Metal Fabricator (Plater) Level 3 Apprenticeship
WILTON ENGINEERING SERVICES LIMITED
Middlesbrough (TS2 1RZ)
Closes on Friday 24 April 2026
Posted on 4 March 2026
Contents
Summary
Wilton has a proven track record of developing apprentices. As an apprentice you will develop specialist skills, which will lead to you working on some of the most prestigious fabrication projects in the UK. With our long-term customer, we offer an apprenticeship which could lead to a lifelong career with progression routes available.
- Wage
-
£15,600 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Rate of Pay • £8.00 hr during 6-month probationary period Completion of probationary period £12.71 hr Annually Thereafter: £15.65 hr /£18.61 hr/£22.56 hr (Plater)
- Training course
- Metal fabricator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Initially you will attend Hartlepool College, based on their learning hours. Once on site at the company you will be working:
• Monday - Friday
• 0700 hrs - 1500 hrs
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years 6 months
- Positions available
-
10
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
- Adhering to all company health, safety and quality policies and procedures
- Developing an understanding of how to read and work from engineering drawings
- Marking out processes and procedures
- Working to precise tolerances
- Oxy fuel cutting
- Drilling
- Tack welding
- Assembly and installation
- Undertaking additional training such as operating overhead cranes & confined space entry in later stages
Where you'll work
Wilton Group Head Office
Port Clarence Offshore Base
Port Clarence Road
Middlesbrough
TS2 1RZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
HARTLEPOOL COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION
Training course
Metal fabricator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Comply with environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Obtain, check and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
- Carry out relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity.
- Undertake the work activity using the correct processes, procedures and equipment.
- Carry out the required checks (such as quality, compliance or testing) using the correct procedures, processes and/or equipment.
- Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
- Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
- Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
- Identify and follow correct Metal work instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
- Mark out using appropriate tools and techniques.
- Cut and form Metal for the production or maintenance of fabricated products.
- Produce and assemble Metal products to required specification and quality requirements.
- Identify and follow correct joining instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
- Carry out the relevant preparation before starting the joining fabrication activity.
- Set up, check, adjust and use joining and related equipment.
- Weld joints in accordance with approved welding procedures and quality requirements.
- Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Comply with environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Obtain, check and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
- Carry out relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity.
- Undertake the work activity using the correct processes, procedures and equipment.
- Carry out the required checks (such as quality, compliance or testing) using the correct procedures, processes and/or equipment.
- Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
- Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
- Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
- Identify and follow correct Metal work instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
- Mark out using appropriate tools and techniques.
- Cut and form Metal for the production or maintenance of fabricated products.
- Produce and assemble Metal products to required specification and quality requirements.
- Identify and follow correct joining instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
- Carry out the relevant preparation before starting the joining fabrication activity.
- Set up, check, adjust and use joining and related equipment.
- Weld joints in accordance with approved welding procedures and quality requirements.
Training schedule
Metal Fabricator Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard:
- Successful applicants will enrol at Hartlepool College of Further Education to start fulltime in September 2026. Overall, the apprenticeship is a 42-month programme. At college you will study theory and practical elements in the college's purpose-built Training Facility to give you the basic skills to set you on a path to success
- Thereafter you will complete a 20-week programme within the Wilton Training Academy. There you will develop your fabrication skills further and learn techniques specific to our customer requirements on one of the current most advanced fabrication project
- Depending on progress you will transfer to Wilton Engineering's Training Academy while continuing day release at college. Normally this would be after 5-8 months
- We will give you support throughout this programme, once 20 weeks are complete in the academy you will be transferred to production where you will gradually be introduced to live projects to enable you to put your skills to the test
Additional Training:
- We want to ensure you have all the tools to not only complete your apprenticeship but gain employment with us in your chosen trade. Within the environment you work health and safety is paramount
- You will be trained in many areas ranging from manual handling, the correct use of PPE, Working at Height, Working in Confined Space and more
- You will also be trained to operate specialist equipment such as Welding Equipment, Overhead Cranes, Mobile Elevated Platforms and specialist inspection equipment
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English Language (grade 4)
- Mathematics (grade 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
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
About this employer
Established in 1994, Wilton have achieved unparalleled success specialising in designing, manufacturing, coating and loading out large complicated structures for the Offshore Oil & Gas, Subsea, Marine and Offshore Wind Industries. We’re based adjacent to the River Tees having some of the largest construction halls in the UK which are supported with equally impressive loadout capabilities giving rise to the fact that Wilton is the go to company for “World Class” fabrications.
http://wiltonengineering.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- 23 days holiday plus statutory days. Rising to 25 days with length of service
- Company pension scheme
- Contractual sick pay based on length of service
- Health cashback scheme
- Boostworks retail discount scheme
After this apprenticeship
- On successful completion of apprenticeship, the learner will have the opportunity for employment and career progression as a Plater
- Current salary for a plater being £43,992 plus opportunity for overtime
During the apprenticeship and if successful thereafter there is continuous development within you trade to meet the specific needs of our customer. For some there will be opportunity to progress on other career paths within the business.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
WILTON ENGINEERING SERVICES LIMITED
JOHN PRICE
john.price@wiltonengineering.co.uk
01642544072
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000018981.
Apply now
Closes on Friday 24 April 2026