Trainee Mechanical Engineer and Welder Apprentice

Summary

Train as a welder with hands-on mentoring from our 3-person team, working across laser and traditional welding on real production jobs.

Fully funded Level 2 apprenticeship with genuine career progression. No experience needed — bring enthusiasm, we'll teach the rest.

Wage

£26,400 a year

Occasional overtime is available at 1.5x hourly rate

After successful completion of 1 year apprenticeship, hourly rate will be reviewed.

Training course

Engineering operative (level 2)

Hours

Your normal hours of work are 7.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. You will be given a paid 15-minute rest break in the morning and a 30-minute unpaid break for lunch.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 19 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

• Working alongside the welding team to prepare, weld, and finish components for mobile shelving and joinery products
• Learning to operate our laser welding equipment safely and to a consistent standard, under supervision
• Building traditional welding skills (MIG/TIG as applicable) across a range of materials and joint types
• Reading and working from engineering drawings and job specifications
• Following all health and safety procedures, including safe use of PPE and welding equipment
• Keeping your work area clean and organised and helping to maintain equipment.

Where you'll work

NORTHSIDE 18
FOURTH WAY
AVONMOUTH TRADING ESTATE
BRISTOL
BS11 8DX

Training

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

Training provider

CITY OF BRISTOL COLLEGE

Training course

Engineering operative (level 2)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• 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

Training and Qualification Level

What training will the apprentice take and what qualification will the apprentice get at the end?

• Engineering Operative Level 2
• Carrying out a range of engineering operations
• City of Bristol College (Advanced Engineering Centre)
• Day release

More training information

You will be enrolled onto the Mechanical Pathway of the Engineering Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship to learn engineering and manufacturing fundamentals alongside Welding one evening a week. Level 1 and Level 2 Welding (City & Guilds Award) are available and will teach you the core principles of Welding.

The college delivery is block release and will be for 2 weeks periods – 5 times a year.

College Centre is City of Bristol College, Advanced Engineering Centre in Parkway, Stoke Gifford. Centre is located a 5 min walk away from Parkway Train Station. Parking on-site is available.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade 3+)

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

Skills

• Attention to detail
• Problem solving skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• manual dexterity
• Own transportation
• Keen interest in Engineering

Other requirements

Full UK driving licence.