Apprentice Machinist (SMS)
SHEFFIELD FORGEMASTERS ENGINEERING LIMITED
South Yorkshire (S9 2RW)
Closes in 25 days (Tuesday 10 March 2026)
Posted on 12 February 2026
Contents
Summary
The purpose of this apprenticeship is to develop as a highly skilled machinist capable of producing complex, precision-engineered components within a heavy engineering Machine Shop.
- Wage
-
£17,199 a year
- Training course
- Machining technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 7:45am till 4pm, the role will eventually involve working shifts.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 24 August 2026
- Duration
-
3 years 6 months
- Positions available
-
5
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
In the role you will support the safe, efficient and accurate machining of large-scale forgings and castings- primarily for the defence sector- while learning to operate advanced machining technology, follow best-practice processes, and contribute to high-quality manufacturing standards.
- You’ll be learning to operate both advanced CNC equipment and conventional machines while developing strong safe-working habits
- The role involves helping to set up, run and check machining operations, inspecting parts and making adjustments to ensure they meet strict quality standards
- You’ll use hand tools to finish components accurately and support the build and testing of pressure vessel assemblies as your skills grow
Where you'll work
PO BOX 286
Brightside Lane
Sheffield
South Yorkshire
S9 2RW
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
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.
Training schedule
- You will spend the first 9 months of your apprenticeship on block training at the AMRC Training Centre, spending one Friday a month on site
- Once the block training has been completed you will be based onsite attending the training centre on day release
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Reliable
- Enthusiastic
- Eager to learn
- Self motivated
- Positive attitude
- Time management
Other requirements
Gain standard security clearance including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Pass a pre-placement medical with our onsite occupational health department.
About this employer
We manufacture some of the world’s largest steel castings and forgings, ranging from 1 to 350 tonnes. You don’t need to be a metallurgist expert to know that is really big and really heavy! When it comes to steel production anything that’s heavy and technically complex is where we add real value to our customers. We produce a wide range of products for mills and presses, nuclear, defence, power generation, offshore oil and gas and materials processing industries. It is this diversity of products that allows us to offer a number of different opportunities across our business. Check out our website for more information and images of the exciting work we do here. We have a long and established history within Sheffield spanning over 170 years…. In 2021 we were acquired by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). This has given our business a new focus, marking an exciting and monumental time for our future. We have also secured over £400m of new investment over the next 10 years to support our defence-critical assets, including plans for a new heavy forge line and building, a flood alleviation scheme and major machine tool replacements. There really is no better time to join us!
After this apprenticeship
- Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship and competency review it would be expected the individual would move into a full time role
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000015286.
Apply now
Closes in 25 days (Tuesday 10 March 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.