Engineering Composites Apprentice

Parker Meggitt

Hertfordshire (SG1 2DH)

Closes on Monday 6 April 2026

Posted on 9 February 2026

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Summary

In this role, you will support the Manufacturing and Engineering teams in the production of aerospace components using composite materials. You’ll gain hands-on experience manufacturing composite components developing practical skills and engineering knowledge in a safety-conscious and innovative environment.

Wage

£18,026 a year

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Apprentice salaries increase annually with experience and are reviewed each September. Apprentices are also included in Parker Meggitt's bonus scheme, receiving a minimum of 2.5%, which may increase depending on overall company performance.

Training course
Composites technician (level 3)
Hours
Your contracted hours each week throughout your apprenticeship will be 37 hours Monday - Friday. Shifts TBC.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

3 years

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

1. Health and safety of self and others at all times
2. Preparation of mould tools for composite laminating
3. Kitting and preparation of composites parts
4. Laminating and cure of composite radomes
5. Completion of manufacturing paperwork
6. Identifying process improvement opportunities

Where you'll work

Horizon Technology Park
Six Hills Way
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG1 2DH

Training

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

Training provider

WESTON COLLEGE OF FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Training course

Composites technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand task.
  • Plan work. Identify and organise resources.
  • Identify hazards and risks in the workplace.
  • Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
  • Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
  • Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
  • Prepare and use mould tools.
  • Select and check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record.
  • Use or operate hand tools, equipment, and machinery.
  • Store mould tools, hand tools, and equipment.
  • Select, check, and prepare materials for example, weigh resins, cut reinforcement.
  • Follow quality control processes during manufacture for example, check for contaminants, record batch numbers or expiry dates.
  • Apply laminate to mould for example, cut, add darts, corner definition, orientation, position, and order.
  • Complete preparation for and start curing process for example, select and apply consumables for example vacuum bag, infuse with resin, add heat or pressure.
  • Extract product from mould (break out).
  • Conduct final product quality assurance procedure. For example, conduct grading parameters checks (size, appearance, weight), and take samples for laboratory testing.
  • Identify issues for example, de-laminations, inclusions, surface defects, surface imperfections, and maintenance requirements.
  • Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
  • Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
  • Record or enter data - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
  • Interpret data for example, defect data and geometrical measurements. Use data to validate suggestions.
  • Investigate a problem to identify the underlying cause. Identify a solution to the problem.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process, or task.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
  • Use information technology for work tasks. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
  • Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
  • Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand task.
  • Plan work. Identify and organise resources.
  • Identify hazards and risks in the workplace.
  • Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
  • Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
  • Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
  • Prepare and use mould tools.
  • Select and check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record.
  • Use or operate hand tools, equipment, and machinery.
  • Store mould tools, hand tools, and equipment.
  • Select, check, and prepare materials for example, weigh resins, cut reinforcement.
  • Follow quality control processes during manufacture for example, check for contaminants, record batch numbers or expiry dates.
  • Apply laminate to mould for example, cut, add darts, corner definition, orientation, position, and order.
  • Complete preparation for and start curing process for example, select and apply consumables for example vacuum bag, infuse with resin, add heat or pressure.
  • Extract product from mould (break out).
  • Conduct final product quality assurance procedure. For example, conduct grading parameters checks (size, appearance, weight), and take samples for laboratory testing.
  • Identify issues for example, de-laminations, inclusions, surface defects, surface imperfections, and maintenance requirements.
  • Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
  • Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
  • Record or enter data - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
  • Interpret data for example, defect data and geometrical measurements. Use data to validate suggestions.
  • Investigate a problem to identify the underlying cause. Identify a solution to the problem.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process, or task.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
  • Use information technology for work tasks. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
  • Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.

Training schedule

Alongside your day role, you will work to complete your apprenticeship with your external training provider, Weston College. You will get 20% off the job hours, this will give you the knowledge, training and external approval to do your job effectively.

More training information

The training will be delivered in a block release method and overnight stay will be required. You will need to be able to travel to Weston College for this training. 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • 3 Other Subjects (grade A* - C / 9 - 4)
  • English (grade A* - C / 9 - 4)
  • Mathematics (grade A* - C / 9 - 4)

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
  • Analytical skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Adaptability

Other requirements

Be at least 18 years old when the apprenticeship begins for insurance reasons. 
Hold a UK driving licence.
Have the right to work in the UK.
Have been a UK/EU/EAA resident for at least the past three years prior to starting the apprenticeship.
Have completed full-time education before the apprenticeship is due to start.
For this programme, you must be able to achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) clearance

About this employer

Parker Meggitt is a business segment of Parker Aerospace. At Parker Aerospace, we develop technologies and innovative solutions that enable reliable, efficient and increasingly sustainable flight, for the lifecycle of the aircraft, including aftermarket support. Our passionate people, together with our breadth of differentiated technologies, ensure that we make the extraordinary happen and continue to shape the future of aviation in partnership with our customers. Joining our team means you're helping to deliver our purpose of 'Enabling Engineering Breakthroughs that Lead to a Better Tomorrow'. A career at Parker Meggitt offers boundless potential for professional and personal growth. You will work alongside the brightest minds in the world, help develop innovative technology and products, and contribute to our company's goal of solving the world's greatest engineering challenges. We have succeeded in employing the top talent in the industry by focusing our hiring efforts on the individual, not the job description. If you are an inquisitive thinker with great ideas and a desire to succeed, we will find the perfect spot for you on our team.

Company benefits

25 days annual leave with the option to buy and sell. Pension scheme and generous life assurance.
Work laptop provided.
Access to health and wellbeing support.
Access to employee discounts.
Cycle to work scheme.

After this apprenticeship

Upon successful completion of the programme — and subject to performance — you may have the opportunity to move into a permanent role within the team or business area where you completed your apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WESTON COLLEGE OF FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION

earlycareerstalentacquisition@parker.com

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000013973.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 6 April 2026

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