CNC Machining Apprentice

SOUTH MIDLANDS COMMUNICATIONS CO LTD

EASTLEIGH (SO53 4BY)

Closes in 30 days (Friday 1 May 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 27 March 2026

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Contents

Summary

The Southampton Engineering Training Association (SETA) is supporting SMC Group recruit a CNC Machining Apprentice to join their production team and develop within the company. You will be trained to become a highly skilled machinist, manufacturing complex parts and components from specialist materials using CNC machine tools.

Wage

£18,000 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Wages will increase to £20,000 in the second year

Training course
Machining technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Thursday 07:00– 16:00. Friday 07:30– 12:00. A total of 38.5 hours per week.

38 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 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

Learning & Development

  • Completing a recognised apprenticeship qualifying as a Machining Technician
  • Working towards achieving required competencies, skills and behaviours within agreed timescales

Manufacturing & CNC Machining

  • Learning how to check materials before starting work
  • Becoming competent using technical information such as drawings, models and work order cards
  • Setting up a range of working holding devices including chucks, fixtures and vices
  • Learning how to programme, set, operate and adjust CNC machinery
  • Completing milling and turning operations
  • Adjusting a range of machining parameters to produce product with a high degree of accuracy and finish
  • Gaining experience of manufacturing parts to a high degree of accuracy and finish
  • Using a range of measuring equipment
  • Checking and inspecting materials to be machined to ensure that they conform to quality standards
  • Completing machine documentation at all stages of work activity and performing scheduled daily inspection, machine shut down or safe escalation

Quality & ISO Awareness

  • Learning and applying ISO 9001 quality principles, including right first-time production and traceability
  • Carrying out basic quality checks, once trained to do so
  • Completing production and quality records accurately under supervision
  • Reporting defects, errors or non-confirming items

Health & Safety

  • Working safely at all times and complying fully with all H&S rules, procedures and instructions
  • Following safe systems of work and using machinery, tools and equipment when trained and authorised to do so
  • Participation in risk assessments, toolbox talks and safety briefings
  • Reporting of hazards, near misses, accidents, or unsafe conditions to the Team Leader

Housekeeping & Workplace Standards

  • Maintaining a clean, tidy, and organised work area at all times
  • Learning and following housekeeping standards
  • Taking care of tools, equipment, and materials

Where you'll work

SCHOOL CLOSE
CHANDLERS FORD IND EST
EASTLEIGH
SO53 4BY

Training

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

Training provider

SOUTHAMPTON ENGINEERING TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED (THE)

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

Apprentices will undertake a Level 3 Machining Technician Apprenticeship Standard programme This will include a full-time period of practical workshop based ‘off-the-job’ training at SETA’s Apprenticeship Centre in Southampton.

You will also undertake a knowledge qualification (depending on your prior attainments) where you will be required to attend SETA one day a week over two academic years.  After your initial training at SETA, you will be with your employer working on developing your skills in relation to your job role.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade C/5)
  • Maths (grade C/5)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness
  • Work Ethic
  • Practical Aptitude
  • Positive

About this employer

SMC is an innovative, dependable, quality manufacturer of specialist masts, antennas, and RF communication equipment built to perform in any environment. With manufacturing facilities in Eastleigh, Hampshire, and over 65 years of experience, we deliver mission-critical reliability to some of the world’s biggest organisations.

http://smcgroupglobal.com (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Life assurance of 3 x salary

20 days annual leave per year

Christmas Shutdown (3 days leave to be used to cover this)

After this apprenticeship

After successfully completing the apprenticeship, the apprentice would be offered a permanent role within the production team, subject to performance.

In the initial stages, they would continue to develop their skills as a CNC Machining Technician, gaining further experience in setting, operating, and programming CNC machinery, as well as working with a wider range of materials, components, and processes.

As experience and competence grow, there is an opportunity to progress into a Senior CNC Technician role. This would involve taking on more complex machining work, supporting process improvements, troubleshooting issues, and acting as a technical point of contact within the team.

There may also be opportunities to progress into a Team Leader position should vacancies arise in the future. In this role, individuals would take on additional responsibility for coordinating work, supporting team members, and helping to maintain quality and productivity standards.

In addition to formal progression, experienced technicians can further develop by mentoring new apprentices, supporting their training and development. This provides a valuable leadership pathway and helps build coaching and supervisory skills.

Overall, the apprenticeship provides a strong platform for long-term career in CNC machining, with opportunities to increase responsibility, develop specialist skills, and take on leadership or mentoring roles over time.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SOUTHAMPTON ENGINEERING TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED (THE)

Southampton Engineering Training Association (SETA)

Recruitment@seta-training.co.uk

023 8077 1908

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000023609.

Apply now

Closes in 30 days (Friday 1 May 2026 at 11:59pm)