Precision CNC Machinist Apprentice
NEMA LTD
Rochdale (OL16 2AU)
Closes in 30 days (Friday 8 May 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 8 April 2026
Contents
Summary
An exciting opportunity to join NEMA Ltd as a Precision CNC Machinist Apprentice. You will develop advanced machining skills including CNC turning, milling, grinding and wire EDM while completing your Machining Level 3 Apprenticeship.
- Wage
-
Competitive
Competitive wage offered
- Training course
- Machining technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
4 day working week.
Monday – Thursday.
Flexible hours between 6:00am – 5:30pm.
9.5 hours per day.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 13 May 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
- CNC turning and milling
- Manual machining techniques
- Cylindrical grinding
- Wire EDM
- Honing processes
- Tool making
- CAD/CAM manufacturing using offline and online modelling and programming
- Working with a wide range of aerospace grade materials
Examples of components you will manufacture include:
- Housings and frames for electric motors used in aircraft landing gear systems
- Shafts and rotors for high-speed generators in micro gas turbines
- Ground magnetic assemblies for naval frigate winch motors
- Wire EDM components in high-efficiency electrical steel to extremely tight tolerances
- Precision tooling components
All work is produced to strict aerospace standards, requiring high levels of accuracy, technical understanding and attention to detail.
Where you'll work
Unit 16, Chichester Business Centre
Chichester Street
Rochdale
OL16 2AU
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
ROCHDALE TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED
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
Training will be delivered in partnership with Rochdale Training Association (RTA).
You will complete the Machining Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship.
During your apprenticeship you will:
- Develop core machining skills in CNC and manual operations
- Learn advanced programming using CAD/CAM systems
- Gain experience working to aerospace quality standards
- Rotate across workshop departments to build a full understanding of production processes
- Produce a complete electric motor assembly and its constituent components from scratch to gain a holistic understanding of the business
Subject to performance and attainment, progression to Level 4 engineering qualifications and beyond may be fully funded and supported by NEMA.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Initiative
About this employer
Established in 1954, NEMA Ltd is a Tier 2 aerospace engineering manufacturer supplying precision electro-mechanical products to leading global aerospace organisations. Operating to AS9100 Rev D standards, NEMA holds quality approvals with major aerospace manufacturers including BAE Systems, Airbus, Boeing, Leonardo and Triumph.
With over 95% of manufacturing completed in-house, NEMA provides apprentices with exposure to advanced machining, winding, assembly and testing processes within a highly controlled aerospace environment.
This is an opportunity to begin a career in high-precision aerospace machining, producing safety-critical components used across aircraft and specialist defence platforms.
After this apprenticeship
Upon successful completion, apprentices may:
- Secure a permanent role within the precision machining department
- Progress to Level 4 engineering qualifications (fully funded)
- Develop into CNC programmer, senior machinist or specialist tooling roles
Full-time employment?
Yes – subject to successful completion and performance.
Progression Opportunities Identified?
Yes – Higher technical qualifications and specialist machining pathways.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
ROCHDALE TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED
Jacob Evans
jevans@rochdaletraining.co.uk
01706631417
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000024795.
Apply now
Closes in 30 days (Friday 8 May 2026 at 11:59pm)