CNC Setter/Operator Apprentice

GWR FASTENERS LIMITED

PARK HALL (SY11 4AD)

Closes in 25 days (Monday 9 June 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 14 May 2025

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Summary

GWR Fasteners is seeking a CNC Setter/Operator Apprentice to support daily workshop operations, including programming, setting, and operating CNC machines. Working with the lead CNC Setter, you'll help manage the full manufacturing process—from quotes to final inspection—ensuring high-quality output for customer and stock orders.

Wage

£16,224 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Birthday Awarded as paid non-working day 20 days annual leave 1 hour paid lunch

Training course
Machining technician (level 3)
Hours
9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

4 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

Main duties will include:

  • Assist the Lead Setter with technical quotes and enquiries to ensure accurate pricing and lead times for the Sales Team and customers
  • Communicate with internal teams and suppliers to resolve issues quickly, ensuring on-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery
  • Provide efficient support for manufacturing issues, including machine breakdowns, tooling/material needs, and order delays
  • Update and maintain online scheduling systems (Orderwise) to give real-time visibility of production and fulfilment plans
  • Support programming, setting, and operating of CNC twin spindle lathes, sliding head lathes, and a Mill/Turn Centre using control systems such as Fanuc, Mitsubishi, and Celos
  • Read and follow technical drawings and setup sheets, ensuring compliance with ISO 9001 standards and efficient machine use
  • Help maintain machine safety and performance by performing daily checks, understanding tooling techniques, and supporting cycle time improvements
  • Support quality control checks (first-off, in-process, and final inspections) to meet ‘zero customer returns’ standards
  • Assist with goods in/out tasks, including safe unloading, checking deliveries, and stock placement with traceability compliance
  • Support stock management, ensuring accuracy in stock records, wastage tracking, and system updates
  • Prepare materials and work orders ahead of production, ensuring technical drawings are reviewed and ready
  • Promote workshop safety and cleanliness, keeping machines and work areas organised and hazard-free
  • Provide general support to the workshop and management team, including off-machine finishing and prep for outsourced work

Where you'll work

UNIT 6-7
ARTILLERY BUSINESS PARK
GARRISON AVENUE
PARK HALL
SY11 4AD

Training

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

College or training organisation

IN-COMM TRAINING AND BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED

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

This a 4 year Machining Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship. You will be required to attend In-Comm Training Telford Unit 5A, T54 Nedge Hill,TF3 3AJ 2 and a half days a week for the first 14 months.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English & Maths (grade 4 and above)

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
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness
  • Can do attitude
  • Professional manner
  • Trustworthy & responsible
  • Motivated & target driven
  • Excellent organisation skills

About this company

As an award-winning, world-wide distributor and manufacturer, GWR Fasteners operates from a 10,000 square foot bespoke-built facility. We offer standard fasteners and threaded bar/bar materials, in metric and imperial sizes, and in various materials such as stainless steel, aluminium, high tensile steels and brass. We are also British manufacturers of special fasteners and precision components. We can manufacture products from customer drawings or from industry standards. We predominantly serve the automotive and engineering markets.

https://www.gwr-fasteners.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Upon successful completion of your apprenticeship there may be a full-time position available.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

IN-COMM TRAINING AND BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED

Aimee

aimeen@in-comm.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000320456.

Apply now

Closes in 25 days (Monday 9 June 2025 at 11:59pm)

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