Engineering Design Apprentice

DALES FABRICATION LTD

DERBYS (DE7 4BG)

Closes in 13 days (Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 15 June 2026

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Summary

Dales Fabrications Ltd are offering an exciting opportunity for two apprentices to join our established manufacturing business and begin a long-term career in engineering. This apprenticeship will provide hands-on experience across both design and manufacturing, with a structured pathway into our Production Processing department.

Wage

£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  • Overtime available and paid at time plus one-third
  • 21 days holiday plus bank holidays
  • Holiday increases with service
  • Flexible holiday booking system (in 15-minute increments)

Training course
Engineering design technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Thursday - 7.00am - 3.30pm, Friday, 7.00am - 12.30pm 30 minutes lunch break.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 17 August 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

You will gain experience across multiple departments to develop a full understanding of our manufacturing processes:

Production Processing (2 days per week)

  • Learn CAD/CAM design techniques (2D and 3D)
  • Produce manufacturing drawings
  • Understand how designs are translated into production

Manufacturing (2 days per week) - You will rotate every 3 months between:

  • Powder coating on our Syntha Pulvin approved paint line
  • Factory operations including cutting, sawing, punching, bending and fabrication

College (1 day per week)

Attend Derby College to complete your qualification

This rotation will continue for at least the first two years, giving you a strong foundation in both practical and technical skills.

Where you'll work

CROMPTON ROAD IND EST
ILKESTON
DERBYS
DE7 4BG

Training

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

Training provider

DCG

Training course

Engineering design technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards.
  • Work in accordance with the design process, company management systems, policies and procedures.
  • Review and interpret technical information and requirements from different sources such as specifications, engineering drawings, concepts, stakeholders.
  • Identify and assess factors that affect designs such as materials, application, location, risk and environment.
  • Select materials and parts.
  • Propose and evaluate ideas for sustainable engineering concepts to solve engineering challenges.
  • Develop solutions that can be manufactured or built, and proven, operated and maintained during their operational life and decommissioned or recycled at the end of their operational life.
  • Provide feedback on engineering designs.
  • Apply quality assurance procedures to engineering drawings or models, including own designs and those of peers.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Produce written documents, schedules and reports.
  • Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
  • Identify inaccuracies or discrepancies in drawings and specifications and propose solutions.
  • Incorporate changes to an existing design as a result of any modifications made during the as-built implementation.
  • Create concepts for system layouts and associated components.
  • Read, interpret and establish design intent.
  • Determine the correct tolerances for components of the design.
  • Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
  • Perform simple calculations to use in design drawings.
  • Use measuring techniques for reverse engineering.
  • Option 1. Produce general arrangements of electrical power.
  • Option 1. Produce detailed drawings of electrical power components such as wires connection, voltage, capacity, main switches.
  • Option 1. Identify cable types and application.
  • Option 1. Use digital tools such as CAD and BIM to produce electrical power project deliverables such as output drawings and electrical designs.
  • Option 2. Produce general arrangements of control and instrumentation designs.
  • Option 2. Produce detailed drawings of control and instrumentation components such as cable numbers, wire colours, junction block numbers and panel identification.
  • Option 2. Identify different cable types and appropriate application.
  • Option 2. Use digital tools such as CAD to produce control and instrumentation project deliverables.
  • Option 3. Produce general arrangements of mechanical designs.
  • Option 3. Produce detailed drawings of mechanical components such as part dimensions, shape and manufacture.
  • Option 3. Use digital tools such as CAD to produce mechanical project deliverables.
  • Option 4. Produce general arrangements of piping design.
  • Option 4. Produce detailed drawings of piping components such as pipework, ducts and fittings and including supports and skids.
  • Option 4. Use digital tools such as CAD or Plant Design Management Systems to produce piping design project deliverables.
  • Option 5. Produce general arrangements of structures showing multiple materials such as steel, concrete, masonry, timber.
  • Option 5. Produce detailed drawings for multiple materials such as steel, concrete, timber or masonry.
  • Option 5. Use digital tools such as CAD and BIM to produce structural project deliverables.
  • Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards.
  • Work in accordance with the design process, company management systems, policies and procedures.
  • Review and interpret technical information and requirements from different sources such as specifications, engineering drawings, concepts, stakeholders.
  • Identify and assess factors that affect designs such as materials, application, location, risk and environment.
  • Select materials and parts.
  • Propose and evaluate ideas for sustainable engineering concepts to solve engineering challenges.
  • Develop solutions that can be manufactured or built, and proven, operated and maintained during their operational life and decommissioned or recycled at the end of their operational life.
  • Provide feedback on engineering designs.
  • Apply quality assurance procedures to engineering drawings or models, including own designs and those of peers.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Produce written documents, schedules and reports.
  • Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
  • Identify inaccuracies or discrepancies in drawings and specifications and propose solutions.
  • Incorporate changes to an existing design as a result of any modifications made during the as-built implementation.
  • Create concepts for system layouts and associated components.
  • Read, interpret and establish design intent.
  • Determine the correct tolerances for components of the design.
  • Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
  • Perform simple calculations to use in design drawings.
  • Use measuring techniques for reverse engineering.

Training schedule

You will spend 4 days each week working alongside and learning from skilled professionals, and 1 day each week training at Derby College's Roundhouse campus

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade C/4)
  • Maths (grade C/4)
  • Science (grade C/4)

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
  • Problem solving skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Patience
  • Reliable

Other requirements

  • Early start times (07:00)
  • Physically active role within a manufacturing environment
  • Commitment to both workplace learning and college study

About this employer

Dales Fabrications Ltd is a family-owned manufacturing company with over 40 years of experience supplying bespoke aluminium cladding systems across the UK.

We are proud of our friendly working environment and long-serving team, with many employees having been with us for over 25 years. We hold weekly company meetings to share performance and ensure all employees are involved in the success of the business.

http://www.dales-eaves.co.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • Company uniform and PPE provided
  • Company bonus scheme (subject to performance)
  • Regular social events
  • Ongoing training and development

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

  • Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, there is the opportunity to progress into a Production Processor role within the business
  • This role involves producing detailed CAD drawings and manufacturing instructions, supporting the delivery of bespoke aluminium systems
  • We actively invest in our people, and this apprenticeship can also lead to further study, including a degree in Manufacturing Engineering
  • Our current Head of Production began his career with us as an apprentice and now leads the department, demonstrating the long-term opportunities available

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

DCG

Fliss Rogers

fliss.rogers@derby-college.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000037161.

Apply now

Closes in 13 days (Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 11:59pm)