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Apprentice Machining Technician
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The Technical Apprenticeship Programme will provide you with the ability to become the best version of yourself, taking your career with full support to the next level. As a Machining Technician at The University of Manchester, you will work in modern workshops with state-of-art equipment and highly skilled colleagues.
Wage: £25,249 a year Training course: Machining technician (level 3) Hours: Monday - Friday, 08:30 - 16:30 (variable times to suit workplace requirements). 1 hour for lunch. 35 hours a week Start date: Monday 7 September 2026 Duration: 4 years Positions available: 2
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
Responsibilities
As an apprentice, you will receive detailed instruction, information and training surrounding many key aspects pivotal to the successful implementation of machining work within busy, dynamic workshops, based within the Faculty of Science & Engineering.
Training opportunities include:
- Producing components using hand-fitting techniques
- Preparing and using lathes for turning operations
- Preparing and using milling machines
- Using hand tools, such as pillar drills and band saws to aid in engineering prototype and build
- Mechanical workshop fabrication, including machining, fitting, welding, and general metal work to repair/modify and manufacture components from drawings
- Producing mechanical engineering drawings using CAD systems
- Use of computer-controlled (CNC) machines
- Use of 3D printing technologies
- Use of plasma, laser, and water cutters
- Maintaining mechanical devices and equipment
- General workshop housekeeping, including cleaning, monitoring and maintenance
- Working safely in an engineering environment
- Using and communicating technical information
- Carrying out engineering activities efficiently and effectively
- Supporting research projects including the manufacture of bespoke parts to desired specifications
- Design engineering concepts to resolve engineering challenges.
- Liaise with students, researchers, staff, and external personnel to achieve engineering requirements
- Undertake additional training and development to remain skilled and current
- Work with selected industries to complete live project work within an engineering specialism
- Learn project management skills for engineering projects
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider: ELEVATED KNOWLEDGE LTD Training course: Machining technician (level 3)
What you'll learn
Course contents:
- 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.
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Training schedule:
- You will spend a mixture of time working alongside experienced professionals, absorbing their wisdom and applying your learning in real-time situations
- The programme is a dynamic blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application. Picture yourself mastering the intricacies of producing engineering components, crafting precise CAD drawings, and sharpening your skills in sheet metal work
- You'll delve into the art of hand fitting and the precision of CNC programming, all while gaining an industry-recognised Level 3 Machine Technician qualification
- As you progress, your journey will be peppered with enriching experiences that foster not only technical proficiency but also professional growth
- By the end of this programme, you will have a robust portfolio showcasing your expertise, ready to impress in a competitive industry
More training information:
- In your first year, you'll embark on an exciting journey with Elevated Knowledge in Stockport where you'll dive into intensive 5-week blocks of training
- Here, you'll master crucial hand skills for working with both manual and automated engineering machinery. Between these training blocks, you'll return to your workplace, ready to apply the new skills you've acquired.
- In your second year, you'll balance your time between attending college one day a week to complete your BTEC Level 3 and spending the rest of the week gaining hands-on experience across our state-of-the-art engineering facilities at the University of Manchester
- Years 3 and 4 will be dedicated to refining your expertise and completing your comprehensive portfolio of knowledge, skills, and behaviours, setting you up for a successful career
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Requirements
Essential qualifications:
- GCSE in: English (grade 4 or above), Maths (grade 4 or above)
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
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Strong work-ethic
- Desire to progress
- Passion for Engineering
Other requirements:
We are strongly committed to promoting equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and encourage all applicants to apply. Our university is positive about flexible working, blended working arrangements may be considered.
Benefits
- Generous annual leave, family pension, wellbeing and health support, learning opportunities, transport loans, Cycle to Work, workplace nursery, and staff discounts in store and online.
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
About The University of Manchester
One of the world’s leading universities built on research and teaching practices, coupled with one of the most respected apprenticeship programmes in the UK. Our programme builds its success’s year-on-year and continues to develop, matching the needs of the university and our community. We are proud of our strong reputation, supporting each of our apprentices with individualised training, specialised projects, and targeted development to build a future career at the cutting edge of technology.
After this apprenticeship
Upon completion of the apprenticeship in 4 years’ time, you will have a portfolio of key machining skills and a wealth of varied, relevant experience Most apprentices are successful in securing a role with the university or choose to continue their academic studies. Opportunities to progress onto a higher apprenticeship or degree apprenticeship exist for high-performing candidates upon completion of their first apprenticeship with us Whilst we cannot guarantee a permanent position at the University of Manchester, we endeavour to match apprentices with appropriate vacancies and support them through the entire application process
Contact
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is: ELEVATED KNOWLEDGE LTD
apprenticeships@manchester.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000334094.
Apply now
Closes on Wednesday 22 July 2026
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