Apprentice Electrical Draughtsman
Nordson Test & Inspection
Essex (CO4 9AS)
Closes in 14 days (Monday 1 September 2025)
Posted on 18 August 2025
Contents
Summary
The UK based Nordson Test and Inspection division has a strong portfolio of award winning products for destructive and non-destructive mechanical testing and inspection of electronic components. If you are keen mechanical and electrical engineering, join our R&D team in Colchester and experience the world of product innovation first hand!
- Wage
-
£14,820.65 to £23,968.23, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Company Healthcare Scheme after successful completion of probationary period (3 months). & Group Personal Pension Plan – 4% minimum employee contribution, 6% employer contribution after successful completion of probationary period (3 months).
- Training course
- Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Thursday, 8.30am - 5.00pm. Fridays, 8.30am - 4:00pm. With a 45 minute unpaid lunch break each day.
37 hours 45 minutes a week
- Start date
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Monday 8 September 2025
- Duration
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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
You will work under the guidance of an assigned mentor/supervisor, and will be given appropriate tasks to ensure you are fully engaged as an active member of the product development team specialising in Electrical/Electronic Drafting.
You will work on both the Bondtester and X-Ray product ranges, and the following will be some of your key responsibilities:
- Assist in detailing and drawing up electrical designs using schematic capture, PCB layout and engineering design packages (e.g. AutoCAD)
- Assist in producing accurate Bills of Materials for electrical assemblies
- Assist in documenting assembly and test procedures
- Support with management of component obsolescence, researching alternatives and summarising findings
- Working hands on when required to build and test electrical assemblies
Where you'll work
4 Phoenix Square
Severalls Industrial Park
Colchester
Essex
CO4 9AS
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
COLCHESTER INSTITUTE
Training course
Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
- Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
- Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
- Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
- Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
- Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
- Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
- Follow standard operating procedures.
- Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
- Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Carry out and record learning and development activities.
- Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
- Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
- Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
- Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
- Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
- Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
- Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
- Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
- Follow standard operating procedures.
- Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
- Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Carry out and record learning and development activities.
- Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Training schedule
- The Apprentice will be working towards the Level 3 Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technician Apprenticeship Standard
- Qualifications include the EAL Level 3 Diploma in Engineering and manufacturing support technologies
- All college attendance will be at Colchester Institute at our Colchester Campus one day per week
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Keen interest in engineering
- Knowledge of engineering
- Good numeracy skills
- CAD/drawing software desired
- Microsoft Office knowledge
- Good communication skills
- Reliable and enthusiastic
- Ability to work independently
Other requirements
R & D teams work closely with their colleagues based at the manufacturing facility in Aylesbury. There may be a requirement to accompany other team members when they visit the Aylesbury site. This may happen on an occasional basis, and may be requested if business needs dictate it, and / or it is considered beneficial to the learning experience of the Apprentice.
About this employer
Nordson T&I are a market leading manufacturer of test and inspection equipment for the electronics and semiconductor industries. The Colchester facility is the Research and Development (R & D) centre for all Nordson products launched into the market place. The majority of sales are made into the US and South East Asia (Taiwan, S. Korea, China, Japan etc) where most consumer electronics goods are manufactured. Nordson have three primary sites in the UK (Colchester & Southampton R & D centre, and Aylesbury Head Office & Manufacturing), as well as offices worldwide to support the primary sales locations. Test & Inspection division are part of the Nordson Corporation who employ around 8000 people worldwide.
https://www.nordson.com/divisions/test-and-inspection (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Life assurance for the Group pension scheme members. & Employee Assistance Programme. & 25 days annual holiday entitlement, plus public holidays. & Free parking.
After this apprenticeship
- We hope that successful completion of this Apprenticeship program will result in a full time permanent position of Junior Electrical Draftsman within our R & D team in Colchester
- This is an Electrical/Electronic design support role, however, it is possible to follow various exciting future career paths, as skills are developed, and further qualifications are gained. Depending upon key determining factors, such as ambition, training, experience and personal preferences, the progression beyond the Technician level may potentially lead to a Designer or Engineer level position within the R & D environment
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
COLCHESTER INSTITUTE
Colchester Institute - Apprenticeships Team
ci.apprenticeships@colchester.ac.uk
01206712043
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000337609.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Monday 1 September 2025)
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