Apprentice Sheetmetal Worker

Hamilton (Fabrications) Ltd

MANCHESTER (M46 0AG)

Closes in 28 days (Saturday 31 May 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 2 May 2025


Summary

A role where an individual will learn skills of cutting, shaping, and assembling sheet metal components from engineering drawings, using hand tools and machinery under the guidance of experienced professionals, to become a qualified sheet metal worker.

Wage

£15,311.40 to £24,761.88, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Metal fabricator (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Thursday, 8.00am - 4.45pm. Friday, 8.00am - 3.45pm. Lunch: 12.15pm - 1.00pm.

39 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

3 years 6 months

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

Basic metalwork skills:

Learn to use hand tools like shears, hammers, files, and measuring tools to cut, shape, and refine sheet metal. 

Machine operation:

Gain proficiency in operating basic sheet metal machinery like guillotines, press brakes, power shears, and metal forming machines under supervision. 

Reading blueprints:

Interpret engineering drawings and blueprints to accurately measure and mark out metal pieces. 

Cutting and forming:

Cut sheet metal to specified dimensions using various methods like hand cutting, power cutting, and laser cutting. 

Metal bending:

Use press brakes or other bending tools to form metal sheets into desired shapes. 

Assembly techniques:

Learn to join metal components using welding, riveting, or bolting techniques depending on the project. 

Quality control:

Inspect fabricated parts for accuracy, fit, and finish, ensuring adherence to quality standards. 

Safety practices:

Follow all safety procedures related to sheet metal work, including proper use of personal protective equipment. 

On-the-job training:

Shadow experienced sheet metal workers to learn best practices and advanced techniques. 

Where you'll work

CRABTREE LANE
ATHERTON
MANCHESTER
M46 0AG

Training

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

College or training organisation

WIGAN AND LEIGH COLLEGE

Your training course

Metal fabricator (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
  • Comply with environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
  • Obtain, check and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
  • Carry out relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity.
  • Undertake the work activity using the correct processes, procedures and equipment.
  • Carry out the required checks (such as quality, compliance or testing) using the correct procedures, processes and/or equipment.
  • Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
  • Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
  • Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
  • Identify and follow correct Metal work instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
  • Mark out using appropriate tools and techniques.
  • Cut and form Metal for the production or maintenance of fabricated products.
  • Produce and assemble Metal products to required specification and quality requirements.
  • Identify and follow correct joining instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
  • Carry out the relevant preparation before starting the joining fabrication activity.
  • Set up, check, adjust and use joining and related equipment.
  • Weld joints in accordance with approved welding procedures and quality requirements.
  • Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
  • Comply with environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
  • Obtain, check and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
  • Carry out relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity.
  • Undertake the work activity using the correct processes, procedures and equipment.
  • Carry out the required checks (such as quality, compliance or testing) using the correct procedures, processes and/or equipment.
  • Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
  • Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
  • Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
  • Identify and follow correct Metal work instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
  • Mark out using appropriate tools and techniques.
  • Cut and form Metal for the production or maintenance of fabricated products.
  • Produce and assemble Metal products to required specification and quality requirements.
  • Identify and follow correct joining instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
  • Carry out the relevant preparation before starting the joining fabrication activity.
  • Set up, check, adjust and use joining and related equipment.
  • Weld joints in accordance with approved welding procedures and quality requirements.

Your training plan

You will undertake training at Wigan & Leigh College on a day release basis in order to gain Level 3 Metal Fabricator Apprenticeship.

We will support and expand this training in-house.

The successful apprentice will attend College 1 day per week and work full time the other 4 days.

More training information

The training will be delivered at Wigan & Leigh College at their Pagefield Campus. 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

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
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

We have a friendly, supportive workforce, most of whom started on an apprenticeship and are still here 20+ years later.

About this company

We are a leading CNC manufacturing company specialising in laser cutting, perforating and sheet metal fabrication. Hamilton Fabrications Ltd are presently celebrating our sixth decade of trading. Our Company was founded with service and dependability as our number one priority. Our growth and success have benefited from that focus. We have the latest machines including Laser Cutters (capable of cutting 4000 X 2000 size plates in 25mm mild steel, 20mm stainless steel and 15mm aluminium), Turret Punch Presses, 4 metre press Brakes and Guillotines all with CNC. Our workforce is highly skilled and motivated to produce components to a very high quality.

After this apprenticeship

There are internal promotion prospects, such as to Foreman along with the possibility of training in First Aid, Health & Safety and the like.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WIGAN AND LEIGH COLLEGE

Andrew Fleetwood

a.fleetwood@wigan-leigh.ac.uk

01942 761528

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000318512.

Apply now

Closes in 28 days (Saturday 31 May 2025 at 11:59pm)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.