Engineering Technician Apprentice
BARKSTON PLASTICS ENGINEERING LIMITED
LEEDS (LS9 0DX)
Closes in 25 days (Sunday 26 April 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 26 March 2026
Contents
Summary
We are looking for an apprentice to join our engineering and design team. Do you want to develop strong technical skills in a forward-thinking, supportive manufacturing environment that delivers challenging design and engineering projects for clients across the world? If so, please apply here.
- Wage
-
£19,136 a year
- Training course
- Machining technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
8am - 4pm Monday to Thursday, 8am - 2pm Friday (one day per week at college)
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 27 April 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
- How to interpret and produce engineering drawings and CAD models using industry-standard software
- How to understand materials, tolerances, manufacturing processes and how design decisions affect production
- How to support the estimating and design teams with technical data, drawings, and documentation
- How to work with engineering change processes, revision control and technical specifications
- Quality control principles, inspection techniques and how to design for quality and manufacturability
- How to communicate technical information clearly to colleagues in design, production and sales
- Recognised engineering and manufacturing standards including 5S, safe working practices and continuous improvement
- How to contribute to problem-solving activities and support engineering projects from concept to manufacture
Where you'll work
221 PONTEFRACT LANE
LEEDS
LS9 0DX
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
LUMINATE EDUCATION GROUP
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
- Machining Technician Level 3
- Training will take place at Printworks Campus, Leeds
- You will be required to attend college one day per week
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (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
- Administrative skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
About this employer
Barkston is one of the UK’s premier plastic engineering companies serving OEMs in virtually every industry. We’re experts in plastic fabrication with over 55 years’ heritage in the UK and are fully committed to helping you gain a competitive advantage in your industry.
Becoming an apprentice with Barkston Plastic Engineering will allow you to build a wide range of engineering and design skills within a supportive and successful business. Our apprenticeships follow a structured programme under which you will receive close mentoring
from experienced engineers and designers, alongside support from our apprenticeship provider both at college and in the workplace.
After this apprenticeship
Full-time position upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
LUMINATE EDUCATION GROUP
apprenticeships@leedscitycollege.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000023608.
Apply now
Closes in 25 days (Sunday 26 April 2026 at 11:59pm)