British Army - Metal Fabricator - Full Time Career with Apprenticeship
British Army
Recruiting nationally
Closes on Saturday 30 August 2025
Posted on 12 May 2025
Contents
Summary
A Level 3 metal Fabricator apprentice in the British Army manufactures and repairs metal structures for military use, including vehicle parts, bridges and field equipment. They use technical drawings, tools and welding techniques, gaining practical experience and a Nationally recognised qualification to support operational readiness.
- Wage
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£25,200 a year
- Training course
- Metal fabricator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Shifts and working patterns may vary. Working locations will vary nationally depending on the apprenticeship and working requirements. Days and times to be confirmed.
40 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 1 September 2025
- Duration
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3 years 6 months
- Positions available
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100
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
Whether it’s a 100ft bridge or a brand new base, your welding skills will be crucial. Get qualified – and prepare for an exciting Army life.
The Royal Engineers create everything from bridges to bases. You’ll get the training to build these structures, using hand and power tools, including oxyacetylene torches. You learn to work with metal – how to forge it, cut it and weld pieces together. Once you’re trained, you’ll be able to build steel frame buildings, fix glass-reinforced plastics and steel, and help with demolition projects. It’s work that could take you all over the world. Plus, you’ll get to make amazing friends, try sports and activities, and build a career. An exciting future starts here.
Fabricator is a Trade role in the Royal Engineers. All the Royal Engineer soldier job roles are divided into 5 groups. When you apply to the Engineers, you will apply to the trade group rather than the specific trade.
The Corps of Royal Engineers allows the Army to work all over the world, whether it's involved in active combat or disaster relief. The Corps are ‘first in’, setting up bases ready for the rest of the Army to arrive and ‘last out’, closing down patrol bases and military camps. The Corps is at the forefront in disaster-relief operations, effecting rapid repairs to damaged infrastructure in stricken areas.
Where you'll work
Depending on your chosen regiment/corps and age at the time of enlistment, you will undertake Phase 1 training at AFC Harrogate (16-17 year olds), ATR Pirbright, ATR Winchester or ITC Catterick (for adult recruits). ITC Catterick is also where Infantry soldiers complete both Phase 1 and 2. On completion of training, you will be assigned where the Army requires you to be, but wherever that is you'll will receive 'on the job' training towards the completion of your chosen Apprenticeship.
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
BRITISH ARMY
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
Step 1
Your initial military training teaches you how to be a soldier, covering everything from fieldcraft to how to handle a rifle. If you join as a Junior Soldier (under 17 years 5 months), you’ll do a 23-week basic military training course at Harrogate. If you join as a Regular Soldier (over 17 years 1 month), you’ll do the regular 14-week adult basic training.
Step 2
Then it’s off to the Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment near Camberley, Surrey, for nine weeks. Here, you learn military engineering skills such as knots and lashings, demolition, mine warfare and bridge building. Finally, you go the Royal School of Military Engineering in Chatham, Kent, for 32 weeks. Here, you learn how to use hand and power tools, and how to forge, weld and cut metal.
Qualifications you could get after training
Level 2 Apprenticeship (NVQ Technical Certificate and Functional Skills) in Fabrication and Welding (City and Guilds)
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering - Manual Welding (City and Guilds)
Functional Skills in English and maths if required
Requirements
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
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Patience
Other requirements
The British Army recruits throughout the year and you should ignore the application closing dates shown against this advert.
About this company
Protecting the nation and its dependent territories will always be the British Army's first role. Highly trained soldiers are ready to deploy anywhere at any time to meet a variety of challenges, ranging from support to the Police following a terrorist attack, to specialist capabilities such as bomb disposal and intelligence experts, 24 hours a day 365 days a year, we are always ready to serve. You belong here.
https://www.army.mod.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
The Army offers job security, career growth, adventure and world-class training. Benefits include competitive pay, travel, fitness, leadership skills, a pension, free healthcare, cheaper housing and 30 days of paid leave a year, plus public holidays.
After this apprenticeship
The apprenticeship is a gateway to a full-time career in the British Army. Promotion, along with increased salary and responsibility, is dependent on successful completion of the apprenticeship and then on merit by competitive selection. As you advance through the ranks, you will have the increased opportunity to lead and direct people, managing resources and workforce within your area of work to deliver the required output whilst maintaining and instilling the highest values and standards expected of the British Army. You belong here.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BRITISH ARMY
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000319651.
Apply now
Closes on Saturday 30 August 2025
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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.
Company’s application instructions
At this link you can find more information about the roles offered by the British Army. We have positions available for all roles throughout the year and you can ignore the application open/closing dates shown against this apprenticeship advertisement. Once you have completed an application you will be invited to complete an aptitude assessment, selection interview, health assessment and a fitness test. More details of the requirement can be found at the application link.