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Machining Technician Apprenticeship
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This apprenticeship, award-winning, Sandbach-based, employer, offers the latest, cutting-edge processes, including CNC lasers, CNC press brakes, CNC machining and robotic welding, on state-of-the-art machines, offering the perfect training ground for this Machining Technician Apprenticeship.
Wage
£16,224 to £25,775.88, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course
Machining technician (level 3)
Hours
- Monday to Thursday: 7.30am-4.30pm
- Friday: 7.30am-12.30pm
- Day shifts only
- 39 hours a week
Start date
Tuesday 1 September 2026
Duration
3 years 6 months
Positions available
2
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
Reporting to the Head of Learning, Development & Safety, the successful candidates complete a structured apprenticeship programme to develop highly skilled machine operators within a growing manufacturing environment.
Duties will include:
- Setting and operating CNC mills and lathes
- Learning and understanding how to set parameters on CNC mills and lathes
- Operating laser cutting machines
- Setting and operating CNC press brake machinery
- Learning CNC machining principles and machine operation
- Operating and programming robotic welding systems
- Working safely in accordance with health & safety legislation
- Reading and interpreting engineering drawings
- Conducting routine machine maintenance and safety checks
- Measuring and inspecting components to quality standards
Apprentices will rotate through multiple departments and receive mentoring from experienced engineers, technicians and highly skilled operators
Where you'll work
Hall Lane Works Elton Sandbach Cheshire CW11 3TU
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CHESHIRE COLLEGE SOUTH AND WEST
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
The candidate will follow a Level 3 Apprenticeship programme and study towards a full standard as a metal fabricator. This training will be structured and delivered by Cheshire College – South & West. If you do not already hold GCSEs at grades A-D / 8-4 in English and maths, you will complete Functional Skills in the related subjects to attain Level 2 Functional Skills.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
- GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Mathematics (grade 4)
- Science (grade 4)
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
- Team working
- Ability to use own initiative
- Time management
- Honest
- Reliable
- Good time-keeper
- Personable
- Polite
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About this employer
Newfield Fabrication is a well-established company, with a 60+ year track record, with a highly experienced team who are keen to pass on their valuable skills to the next generation of machining technicians. During National Apprenticeship week in 2025 and 2026, the firm scooped top accolades at Cheshire College – South & West’s annual apprenticeship awards. Named as the college’s New Apprenticeship Employer of the Year 2025, and the college’s Large Employer of the Year 2026, the firm was recognised for the comprehensive training programme and support which has been implemented to train the company’s welding workforce of the future. Newfield’s work is used around the world in a range of dynamic industries, from automotive and defence to nuclear and power generation. The team offer a range of services including fabrication, engineering and design, robotic welding, CNC machining and laser cutting. It’s recognised as an industry leader in its fields and a trusted manufacturing partner to companies all over the world including Caterpillar, JCB, Scania and Leyland Trucks. Their Sandbach premises are home to the latest, cutting-edge equipment and technology, providing an ideal training ground for apprenticeships and the future stars of the workforce. The company, which more recently spent upwards of £1.2m on two pieces of equipment, has many team members who have worked for the firm for several decades. They are now poised ready to pass on their knowledge to the apprentice cohort. The company is accredited to ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 and welding accreditations to ISO 9606-1 and BS EN ISO 15614-1. The company mission is to exceed our customer expectations by providing the highest quality, value for money, support and service. This will be achieved by being innovative through continual investment in the latest technology, our people and processes.
Company benefits
- Regular social events
- Christmas bonus and raffle with high value prizes
- Full PPE provided and safety boots paid for
- Team building projects such as building a go-kart
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
To become a full-time and highly skilled member of the team following on from successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CHESHIRE COLLEGE SOUTH AND WEST
Becky Smythe
becky.smythe@ccsw.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041377.
Apply now
Closes in 29 days (Friday 7 August 2026 at 11:59pm)
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