacturing environment and may include:

• Working with chemical resins, fibreglass materials, and industrial coatings – full PPE will be provided
• Occasional travel to customer sites across the UK for installation projects
• Working outdoors or in confined/industrial spaces on certain site-based activities
• Physical elements including lifting, standing for extended periods, and manual handling
• Adherence to strict health & safety procedures at all times

All apprentices will receive full health & safety induction and ongoing H&S training.