Level 3 Machining Apprentice
GOOCH & HOUSEGO UK LIMITED
SOMERSET (TA19 0PF)
Closes on Saturday 30 May 2026
Posted on 14 April 2026
Contents
Summary
G&H is a world leader in optical designing, testing and manufacturing. Our success is built on innovation, precision, and the talent of our people. The four-year apprenticeship is a mixture of practical on-the-job training and academic training on day release at college.
- Wage
-
£18,252 a year
- Training course
- Machining technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Thursday, 8.00am - 4.30pm and Friday, 8.00am - 3.30pm (Start times may vary).
39 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 7 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years 6 months
- Positions available
-
3
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
- Work in accordance with work instructions and work with the relevant parties to support the production of steady state and new product in the most economic manner to meet team targets of 100% delivery and quality
- Adherence to all company policies, management systems and standard operational procedures, including legal responsibilities in relation to Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality
- Working positively to develop and foster good working relationships with colleagues and contracted personnel in order to maintain a culture of mutual respect and dignity
- Promote and display the G&H values: Customer focus, Integrity, Action, Unity, Precision
- Complete the training to the required standard and obtain the agreed academic qualifications
- At work, complete up to eight modules including Polishing, Machine Shop, Coating, CNC, Quality, Procurement, Engineering (subject to change) over the first three years. Specialise and be assessed in an agreed area for the final year
- Listen to and respect the mentors who will support your development
- Report on your achievements at the end of each module and provide feedback to your mentor
- Follow, process and complete all job sheet documentation as required
- Keep accurate and up-to-date records of work undertaken and keep the relevant documentation with the part to maintain product integrity and traceability of the part, ensuring the work is completed
- Maintain the work environment to the agreed standard in line with health and safety regulations
Where you'll work
DOWLISH FORD
ILMINSTER
SOMERSET
TA19 0PF
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
UNIVERSITY CENTRE SOMERSET COLLEGE 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
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C/4 and above)
- Maths (grade C/4 and above)
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
- Number skills
- Team working
- Patience
- Punctual & adaptable
- Manual dexterity
- Instruction adherence
- Detail oriented
- Responsible mindset
- Fast paced work
- Deadline focused
- Highly committed
Other requirements
Potential candidates should be aware that many of the employment roles at Gooch & Housego are subject to government security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities that you may have previously held and your place of birth, could restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must, as a minimum, be able to successfully complete security vetting to the UK government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard, which includes a DBS record check being performed.
About this employer
G&H is a world leader in optical designing, testing and manufacturing. As experts in the technology of light, G&H works with customers to provide optical systems, assemblies, and components for demanding applications. Headquartered in Ilminster Somerset, UK with primary operations in the USA and Europe, G&H is recognised for the breadth of our acousto-optic, electro-optic, crystal-optic, fibre optic, and precision optic products. G&H is recognized as the preferred source for OEMs in the life sciences, industrial, and aerospace and defence industries, with a history of quality and excellence that dates back over seventy-five years. Ready to join a leader in Optical Technology? Take your career to the next level with G&H. Apply today and be part of a team that’s shaping the future of optics!
https://gandh.com/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- 20% uplift for rotational shifts
- Overtime at x1.5 after 39 hours, x2 on Sundays & Bank Holidays
- 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
- 6% pension, bonus scheme
- Health Cash Plan
- £500 referral bonus, cycle to work scheme
After this apprenticeship
- We are committed to developing capability at every stage of a career, from apprenticeships and graduate pathways through to leadership development
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
UNIVERSITY CENTRE SOMERSET COLLEGE GROUP
Yazmin
business@ucscollegegroup.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000026247.
Apply now
Closes on Saturday 30 May 2026