Engineering Apprentice / Level 3 Machinist Technician

Summary

Working with our existing engineer as an apprentice and learn key engineering skills that will help us keep the factory running at its peak manufacturing capabilities. Full on the job training will be provided to the right candidate as well as spending one day a week at college gaining a formal engineering qualification.

Wage

£16,640 to £26,436.80, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Benefits - 25 days holiday plus bank holidays / Free parking / Auto enrolment onto pension scheme. 

Training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 07:30 - 16:00 up until college starts.

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

8 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

Key tasks:

• Operating manual lathe, milling machines and surface grinder to manufacture tooling and custom parts for in-house machinery
• Performing maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs to keep machinery running throughout the factory
• Creating detailed engineering drawings and hardware protection drawings to support manufacturing and ensure product quality
• Programming of several CNC routing machines
• Carry out routine health and safety inspections across the factory
• Work on continued product development
• Work on improving existing manufacturing processes
• Perform weekly batch testing on raw materials to maintain quality standards
• An in-house forklift license will be gained to allow for material handling and moving machinery
• Conducting regular calibration of measuring devices used on the shop floor to guarantee accuracy and compliance
• Work as part of a team
• Be prepared to work in a varied role depending on priority tasks at the time
• Attention to detail
• Work within the guidelines of health and safety policy
• Carry out any other reasonable functions as per required by management

Where you'll work

4 The Brook Trading Estate, Deadbrook Lane
Aldershot
GU12 4XB

Training

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

Training provider

FARNBOROUGH COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Training course

Machining technician (level 3)

What you'll learn

• Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures.
• Comply with environmental, ethical and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
• Prepare and set up conventional or CNC machines.
• Operate and adjust conventional or CNC machines.
• Apply risk assessment and hazard identification processes and procedures in the work area.
• Monitor, obtain and check stock and supplies, and complete stock returns.
• Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
• Read and interpret information. For example, data and documentation used to produce machined components.
• Apply engineering, mathematical and scientific principles.
• Plan and organise own work and resources.
• Follow and apply inspection, quality assurance procedures and processes.
• Select machining process.
• Select and setup tooling and work holding devices.
• Set and adjust machine operating parameters. For example, setting feeds and speeds for roughing and finishing operations, loading, proving and validating programs when using a CNC machine tool.
• Apply machining operations and techniques to produce complex components with features. For example, parallel; stepped; angular diameters and faces; grooves; slots; recesses and undercuts; radii and chamfers; internal and external forms and profiles; reamed; bored; drilled and electro eroded holes; internal and external screw threads.
• Measure and check components.
• Select and check condition of tools and equipment. Identify issues, resolve and take action as needed.
• Identify and action issues in the manufacturing process.
• Apply fault-finding and diagnostic testing procedures to identify faults. Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
• Maintain the work area and return any resources and consumables.
• Communicate with others verbally. For example, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Follow machine shut down, safe isolation, handover, start up or warm up procedures. Escalate issues.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
• Apply ethical principles.
• Apply team working principles.
• Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures.
• Comply with environmental, ethical and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
• Prepare and set up conventional or CNC machines.
• Operate and adjust conventional or CNC machines.
• Apply risk assessment and hazard identification processes and procedures in the work area.
• Monitor, obtain and check stock and supplies, and complete stock returns.
• Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
• Read and interpret information. For example, data and documentation used to produce machined components.
• Apply engineering, mathematical and scientific principles.
• Plan and organise own work and resources.
• Follow and apply inspection, quality assurance procedures and processes.
• Select machining process.
• Select and setup tooling and work holding devices.
• Set and adjust machine operating parameters. For example, setting feeds and speeds for roughing and finishing operations, loading, proving and validating programs when using a CNC machine tool.
• Apply machining operations and techniques to produce complex components with features. For example, parallel; stepped; angular diameters and faces; grooves; slots; recesses and undercuts; radii and chamfers; internal and external forms and profiles; reamed; bored; drilled and electro eroded holes; internal and external screw threads.
• Measure and check components.
• Select and check condition of tools and equipment. Identify issues, resolve and take action as needed.
• Identify and action issues in the manufacturing process.
• Apply fault-finding and diagnostic testing procedures to identify faults. Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
• Maintain the work area and return any resources and consumables.
• Communicate with others verbally. For example, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Follow machine shut down, safe isolation, handover, start up or warm up procedures. Escalate issues.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
• Apply ethical principles.
• Apply team working principles.

Training schedule

• College day release will begin in September 2026, at Farnborough College of Technology
• This means that the apprentice will work full time up until college starts allowing for them to gain key experience and skills working in an engineering environment before the college course starts
• To optimise success, candidates will typically have 5 GCSEs at Grade C/5 or equivalent, including mathematics, English and science
• The course itself is a Level 3 Machining Technician Apprenticeship

More training information

Requirements

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
• Presentation skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Patience