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Design Engineer Apprentice
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Are you keen to kickstart your career in engineering design? Look no further and apply now!
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
For over 30-years Arneg UK has been successfully serving the retail sector in the UK & Ireland with the business now being one of the UK’s leading suppliers of innovative solutions in retail display cabinets and associated equipment. Operating out of three facilities in Bedfordshire; our business has a totally integrated and flexible manufacturing plant where cabinets and components are produced to the highest standards.
This is a four-year apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity to build a career in engineering. Based at Arneg's Research & Design department, you will learn both the theory and practical skills needed to take a product from a drawing on a screen to a finished cabinet on the factory floor.
To make sure you fully understand how things are built, your first year will include valuable rotations across different factory areas, including Production/Assembly, the Metal Shop, Electrical, and Brazing.
As an apprentice, you will learn how to design, develop, and test commercial refrigeration equipment. You will build hands-on skills with 3D CAD software and learn how thermal systems work, all while working alongside an experienced engineering team on real projects.
What you will be doing day-to-day:
- Design & CAD Work: Learning to create 3D models and 2D engineering drawings using design software
- Lab Testing: Helping to test our prototypes to check their temperature performance, airflow, and energy consumption
- Manufacturing Integration: Working directly with our production teams to ensure your designs are easy to build on the factory floor
- System Science: Learning how the cooling cycle works, including key parts like compressors, evaporators, and condensers
- Continuous Improvement: Helping us find ways to make products more sustainable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective
You will be fully supported throughout your apprenticeship, reporting directly to our Design Manager and Technical Director. After successful completion of your apprenticeship, you will be awarded a Level 3 in Engineering & Manufacturing Support Technician.
Where you'll work
Arneg UK
62 Sunderland Road
SG19 1QY
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BEDFORD COLLEGE
Training course
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Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
- Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
- Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
- Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
- Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
- Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
- Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
- Follow standard operating procedures.
- Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
- Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Carry out and record learning and development activities.
- Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Training schedule
- Level 3 Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technician apprenticeship standard
- Level 2 Functional Skills in English and maths if required
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Essential qualifications
- GCSE in:
- English (grade 4/C)
- maths (grade 4/C)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Analytical skills
- Motivated and eager to learn
Other requirements
- First-Year Factory Rotations: During the first year, the apprentice will spend time working across various areas of the factory floor, including Production/Assembly, the Metal Shop, Electrical, and Brazing. This foundational rotation is essential for gaining a practical understanding of our manufacturing processes before transitioning fully into design work.
- Work Environment: The role offers a unique mix of office-based CAD design, practical testing in labs, and hands-on manufacturing experience.
- Travel: Candidates should consider their daily commute to ensure they can reliably travel to both the workplace and the college.
Candidates must attend an initial interview with a member of our Apprenticeship Recruitment Team if they meet the initial criteria as part of the recruitment process.
Only Candidates who have fully completed the application will be considered.
Please be aware that the closing date is subject to change without prior notice.
We are a leading manufacturer specialising in the design, development, and production of high-quality commercial refrigeration cabinets. Combining advanced engineering design with on-site manufacturing, we pride ourselves on delivering innovative, energy-efficient cooling solutions.
As an employer, we are deeply committed to developing the next generation of engineering talent. We offer a supportive, hands-on environment where apprentices work directly alongside industry experts, gain exposure to cutting-edge design tools and test labs, and build a solid foundation for a long-term, rewarding career.
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, there is an opportunity to progress into a full-time Design Engineer.
Continued professional development
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BEDFORD COLLEGE
Phillipa Moodie
PMoodie@bedford.ac.uk
01234 291000
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000042336.
Closes on Monday 31 August 2026
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