Mechanical Manufacturing Technician Apprentice

Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to start and develop a career within the World’s largest bearing manufacturer. Through progressive training & development, you will become a highly skilled & valued engineer within today’s manufacturing environment. “Together, leading the change to be the preferred choice for our customers, employees and suppliers.”

Wage

£14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

A minimum of £7.55 per hour in the first year with significant increases over the following 3 years. Further details will be provided at interview stage.

Training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Thursday 8 hrs, Friday 5 hrs - total of 37 hrs per week, 25 days holiday per annum plus bank holidays. Times – 1st year 08:00 to 16:30 at workplace College Day(s) and times to be confirmed.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

3 years 9 months

Positions available

3

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

The role of the apprentice is to learn how to safely and competently operate, manage daily maintenance functions and complete relevant admin roles for a variety of machine tools (Manual and CNC) around the factory.

Year 1 will consist of initial training within a dedicated apprentice workshop. Knowledge and skills to be learnt will include:

Health and Safety in the Workshop
Types and correct use of measuring equipment
Hand fitting · Manual Turning
CNC Turning · Manual Milling
CNC Milling
Cylindrical and Surface Grinding.

Year 2 and onwards will involve multiple placements in the various manufacturing departments within the factory, gaining the knowledge, skills and evidence required to complete the apprenticeship and then to become a valued employee within the company.

As well as the operations of the various machine tools, additional knowledge and experiences gained will also include

Programming & Control Systems
Automation
Cobots & Robots
Safe Systems of Work
Quality Standards
SKF Lean Manufacturing Principles (Autonomous Maintenance/5 Whys/5S/Defined Work etc) Day release to college, term time only, for the length of the apprenticeship.]#

The main contact throughout the apprenticeship will be the Apprenticeships Manager plus a dedicated Apprentice Advisor and Apprentice Trainer/Assessor based at the College of West Anglia.

Where you’ll work

SKF Cooper Roller Bearings Co. Ltd
Wisbech Road
King's Lynn
PE30 5JX

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

THE COLLEGE OF WEST ANGLIA

Your training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Equal to A level

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.

Your training plan

Dedicated workshop and manufacturing machine shop training with 1 day a week at college during term times.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

2 other subjects (grade A*- C/ Grade 4-9)
Maths, English and a science or technical subject (grade A*- C/ Grade 5-9)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Team working
Keen interest in Engineering
Willingness to learn
Able to work with accuracy
Able to follow instructions
Able to follow plans etc

Other requirements

Good timekeeper Be able to work well with others and on your own. Have an eye for detail Be able to complete tasks within given time scales. During the length to the apprenticeship, extensive written theory work and evidence gathering will be required in addition to the practical training. From the 2nd year onwards, majority of shifts will be 06:00 to 14:00, with some alternatives of 08:00 to 16:00 or 14:00 to 22:00 as and when required. Nightshift will not be required as an apprentice. Please note your application will be processed in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations and the SKF (UK) Limited Recruitment Privacy Notice.

About this company

SKF Cooper is the world’s oldest and leading supplier of split roller bearings which is part of SKF Group. SKF is the World’s largest bearing company with circa 45,000 employees. Location will be factory based, in King’s Lynn for the duration of the apprenticeship

http://www.cooperbearings.com (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Company Pension and Private Medical Schemes.

After this apprenticeship

Complete Level 3 Advanced Engineering qualification leading to a Full time “highly skilled” employee, working within the manufacturing departments of the company.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE COLLEGE OF WEST ANGLIA

Gary Hellard

Gary.hellard@skf.com

01553819063

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000308514.

Apply now

Closes in 11 days (Monday 12 May 2025 at 11:59pm)

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