Machining Engineer Apprentice

TLRSC LTD

HARLOW (CM20 2DY)

Closes in 24 days (Sunday 28 June 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 4 June 2026


Summary

Join our Moulding Department and become part of a skilled team manufacturing bespoke staircase components.  You will assist in preparing and machining timber, matching existing staircase features such as handrails, caps and other bespoke parts whilst learning valuable woodworking and machining skills for future career progression.

Wage

£13,312 to £21,149.44, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

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

32 hours a week

Start date

Monday 27 July 2026

Duration

3 years 6 months

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

The apprentice will work within our Moulding Department alongside one of our experienced team members who sets up and operates specialist woodworking machinery.

The role offers an opportunity to learn practical woodworking skills and gain experience manufacturing high quality bespoke staircase components  The successful candidate will be trained and supported with the aim of developing into a skilled machinist in the future.

Day-to-day duties will include:-

  • Assisting experienced machinists in the Moulding Department
  • Helping prepare and plane timber ready for machining
  • Assisting with matching existing staircase parts and features including handrail, caps and bespoke mouldings
  • Helping cut and handle long lengths of timber safely
  • Supporting the production of staircase components
  • Keeping the workshop and work areas clean and tidy
  • Following all Health & Safety procedures
  • Showing a positive attitude and willingness to learn new skills
  • Working as part of a team and developing towards becoming a skilled machinist

Where you'll work

NORWOOD HOUSE
TEMPLE BANK
HARLOW
CM20 2DY

Training

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

Training provider

HARLOW 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

Machining technician / Skills England.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade Grade 4 or equivalent)
  • Maths (grade Grade 3 or equivalent)

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
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Self Motivated
  • Reliable
  • Good Time Management

Other requirements

  • Dates are subject to change
  • Working is indoors at all times
  • No working at height
  • Minimal computer work, if at all
  • No early starts
  • There is a train station within walking distance and the industrial estate has a bus service
  • Parking on site is available
  • Workshop working hours are from 08:00 to 17:00 each day. Overtime would not be required

About this employer

At Timber Staircases we have spent decades perfecting the art of bespoke staircase making.  Our mission is simple - to combine traditional British joinery with modern precision and efficiency.

Every staircase we make is made to measure in our UK workshop, crafted from sustainably sourced timber and finished by skilled hands with meticulous attention to detail.

Our purpose-built manufacturing facility in Harlow stands among the most advanced woodworking workshops in the UK combining precision engineering with environmentally conscious design.

https://www.timberstaircases.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Progression, further training and a permanent post would be available for a suitable candidate.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HARLOW COLLEGE

Kellie Tighe

ktighe@harlow-college.ac.uk

07377125961

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000035349.

Apply now

Closes in 24 days (Sunday 28 June 2026 at 11:59pm)