Technical Apprentice
RAPID FLUIDICS LTD
GATESHEAD (NE11 9NH)
Closes on Tuesday 28 July 2026
Posted on 17 June 2026
Contents
Summary
Do you want to work for an exciting & growing company which develops high end products for space exploration, pharmaceutical and bio-medical industries to name a few? Do you want to be involved in prototype design and development, process and 3D printing development? If so this is ideal for you.
- Wage
-
£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday- Friday
8am- 4pm
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 29 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
As an apprentice, you will work closely with experienced engineers and technicians to:
- Support the design and development of new prototype products
- Assist with CAD modelling and engineering drawings
- Participate in product testing, validation and continuous improvement activities
- Help develop manufacturing processes for new and existing products
- Operate advanced 3D laser processing equipment
- Learn to set up, programme and optimise complex laser manufacturing systems
- Monitor production quality and maintain manufacturing records
Support research and development projects
Assist with equipment maintenance and calibration activities - Work safely and effectively within engineering and manufacturing environments
- Contribute ideas for improving products, processes and efficiency
Where you'll work
SUITE B GROUND FLOOR
METRO HOUSE
MARCONI WAY
GATESHEAD
NE11 9NH
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
TDR TRAINING LIMITED
Training course
Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
- Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
- Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
- Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
- Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
- Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
- Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
- Follow standard operating procedures.
- Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
- Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Carry out and record learning and development activities.
- Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
- Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
- Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
- Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
- Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
- Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
- Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
- Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
- Follow standard operating procedures.
- Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
- Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Carry out and record learning and development activities.
- Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Training schedule
You will have a 42 month apprenticeship which will include a Level 3 BTec in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
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
About this employer
- Rapid Fluidics is a microfluidics engineering and design consultancy based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Founded in 2020, the company specialises in helping businesses design, prototype, and manufacture complex fluidic systems used in areas like medical diagnostics, life sciences, and scientific instrumentation.
- At its core, the company focuses on rapid prototyping of microfluidic devices—small chips and systems that control and manipulate tiny volumes of liquid. These are widely used in applications such as point-of-care diagnostics, drug development, lab automation, and biomedical research. Instead of relying on slow traditional manufacturing methods, Rapid Fluidics uses advanced 3D printing and additive manufacturing techniques to produce working prototypes in a matter of days.
- Their services cover the full development cycle: from early design consultancy and CAD modelling, through prototyping and testing, to small-batch production and design-for-manufacture support. They also produce related components like microfluidic chips, manifolds, connectors, and even anatomical models for research and training.
- In simple terms, Rapid Fluidics helps companies turn ideas for lab-on-a-chip and fluid-handling technologies into real, testable hardware very quickly, reducing development time and speeding up innovation in medical and biotech devices.
- It’s a small but specialised engineering firm (roughly 2–10 staff) working at the intersection of biotechnology, engineering, and advanced manufacturing.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- Upon completion of the apprenticeship the apprentice may be offered a fulltime position
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
TDR TRAINING LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000037571.
Apply now
Closes on Tuesday 28 July 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.