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Launch your engineering career with Adreco as a Toolmaking Apprentice
Gain hands-on experience in machining, mould tool repair and precision engineering, working alongside expert Toolmakers in a busy plastic injection moulding environment.
Wage
£20,000 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Annual Salary
Hours
- Monday to Thursday: 8:00am - 4:30pm (30-minute unpaid break)
- Friday: 8:00am - 1:00pm
- 37 hours a week
Start date
Sunday 30 August 2026
Duration
4 years
Positions available
1
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
This is a practical, hands-on apprenticeship within our Toolroom, where you’ll learn how to maintain, repair and modify plastic injection mould tools used in production. Working with experienced Toolmakers, you’ll develop a wide range of engineering skills while contributing to real manufacturing projects.
What you’ll learn & do:
- Disassemble, clean and rebuild mould tools ready for production
- Support tool repairs, modifications and component fitting
- Carry out version changes for different product variants
- Learn manual machining (milling, turning, grinding, drilling)
- Develop bench fitting and finishing skills
- Use precision measuring equipment (tight tolerances)
- Read and work from engineering drawings
- Assist with polishing to high-quality finishes
- Gain exposure to CNC, EDM and CAD/CAM as you progress
- Follow health & safety procedures in a busy workshop
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with their hands, solving problems, and understanding how things are made.
Where you'll work
17-19 Avant Business Centre
Third Avenue
Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire
MK1 1DR
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE
Training course
Machining technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
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.
- 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
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You’ll work towards the Machining Technician Apprenticeship Standard with MK College.
Training includes:
- Practical on-the-job learning in our Toolroom
- Day release at Milton Keynes College (Chaffron Way Campus)
- Machining, materials, and engineering principles
- Health & safety and quality standards
- CNC and advanced manufacturing exposure
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- Maths (grade 9-5)
- English (grade 9-4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication
- Team Player
- Genuine Interest
- Accuracy
- Numeracy
Other requirements
Things to Consider:
- Competitive hourly rate, dependent on age and experience
- You’ll be working in a hands-on, workshop environment
- The role involves using machinery, tools and lifting equipment
- You’ll need to be focused, accurate and pay close attention to detail
- PPE must be worn and strict health & safety rules are followed at all times
- You’ll be part of a skilled and supportive Toolroom team in a modern manufacturing setting
- An interest in engineering, tools, machining or how things are made will help you succeed
- Experience in practical or technical subjects (like Engineering or Design Technology) is beneficial
About this employer
Adreco is a UK-based plastic injection moulding company located in Milton Keynes. We manufacture high-quality plastic components for a wide range of industries, supporting projects from tooling and production through to assembly and dispatch. Our Toolroom is central to our success, ensuring mould tools are maintained, repaired and continuously improved. You’ll join a skilled and supportive team, gaining real hands-on experience in a fast-paced engineering environment.
https://adrecoplastics.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Successful completion could lead to a full-time Toolmaker role.
This apprenticeship gives you a strong foundation for careers in:
- Toolmaking
- Precision machining
- Manufacturing engineering
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE
Sonia Harris
Apprenticeships@mkcollege.ac.uk
01908 637260
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000038355.
Apply now
Closes in 4 days (Friday 31 July 2026 at 11:59pm)
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