Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship

OTTER CONTROLS LIMITED

Buxton (SK17 7LF)

Closes on Tuesday 30 June 2026

Posted on 29 May 2026

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Contents

Summary

The company has been a leading manufacturer of thermostats and safety cut-outs throughout the world for 80 years.

We wish to recruit applicants to undertake 4 Year Advanced Engineering Apprenticeships in our Toolroom. The successful candidates will progress to a qualified toolmaker, technician or engineer.

Wage

£15,851 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Pay rates will increase by 3% in October 2026

Training course
Machining technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Thursday 08:00 - 17:00, Friday 08:00 - 12:00

38 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 1 July 2026

Duration

3 years 6 months

Positions available

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

  • Manual milling
  • Manual turning
  • Manual surface grinding
  • EDM spark erosion
  • CNC EDM spark erosion
  • CNC wire erosion
  • CNC milling
  • Laser welding
  • Bench fitting

Improvement projects:

  • CAD drawing
  • Reading engineering drawings
  • Measurement and inspection
  • Press tool repair and maintenance
  • Mould tool repair and maintenance
  • House keeping

Where you'll work

Tongue Lane Industrial Estate Dew Pond Lane Fairfield
Buxton
SK17 7LF

Training

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

Training provider

NEWCASTLE AND STAFFORD COLLEGES 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

Machining Technician Level 3.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Another Subject (grade 4-9)
  • Another Subject (grade 4-9)
  • English (grade 4-9)
  • Mathematics (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

  • Attention to detail
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working

About this employer

The Company has been a leading manufacturer of thermostats, safety cut-outs and other sensing devices for the electrical, automotive and domestic appliance industries throughout the world for 80 years.

We have manufacturing sites in Stafford, Brighton, St Davids in Wales plus China, India, the Netherlands and Hungary.

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

Company benefits

  • Pension Scheme and Private Health membership 
  • Paid overtime rates (after 38-hours)                 
  • 6-weeks holiday per year

After this apprenticeship

Work as a qualified Toolmaker, supporting mould and press work in our manufacturing section.

Transfer to a role in Engineering or Development.

Transfer into Maintenance or Manufacturing Support or Management.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NEWCASTLE AND STAFFORD COLLEGES GROUP

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000031865.

Apply now

Closes on Tuesday 30 June 2026