CNC Machinist Apprentice (Level 3 Engineering)

AETC LIMITED

South Wigston (LE18 4ZH)

Closes in 21 days (Friday 29 May 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 8 May 2026

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Summary

As a CNC Machining Apprentice, you will learn how to operate and support the running of specialist manufacturing equipment, including EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining), CNC milling machines & precision grinding machines, working alongside experienced machinists, contributing to the production of high‑precision aerospace components.

Wage

£18,124.08 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Year 1: £9.42 per hour. Year 2: £12.56 per hour. Year 3: £14.15 per hour. Year 4: £15.70 per hour. 5 years plus service, we offer cell & skill rates.

Training course
Machining technician (level 3)
Hours
Initial training hours will be Monday - Thursday 8am - 16:25pm and Friday 8am - 13:20pm. As you progress through training, there are morning, afternoon and night shifts. Whilst working on the shift pattern, you will receive 21% shift premium

37 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 1 July 2026

Duration

3 years 9 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

Your role involves setting up machines under supervision, monitoring production processes, carrying out basic measurements and ensuring components meet strict aerospace quality standards. You will develop an understanding of engineering drawings, tooling, machine controls, and safe working practices.

Duties will include:

  • Operating CNC EDM, Grinding and/or milling machines, ensuring that parts are machined in accordance with the agreed method specification.
  • Attain machine setting skills to enable machine set-ups in line with company requirements.
  • Understanding of engineering drawings, ensuring that fixtures are correctly aligned.
  • Inspecting parts in line with quality procedures and taking any necessary, approved, action to resolve quality issues.
  • Operating CMM machines to support inspection requirement.
  • Consistently achieving all targets (production, quality, housekeeping etc), as set by the Cell Manager.
  • Adherence to all company policies and procedures, including SOX, Code of Conduct and Health and Safety.

Where you'll work

AETC
Magna Road
South Wigston
LE18 4ZH

Training

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

Training provider

LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE

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

  • Attendance to Loughborough College one day per week, term time only, to study Extended Diploma in Machining (Development Knowledge).
  • Diarised visits from dedicated Trainer/Assessor.
  • On-the-job training.
  • Off-the-job training.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

5 subjects including Maths, English and Science (grade C / 4 or equivalent)

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

Skills

  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative

Other requirements

  • Applicants must be 18+ due to health and safety reasons.
  • Initial shortlisting will be conducted by Loughborough College Group Apprenticeship Recruitment Team. Please check your email for updates on your application.

About this employer

AETC Limited is a UK division of the industry leading Precision Castparts Corp (PCC), which employs over 30,500 people across the globe. PCC is the world’s largest manufacturer of airfoil components for the aerospace and Industrial power generation markets. At AETC we manufacture a range of products from the smallest aerospace parts to large industrial gas turbine parts and as such, we are a key figure in the power generation supply chain and aerospace market.

https://www.aetc.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

26 days annual leave + 7 statutory days, cycle to work scheme, quarterly cash bonus, Technology scheme, pension scheme, store discounts

After this apprenticeship

To become a fully trained CNC machinist. AETC is a company which has historically promoted from within so based on the individual, the sky is the limit.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE

Loughborough College Group Apprenticeship Recruitment

apprenticeships@loucoll.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000027872.

Apply now

Closes in 21 days (Friday 29 May 2026 at 11:59pm)