Apprentice CNC Machine Shop Technician

A fantastic opportunity to begin a career within precision engineering and advanced manufacturing, combining structured learning with real-world experience in a professional machine shop environment. You will learn to operate, set, and maintain CNC machinery, developing an understanding of engineering principles and quality standards.

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience. Throughout your apprenticeship, you will receive structured training and hands-on experience across areas including:

• CNC milling and turning operations
• Reading and interpreting engineering drawings
• Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
• Precision measurement and inspection techniques
• Manufacturing and machining processes
• CNC programming fundamentals

Safe working practices within an engineering environment. Lean manufacturing principles. Preventative maintenance of machinery and equipment. Quality standards and the importance of producing components accurately to specification.

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

Course contents

• Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures.
• Comply with environmental, ethical, and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, recycling 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, 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.