Workshop Technician Apprentice

Summary

Form part of the workshop/engineering team to assist with the mechanical & electrical assembly of bespoke machinery, all of which will be built to a schedule, based on various lead times and built to an extremely high standard. Reporting to the workshop manager, you will be assigned tasks to be completed in a time sensitive manner. 

Wage

£22,000 a year

• Salary range: £22,000 - £25,000 annually

Training course

Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Thursday, 07:30 - 16:30 and Friday, 07:30 - 13:30. With a 10 minute break at 10:30 and a half hour lunch break at 13:00

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

3 years 6 months

Positions available

1

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 responbilities will include: 

• You will be liaising with the design team to get an understanding of the project in hand
• Quality checking each component prior to assembly
• Assisting with the machine setup, once it is completed
• Assemble mechanical parts to a high standard, ensuring tolerances are adhered to along with adherence to build instructions/guidelines
• Assemble & wire control panels by following electrical schematics
• Gather parts required for the mechanical or electrical build process
• Assist engineers during the machine setup process
• Assist in the preparation of machinery for despatch, ensuring that all quality checks are carried out

Where you'll work

Sovereign Labelling Machines Ltd
Oaktree Works Brunel Road Clacton on Sea
Essex
CO15 4LU

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

Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)

What you'll learn

• Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
• Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
• Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
• Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
• Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
• Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
• Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
• Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
• Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
• Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
• Follow standard operating procedures.
• Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
• Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques.
• Apply team working principles.
• Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
• Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
• Carry out and record learning and development activities.
• Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
• Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
• Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
• Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
• Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
• Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
• Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
• Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
• Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
• Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
• Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
• Follow standard operating procedures.
• Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
• Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques.
• Apply team working principles.
• Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
• Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
• Carry out and record learning and development activities.
• Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.

Training schedule

• The apprentice will be working towards the Level 3 Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technician Apprenticeship Standard
• Qualifications include the EAL Level 3 Diploma in Engineering and manufacturing support technologies

More training information

• This is a 4-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, English and Science (grade 9-4/A*-C)

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

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience
• Physical fitness

Other requirements

• There may be occasion to travel to site with engineers to assist with machinery installations, or servicing