Apprenticeship - Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technician
SMC CORPORATION (U.K.) LIMITED
Milton Keynes (MK8 0AN)
Closes in 10 days (Friday 3 July 2026)
Posted on 23 June 2026
Contents
Summary
SMC is looking for motivated individuals with a genuine passion for engineering and a focus on customer satisfaction. Based in Milton Keynes, you’ll join our European Technical Centre (ETC), a key hub supporting customers across Europe with product design and technical expertise across a wide range of industries.
- Wage
-
£16,920 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Salary is reviewed on a yearly basis.
- Training course
- Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, 8.00am - 4.00pm
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 7 September 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
- Learn how products are designed, including choosing materials, components, and finishes
- Build and modify equipment using drawings and step-by-step instructions
- Understand how pneumatic and electrical systems work and how to design them
- Test products to make sure they perform well and last over time
- Use and look after workshop tools and equipment
- Learn about important safety and industry regulations and how to follow them
- Support customers by answering questions and helping solve problems
- Develop confidence in communicating with both technical and non-technical people
Where you'll work
SMC Corporation UK Ltd
Vincent Avenue
Milton Keynes
MK8 0AN
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE
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
- The apprentice will attend Milton Keynes college 1 day per week for competency development over a range of engineering modules
- The training is supported on the remainign week days by workplace training supported by trained mentors and engineers
- Each apprentice has their own mentor to guide them through their development
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4-9 (A-C))
- Maths (grade 4-9 (A-C))
Desirable 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
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
Other requirements
None
About this employer
Established in Japan in 1959, SMC is the UK and world market leader in the supply and support of pneumatic and electro pneumatic products. We currently have a sales presence in 82 countries and we are proud of our purpose built production, logistics and administration facility in Milton Keynes.
https://www.smc.eu/en-gb/company/smc_uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Cycle to work scheme, health care scheme, eye test vouchers, company pension (on probation completion)
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- Following completion of your apprenticeship, you will become a Junior Engineer and use the skills, knowledge and behaviours gained to support the team in the design, simulation testing and technical support of special and new SMC products
- SMC champion employee development and following successful completion of your level 3, would be happy to support you on to a level 4 qualification and beyond to continue your development with a plan to successfully move forward in the business
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SMC CORPORATION (U.K.) LIMITED
Sarah King
king.sarah@smc.com
01908555026
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000038795.
Apply now
Closes in 10 days (Friday 3 July 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.