25-0106 Apprentice Forge Estimator

Summary

The successful candidate will support the estimation and process routing of high-value, long lead time components. The candidate must ensure company costs are covered whilst providing competitive pricing. This is mostly an office-based role, however; visits to various manufacturing areas will be required to establish best methods of manufacture.

Wage

£16,380 a year

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Training course

Engineering manufacturing technician (level 4)

Hours

Monday to Friday. Your start and finish times including your shift pattern will be determined by the employing company.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 8 September 2025

Duration

3 years

Positions available

1

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

Responsibilities:

Take a customer’s drawing and create a forging profile capable of being machined to the finished dimensions
Be able to understand manufacturing procedures and apply them to methods of production while adhering to the customer’s specifications
Select the appropriate ingot required to make the forging, and any required heat treatments that the forging is required to be subjected to
Liaise with the machine shop estimator to ensure that the method chosen is the most cost effective from an overall business perspective
Raise steel orders for the melt shop once an order has been placed
Generate forging procedures to give instruction to the foremen how to forge to estimated product
Designing forging profiles and routes based around the company’s capabilities i.e. crane SWL and sizes of treatment fires
Seek out sub-con assistance when required i.e. certain steel coatings or sub-con forging
Must be able to work closely with technical and production departments, thus optimising the most economical production route
Assist with the preparation of documents to meet customers’ requirements
Adhere to all company H&S systems of work and procedures
Work to Standard Process Instructions, Works Operating Instructions and the Works Quality Documents

Any other duties commensurate with this position.

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.

College or training organisation

THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD

Your training course

Engineering manufacturing technician (level 4)

Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)

Course contents

Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules, drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.
Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules, drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.

Your training plan

You will study on a Level 4 Engineering Manufacturing Technician higher apprenticeship on a Manufacturing Operations pathway.

On completion of this, you will gain a qualification in Engineering at Level 4 Standard.

During the first year of the apprenticeship, your learning will take place at the University of Sheffield’s AMRC Training Centre based at Catcliffe, Rotherham, for an initial block of study on a full-time basis. After this, you will attend the training centre for one day a week for knowledge study.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English Language (grade 5)
Mathematics (grade 5)

A Level in:

Engineering / Maths / Science (grade C / Merit)

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

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Analytical skills

Other requirements

You will need ONE of the following: A minimum of two A-Levels at grade C or above, including a mathematical-based subject and a science, technology, engineering or an additional mathematics-related subject / An Engineering BTEC Level 3 with at least 120 credits at MM (Merit Merit) level or above / EAL Diploma in an engineering-based subject at distinction level / Equivalent qualifications such as Technical Levels (T-Levels) at MM or above

About this company

Sheffield Forgemasters is a historic steel-manufacturing company based in Sheffield, founded over 200 years ago. The company specialises in producing large, high-quality steel components that are essential for critical industries such as Defence and Energy. We offer a variety of apprenticeships in Maintenance, Technical, Production and Office Based roles.

After this apprenticeship

Completion of the University of Sheffield’s AMRC Training Centre apprenticeships are nationally recognised qualifications which are acknowledged and respected by employers across the world.

These can open the door to many more opportunities, such as Engineering Management and Project Engineering positions across a range of sectors worldwide.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD

AMRC Training Centre Recruitment Team

recruitment@amrctraining.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000317652.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 31 July 2025

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Please follow the link to apply on the University of Sheffield’s AMRC Training Centre website and complete an application form. Once this has been received, it will be reviewed, and you will receive an email response with the next steps of the application process. The AMRC reserves the right to close company vacancies, should they get filled, ahead of the published closing date. If you have already applied to the AMRC, instead please send an email stating your interest in this vacancy.

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