Machinist Apprentice

Summary

Step into a hands-on career as a Machinist, where you'll help shape high-quality components used across a range of exciting applications. You'll join a collaborative team that thrives on precision, performance, and progress. With a strong focus on training and development, we’re committed to helping you grow your skills while delivering excellence.

Wage

£15,717 a year

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Training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Hours

Shift Patterns: Week 1 - Monday – Thursday 06:45-15:00, Friday 06:45-12:45 Week 2 - Monday – Thursday 06:45-15:00, Friday OFF

36 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

Step into a hands-on career as a Machinist, where you'll help shape high-quality components used across a range of exciting applications. You'll join a collaborative team that thrives on precision, performance, and progress. With a strong focus on training and development, we’re committed to helping you grow your skills while delivering excellence every day.

What you will learn:

Hands-On Learning: Get trained to operate a variety of machines and equipment used in real production environments
Quality Awareness: Learn how to check your work during production to make sure it meets high standards
Safety First: Understand and follow our Health & Safety guidelines to keep yourself and your team safe
Living Our Values: Embrace Caterpillar’s core values—Integrity,
Commitment, Excellence, and Teamwork—in everything you do
Problem Solving: Be part of investigations into production issues and help find ways to improve how we work

Where you'll work

2 Handley Close
Preston Farm Industrial Estate
Stockton-On-Tees
TS18 3SD

Training

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

College or training organisation

MIDDLESBROUGH 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

This training plan has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths & English (grade 4 or 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
Problem solving skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Interest in manufacturing
Positive attitude

Other requirements

Please note that the proposed start date may be changed. If required this will be discussed at interview stage.

About this company

For 100 years, we have been helping our customers build a better, more sustainable world. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.

https://www.caterpillar.com/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

25 days A/L + Bank Holidays 3.5& Annual Bonus Flexible Buy in Benefits Share Scheme (50% company matched) Pension Scheme (Contribution double by Company up to 10%). Free Parking Caterpillar discounts & offers website

After this apprenticeship

Potential permanent position upon successful completion of the apprenticeship

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