Level 2 Apprentice Fabricator

Summary

To train as a fabricator while completing a Level 2 Engineering Operative apprenticeship, cutting, shaping and forming sheet metal into the components from which RHF fans are built. 

Wage

£16,224 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

National Minimum Wage apprentice rate as a minimum. RHF Fans is an accredited real Living Wage employer. On successful completion into a permanent role, pay is at least the real Living Wage.

Training course

Engineering operative (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Thursday - 7am to 4pm and Friday - 7am to 12pm.

39 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 1 October 2026

Duration

1 year

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

You’ll start by learning the fundamentals before progressing onto specialist fabrication machinery.

You’ll learn to:

• Prepare, deburr and finish metal components
• Read engineering drawings and understand dimensions
• Mark out materials accurately
• Use measuring equipment, templates and gauges
• Load and operate laser cutting equipment
• Cut components to precise specifications
• Use press brakes to bend and form sheet metal
• Operate rolling and joining machinery
• Shape and assemble components
• Check your work against engineering drawings
• Carry out quality checks throughout the manufacturing process
• Complete production records accurately
• Carry out basic machine maintenance
• Work safely and keep your area clean and organised

As your confidence grows, you’ll move from supervised preparation work to setting and operating fabrication machinery and producing components yourself.

You’ll learn not just how to operate a machine, but why the machine is being used, how to set it up correctly and how to produce a quality component.

From raw material to finished product

Imagine taking a flat sheet of metal and turning it into a precision-engineered component that’s eventually part of a working industrial fan.

That’s fabrication.

You’ll see the results of your work as components move through the workshop and become part of the finished product.

It’s a career where you can look at something you’ve helped manufacture and say:

“I made that.”

Where you'll work

UNIT 2
FERROUS WAY GILCHRIST RD
NORTHBANK IND PARK
IRLAM
M44 5FS

Training

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

Training provider

TRAIN'D UP RAILWAY RESOURCING LIMITED

Training course

Engineering operative (level 2)

What you'll learn

• Work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, environmental compliance procedures and systems and other relevant guidelines
• Identify and deal appropriately with any risks, hazards, hazardous situations and problems that may occur within the engineering environment within the limits of their responsibility
• Demonstrate effective communication skills which include oral, written, electronic
• Complete appropriate documentation accurately, efficiently and legibly using the correct terminology where required
• Obtain and follow the correct documentation, specifications and work instructions in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the engineering activities, extracting the necessary data/information from specification and related documentation
• Select and use appropriate tools, equipment and materials to carry out the engineering operation
• Deal appropriately with any problems that may occur within the manufacturing environment within the limits of their responsibility
• Work efficiently and effectively at all times maintaining workplace organisation and minimising waste
• Carryout fault location on appropriate equipment using suitable maintenance diagnostic techniques
• Carryout maintenance activities in line with work instructions
• Carryout tests on the maintained equipment in accordance with test schedule/defined test procedures
• Follow appropriate completion activities and restore equipment to service by replacing or repairing components
• Plan the mechanical manufacturing operation before they start
• Mount and set the required workholding devices
• Produce individual components, sub-assemblies or completed assemblies using mechanical manufacturing techniques
• Carryout quality checks during and after mechanical manufacturing operations
• Wire and terminate different types of cabling e.g. single core, multi core, screened, fire resistant, armoured, etc.
• Assemble and test a range of electrical components e.g. component panels, isolator switches, fuses, circuit breakers, contactors, relays, rail mounted terminal blocks, etc.
• Assemble and test a range of electronic components e.g. resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, etc.
• Follow appropriate completion activities and restore equipment/system to service after the assembly and testing has been completed
• Shape the materials using the appropriate methods and techniques
• Join the materials using the appropriate methods and techniques
• Produce components which meet the specification requirements
• Carryout quality checks during and after the fabrication activities
• Plan the materials, processing or finishing operation before they start
• Prepare equipment, tooling, materials, etc. and complete set up activities before carrying out the materials, processing or finishing operation
• Carry out the material, processing or finishing operation in line with specific safe working practices and specification requirements
• Carryout quality checks during and after the materials, processing or finishing operation
• Plan the technical support operation before they start
• Prepare equipment, tooling, materials, etc. and complete set up activities before carrying out the technical support
• Carry out the technical support operation in line with specific safe working practices and specification requirements
• Carryout quality checks during and after the technical support operation

Training schedule

From your first day, you’ll be employed and paid while gaining practical experience and working towards your apprenticeship qualification.

You’ll receive:

• Level 2 Engineering Operative apprenticeship
• Minimum 300 hours of off-the-job training delivered by Train’d Up
• Full training and qualification costs paid by RHF Fans
• A named workplace mentor
• Regular progress reviews
• PPE and tools provided
• Structured supervision as you develop your skills
• Hands-on experience across the fabrication department
• You’ll also work towards your English and maths requirements as part of the apprenticeship where needed

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English language (grade 3)
• Maths (grade 3)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Science (or STEM based subject) (grade 3)

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
• Number skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience
• Physical fitness

Other requirements

Safety comes first.
You’ll be working around machinery, tools and materials, so safety is part of everything you do.

You’ll receive the appropriate PPE, training and supervision before operating equipment or carrying out tasks independently.

Manual handling training is also provided, with lifting and handling limits based on the relevant risk assessments.

Why choose fabrication?
If you enjoy making things, working with machinery and seeing a physical result from your work, fabrication could be a great place to start your engineering career.

You won’t spend your apprenticeship just watching someone else work.

You’ll learn the skills, gain qualifications, operate real machinery and gradually take on more responsibility as your confidence grows.

Start with a sheet of metal. Finish with a career.