Machining Technician Apprenticeship - Gerotor Design Studio Limited

Cogent Ssc Limited

Leyland (PR26 6TG)

Closes in 12 days (Thursday 17 July 2025)

Posted on 3 July 2025

---

Summary

Kickstart your engineering career with a hands-on Machining Technician Apprenticeship at a close-knit, family-run business, where you'll be more than just a ‘button pusher’. From machining to design and software, you'll gain real experience and become a vital part of our growing operation.

• Wage:

  £14,918.80 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)

  Salary will rise in line with national minimum wage rates. The earnings potential for a newly qualified Machining Technician, with design and software experience, is currently up to around £30k p.a.

• Training course: Machining technician (level 3)
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am – 4.30pm with 1 hour lunch break.

  37 hours 30 minutes a week

• Start date:

  Monday 1 September 2025

• Duration:

  3 years 9 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

Are you ready to kickstart your career in engineering and manufacturing? We’re offering an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and inquisitive individual, who has an interest in mechanical design and a pro-active, practical approach to work, to join our family-run business as a Machining Technician Apprentice.

• This isn’t your average apprenticeship. As part of our close-knit team, you won’t be just another employee, you’ll become an integral part of the operation. You’ll gain hands-on experience in precision machining, while also developing skills in design and software, giving you a well-rounded foundation in modern manufacturing techniques.
• We pride ourselves on nurturing talent and providing real responsibility from day one. You’ll be supported and mentored by experienced professionals in a friendly, collaborative environment where your ideas and contributions truly matter.
• Whether you’re just leaving school or looking for a fresh start in a practical, creative field, this apprenticeship offers genuine career development and the chance to grow with the business.

The apprentice will follow the Machining Technician Apprenticeship Standard, which will combine on-job practical learning with classroom/workshop-based learning at Blackburn College. The successful candidates will be employed by Cogent Skills Services Ltd but will undertake all on-job learning with Gerotor.

As a Machining Technician, you'll develop the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to produce complex and precision work by machining components. Components are machined from metal or specialist materials using conventional or CNC machine tools.

Typical duties will include:

In years 1 and 2:

• Setting up CNC machines to run pre-programmed production components
• Operation of CNC machines for manufacturing production components.
• Performing daily maintenance tasks on CNC machines.
• Component inspection & checking for conformance.
• Creating inspection reports.
• Creating fixturing and developing machining strategies (with help) for new components.
• Trialling machining strategies prior to production implementation

Duties / tasks later in apprenticeship, with more experience and help from line manager:

• Assisting in the design of gerotor profiles and pumps.
• Use of CAD / CAM software for design and manufacture of components.
• Creating schedules and plans for manufacturing operations to meet customer requirements.
• Determining the need for further equipment / resources as the business expands.
• Developing own brand of pumps / solutions for various industries.

In addition to the course content provided by the college, you will be trained how to use CAD and our own bespoke software for designing of pump components and how to transfer this to a CAM system for creating machining toolpaths. There is also the scope for conducting desktop simulations and analysis of fluid systems.

This apprenticeship will provide you with a good all-round engineering knowledge and we are looking for someone with an enthusiastic and inquisitive nature, who has an interest in mechanical design and a pro-active, practical approach to work.

Please be aware that the business location is Leyland and the college location is Blackburn. You will be expected to make your own travel arrangements to both site and college.

Where you'll work

Unit 1, Sumner Point
Lancashire Enterprise Business Park
Leyland
PR26 6TG

Training

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

College or training organisation

BLACKBURN 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

Qualification to be delivered: EAL L3 Extended Diploma in Machining (Development Knowledge).

Apprenticeship Standard: Machining Technician.

Training Provider: Blackburn College.

Delivery model: Day release and location: day release at Blackburn College to complete the knowledge qualification throughout the duration of the apprenticeship. 4 days per week hands-on, on site at Gerotor Design Studio, with regular support and guidance visits from your Blackburn College assessor, plus independent end point assessment.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

minimum 5 including Maths and English (grade Grade C / 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
• Organisation skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working

Other requirements

Please be aware that the business location is Leyland and the college location is Blackburn. You will be expected to make your own travel arrangements to both site and college. Please also note that this is a fully non-smoking site. If you do wish to smoke or vape, you will only be able to do so out of working hours completely off site.

About this company

As the specialists in skills for science and technology, our purpose is to make sure your business; your people and our industry are future ready. We are a not-for-profit charitable organisation with a family of commercially focused companies committed to supporting the skills, needs and ambitions across the UK science and technology sector.

https://cogentskills.com/vacancies/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Holiday Allowance - 25 Days. Holiday Allowance, plus Bank Holidays. Pension - Employee 5%, Employer 3%. Discount Schemes. Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking. Employee recognition awards.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

This role is part of our talent planning for the future and, for the right person, we are looking to continue to develop the Apprentice upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Our business is growing and is evolving, so there is potential to gain permanent employment in the team, subject to performance, successful completion of the apprenticeship, and a role being available.

Completion of this apprenticeship provides potential to progress to higher education (HNC, HND, Foundation Degree).

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Cogent Ssc Limited

Caroline Lees

caroline.lees@cogentskills.com

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000329715.

Apply now

Closes in 12 days (Thursday 17 July 2025)

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.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.