Manufacturing Technician Apprentice
COBA PLASTICS LIMITED
Leicester (LE8 8UR)
Closes in 21 days (Tuesday 2 June 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 12 May 2026
Contents
Summary
Looking to start a career in manufacturing? Join COBA Automotive as a Manufacturing Technician Apprentice and gain hands-on experience while working towards a Level 3 qualification.
You’ll learn how to manufacture automotive components, use specialist machinery, and work as part of a supportive production team.
- Wage
-
£16,224 to £25,775.88, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Age 21 and over: £12.71 per hour
Age 18 to 20: £10.85 per hour
Age 16 to 17: £8.00 per hour
- Training course
- Polymer processing technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Thursday, 08:30 - 17:00 and Friday, 08:30 - 16:00
39 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 3 June 2026
- Duration
-
3 years
- 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
- Learn how to use and monitor manufacturing machinery
- Prepare materials and equipment for production
- Carry out quality checks on products
- Help solve production issues
- Record production information
- Work safely and follow company procedures
- Support the team with day-to-day manufacturing tasks
Where you'll work
Marlborough Drive
Fleckney
Leicester
LE8 8UR
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE S&A TRANSFORM GROUP LIMITED
Training course
Polymer processing technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Review instructions or information. For example, work instructions, sampling requirements, drawings dimensioning, labelling, formulations, machine settings.
- Plan task and identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, security, quality and cost.
- Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace.
- Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations and standards. For example, daily machine checks, wearing personal protective equipment.
- Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
- Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and handling.
- Select, check, and prepare materials for polymer processing for example, weighing, control and blending, and conditioning.
- Select, configure (for example, replace or change inserts) and check mould tools, formers, dies or other process equipment.
- Check installation and function of processing equipment for the process.
- Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic.
- Check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record where applicable.
- Set or check machine settings using instructions such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
- Adjust machine setting for the speeds, positions, pressures and safety of the mould tool, former or die movement to meet product specification.
- Start up manufacturing processes.
- Monitor process feedback and adjust process parameters.
- Shut down manufacturing processes.
- Devise machine settings such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
- Test and evaluate machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
- Select and apply optimal machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material (for example, capability study).
- Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data. Use data to inform action.
- Identify process faults and resolve.
- Apply post processing techniques for example, assembly, printing, decorating, cooling operations, packing, and labelling.
- Follow quality assurance processes during manufacture.
- Perform quality control checks. For example, conduct parameter checks (size, colour, weight), and take samples.
- Identify quality issues and resolve for example, defects, maintenance requirements.
- Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
- Apply preventative maintenance practices. For example, checking guarding, lubrication, cleaning of tooling, safety checks, and inspection for wear and tear.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the effectiveness of existing production, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process or task.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
- Present information.
- Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests, technical reports.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
- Review instructions or information. For example, work instructions, sampling requirements, drawings dimensioning, labelling, formulations, machine settings.
- Plan task and identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, security, quality and cost.
- Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace.
- Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations and standards. For example, daily machine checks, wearing personal protective equipment.
- Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
- Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and handling.
- Select, check, and prepare materials for polymer processing for example, weighing, control and blending, and conditioning.
- Select, configure (for example, replace or change inserts) and check mould tools, formers, dies or other process equipment.
- Check installation and function of processing equipment for the process.
- Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic.
- Check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record where applicable.
- Set or check machine settings using instructions such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
- Adjust machine setting for the speeds, positions, pressures and safety of the mould tool, former or die movement to meet product specification.
- Start up manufacturing processes.
- Monitor process feedback and adjust process parameters.
- Shut down manufacturing processes.
- Devise machine settings such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
- Test and evaluate machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
- Select and apply optimal machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material (for example, capability study).
- Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data. Use data to inform action.
- Identify process faults and resolve.
- Apply post processing techniques for example, assembly, printing, decorating, cooling operations, packing, and labelling.
- Follow quality assurance processes during manufacture.
- Perform quality control checks. For example, conduct parameter checks (size, colour, weight), and take samples.
- Identify quality issues and resolve for example, defects, maintenance requirements.
- Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
- Apply preventative maintenance practices. For example, checking guarding, lubrication, cleaning of tooling, safety checks, and inspection for wear and tear.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the effectiveness of existing production, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process or task.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
- Present information.
- Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests, technical reports.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
Training schedule
You will complete a Level 3 Polymer Processing Technician Apprenticeship
Training will include:
- Learning on the job with experienced staff
- Off-the-job training with the training provider
- Building skills and knowledge in manufacturing and engineering
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
A Level in:
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
- Team working
- Desire to learn
- Practical and hands-on
- Reliable and hardworking
- Able to follow instructions
Other requirements
- Willingness to complete a 36-month apprenticeship
- Ability to travel to the Fleckney site
- Positive attitude and willingness to learn
About this employer
COBA Automotive manufactures polymer-based automotive products and offers apprentices the chance to build valuable skills within a modern manufacturing environment.
Company benefits
- Full training provided
- Nationally recognised qualification
- Supportive team environment
- Career progression opportunities
- Hands-on industry experience
After this apprenticeship
- There may be the opportunity to move into a full-time role within the business after successfully completing the apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE S&A TRANSFORM GROUP LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000030933.
Apply now
Closes in 21 days (Tuesday 2 June 2026 at 11:59pm)