Machining Technician Apprenticeship

IVOR SEARLE LTD

ELY (CB7 5BA)

Closes on Monday 1 June 2026

Posted on 20 January 2026

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Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to develop your career in engineering and join Ivor Searle as one of our engine remanufacturing apprentices. We seek to offer apprenticeships to 1 potential candidate so that they can learn alongside our experienced technicians about the engineering & remanufacturing process for engines & gearboxes.

Wage

£16,640 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Hourly rate can range from £8.00 to £10.85/hour depending on age & experience

Training course
Machining technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Thursday 7:30am to 4:30pm and Friday 7:30am to 1:30pm.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 3 August 2026

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

Whilst training 'on the job', you will be learning the remanufacturing processes alongside our experienced technicians in each of our production departments for:

  • Engine stripping
  • Crankshafts
  • Cylinder heads
  • Engine blocks
  • Engine assembly
  • Gearboxes
  • Range development

You will be working on a variety of manual machinery and learning to measure and work to close tolerances.

Where you'll work

2 REGAL LANE
SOHAM
ELY
CB7 5BA

Training

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

Training provider

CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE

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.

Training schedule

  • Successful candidates commence their 42 month Machining Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship with the college in September 2026, which will involve day release training at the college (2 days per week for first year; 1 day per week for years 2 & 3; on site work based learning for the final year) and on the job training
  • Minimum qualifications required for the apprenticeship are GCSEs at grade 4 & above in maths and English
  • Don't worry if you don't have your grades yet, if you are due to sit your exams this year, we still want to hear from you now

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths & English (grade 4 and above)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Patience
  • Good timekeeping

Other requirements

The apprenticeships are based in Soham; Cambridgeshire and you will be required to attend college at Cambridge Regional College in Cambridge.

About this employer

Ivor Searle is a long established company and the UK's leading provider of remanufactured engines, cylinder heads, turbochargers and gearboxes.

http://www.ivorsearle.co.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays. There is a group life insurance scheme that employees are enrolled on after 12 months of employment.

After this apprenticeship

Further employment on successful completion of the apprenticeship may be offered to the right candidate.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000009764.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 1 June 2026