Machining Technician apprentice

Summary

JR Whitehead are looking for a hardworking individual to join the team as a Machining Technician apprentice. This is a fantastic opportunity to kickstart your career within the Engineering and Manufacturing industry by gaining hands-on skills and experience in a real-world industry.

Wage

£15,311.40 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday – Thursday 8:00am – 4:30pm Friday 8:00am – 3:30pm.

39 hours a week

Start date

Monday 22 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

Safe operation of CNC milling machines & lathes (training will be provided)
Setting up of tooling, & managing tool wear in operation
Setting up machines, CNC milling & lathes
Monitoring of machine once in operation
Monitoring of machine once in operation
Understanding & reading technical drawings & specifications
Use of a wide range of technical measuring equipment used in the control of quality
May be required to carry out other duties in other departments as assigned by Supervisor or Management
During training, you will perform first piece dimensional inspections as well as all subsequent inspections as required
Report any issues that may jeopardize quality standards

Where you'll work

BRITANNIA WAY IND PARK
BRITANNIA WAY
UNION ROAD
BOLTON
BL2 2HG

Training

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

College or training organisation

HOPWOOD HALL 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

Training will be delivered by a combination of all-round training in the workplace and will also involve attending college one day a week at Hopwood Hall College (Middleton Campus). You will be assigned a work-based tutor from Hopwood Hall College who will support you through your Apprenticeship

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4)
Math (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
Team working
Initiative

Other requirements

Please consider your travel and how you would get to both work and college. Hopwood Hall College (Middleton), Rochdale Road, M24 6XH.

About this company

JRW has manufactured special plate and forged connectors till this day, however it has now introduced stockholding to its capacity. JRW offers a variety of products which include a range of connectors in all sizes and several different materials such as mild steel, carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron/ductile iron, cast steel and brass and bronze valves.

https://www.flanges.co.uk/about-us/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

This may lead to a permanent position with the employer and further progression

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: