Apprentice Engineer

Summary

Abbey Precision Limited are looking for its next high calibre Engineering Apprentice. The company specialises in the production of high precision components for industries such as Formula 1, automotive and the military. As the apprentice, your training will allow you to complete many engineering tasks to the highest standards.

Wage

£22,880 a year

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Training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8.00am - 4.00pm

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

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

If you have a great eye for detail and love seeing things being made from scratch, then Abbey Precision could have the job for you. This is an incredible opportunity to get involved with making some complex components for exciting projects, and helping some of the best Formula 1 teams win races.

The apprentice role will be in our turning department. Abbey invests heavily in new technology and is at the leading edge of the industry.

The role:

Program, set and operate cutting edge turning machines to produce interesting components from metal or plastic. Learn how to check your own work, using manual and automatic measurement machines
The parts you will make will go into F1 cars, or be used in military applications to control vehicles such as aircraft

Company perks:

10% pension, free electric car charging, staff events, bonus scheme, and use of company holiday homes

Please note:

Ideally, the successful candidate would be available to start sooner than 1st September, or for summer work experience, to get a good grounding in engineering before the course starts at the college in September

Where you'll work

72 Alston Drive
Milton Keynes
MK13 9HG

Training

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

College or training organisation

MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE

Your 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.

Your training plan

Machining Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard:

Training will include programming, setting, and operating machinery.

Throughout your apprenticeship, you'll get:

Expert mentors/trainers who will guide you through your apprenticeship
Hands-on learning, which will give you real-world feedback
Modern facilities with ample access to tech equipment and resources, and much more

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

5 GCSEs (grade 4-9)

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

Attention to detail
Analytical skills
Logical

About this company

Abbey Precision Ltd is one of the largest precision engineering companies in Milton Keynes, employing over 50 people. We have a proven track record of working with MK College in the training of successful apprentices. We undertake a variety of work for the motorsport and military sectors. We are a key supplier into a number of F1 teams as well as large multi-national defence suppliers. We have invested heavily into new technologies such as automation and have large, successful milling and turning sections.

After this apprenticeship

CNC programmer/setter/operator roles
Supervisor roles for the right person
CMM inspection engineering roles

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