Apprentice Quality Technician
ATOMISING SYSTEMS LTD
SHEFFIELD (S9 5NF)
Closes in 23 days (Friday 29 May 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 5 May 2026
Contents
Summary
As an apprentice, you will be expected to acquire knowledge of the Company’s powder testing procedures, metallurgy manufacturing processes, and continuous improvement activities. You will work alongside production and laboratory technicians and attend ‘Whyy? Change’ the apprenticeship provider.
- Wage
-
£17,550 a year
- Training course
- Improvement technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
37.5 hr week, half day release at Whyy? each week. 4.5 x 8-hr shifts (inc 30-min unpaid lunch break) on a rolling 2-week shift pattern of:
Mornings: 06:00 - 14:00, Monday - Friday.
Afternoons: 14:00 - 22:00, Monday - Thursday. 13:30 - 21:30 on Friday.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
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Monday 15 June 2026
- Duration
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1 year 5 months
- Positions available
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2
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 Company Quality, Health & Safety and Environmental policies
- Acquire an understanding of the need for personal safety through knowledge of health and safety policies and procedures and the wearing of PPE
Acquire knowledge of the different processes involved in:
The testing and production of powders through instruction from work colleagues and on the job experience
In a training capacity assist with:
- The operation of powder testing equipment and the application of quality control procedures ensuring the correct quality is consistently achieved
- Ensuring all hoppers and other containers of powder are correctly identified and stored in known locations
- Continuous improvement projects
- Complete other production duties including steel melting, charge preparation, and sieving
- Once qualified, use fork-lift trucks to move equipment and product around the shop-floor
Where you'll work
371 COLEFORD ROAD
SHEFFIELD
S9 5NF
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
WHYY? CHANGE LIMITED
Training course
Improvement technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Compliance: Work in accordance with organisational controls and statutory regulations
- Communication: Share improvement progress through appropriate reporting
- Project management: Plan, manage and implement improvement activities. Identify and support management of risks. Develop the business case for improvement activity and implementation
- Change management: Engage through communications. Reinforce – positively and negatively. Effectively coach peers
- Principles and methods: Use a structured method and appropriate improvement tools engaging with subject matter experts to deliver business benefits
- Project selection and Scoping: Identify and scope improvement projects and establish clear measurable objectives
- Problem definition: Develop a problem/opportunity statement supported by validated data
- Voice of the customer: Apply techniques to identify customers, their requirements and translate these to metrics
- Process mapping & analysis: Apply process mapping tools to visualise processes, analyse process performance establishing key insights for performance improvement
- Lean tools: Apply techniques such as identification and removal of 8 wastes, 5S (Sort, Shine, Set, Standardise, Sustain), standard work, kaizen, visual displays and controls, error proofing, preventative maintenance
- Data acquisition for analysis: Develop data collection plan and validated measurement processes to understand performance
- Basic statistics & measures: Establish patterns and trends in data over time using tally, pie, run/trend and pareto charts
- Data analysis-statistical methods: Identify common and special cause variation
- Process capability & performance: Analyse product/process performance using good quality data
- Root cause analysis: Use cause and effect diagrams, technique of 5 whys and graphical analysis to understand and verify root causes
- Identification & prioritisation: Identify and prioritise improvement solutions
- Benchmarking: Recognise the value of sharing best practice
- Sustainability & control: Create control and reaction plans with detection measures, identify opportunities to embed changes to leverage benefit to the business.
Training schedule
Apprenticeship training will take place half a day every week in face to face sessions at Whyy? Change, New York Stadium, Rotherham.
More training information
Whyy? Change is a leading training provider based in Rotherham offers a range of apprenticeship solutions to help businesses upskill and develop their employees. We’re proud to offer accredited qualifications as a part of our apprenticeship standards, these are created by some of the world’s leading accreditation bodies including Lean & Six Sigma, Leadership (CMI), Marketing (CIM), Quality HSE and Functional Skills (Highfield).
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4-9)
- Maths (grade 4-9)
- Science (grade 4-9)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Team working
- Literacy
Other requirements
This job has aspects of manual handling so good physical strength is required. Successful applicants will need to be able and willing to conduct all lab and production duties.
Own transportation is preferrable but not essential.
The nature of our business is to make metal powder so it is therefore not the cleanest of working environments. Our lab is clean, but production processes aren't, so there are facilities available to clean yourself, including showering facilities for both male and female employees.
About this employer
Atomising Systems Limited (ASL) is a family-based Company, based in Darnall, currently employing 70+ staff.
ASL of Sheffield is the world leading supplier of atomising technology and equipment. The Company was established in 1992 and has a highly skilled workforce with considerable experience in atomising technology and innovation. ASL is based on innovation and a solid commitment to Research and Development. As the demands of the global powder industry evolve, and new applications emerge, ASL continue to develop and grow into emerging markets.
ASL’s powder customers vary from those requiring large volumes to those needing only test batches or test production campaigns. Our production service is large enough to serve customer needs, yet still flexible enough to produce special powders with unique chemistries or particle sizes.
https://www.atomising.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
29 days leave per year (inc Bank Holidays).
Christmas shutdown gives an extra 3 working days between the statutory Christmas and New Year bank holidays.
Annual profit share bonus paid to eligible employees.
5% Company pension contribution.
After this apprenticeship
Possibility of full time employment subject to successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
WHYY? CHANGE LIMITED
Becky Whittaker
bw@atomising.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000028187.
Apply now
Closes in 23 days (Friday 29 May 2026 at 11:59pm)