Manufacturing Apprentice
HYDRAM ENGINEERING LIMITED
County Durham (DL17 0SG)
Closes in 14 days (Monday 13 July 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 29 June 2026
Contents
Summary
As a Manufacturing Apprentice, you will be engaged in a comprehensive training programme designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to become a qualified operator. You will work closely with various mentors across the site, gaining hands-on experience with different sheet metal machinery.
- Wage
-
£15,808 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Thursday 8.00am - 4.30pm and Friday 8.00am - 3.00pm.
38 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
1 year
- 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
As an Assembly Manufacturing Apprentice, you will take part in a comprehensive training programme designed to develop your skills and knowledge to become a competent assembly operator. You will work closely with experienced mentors across the site, gaining hands-on experience in mechanical and sheet metal assembly processes.
Your commitment to both the business and the training provider is key to successfully completing the practical and coursework elements of the apprenticeship.
Assembly Operations (Primary Role):
- Assemble a range of components and finished products using engineering drawings, work instructions, and specifications
- Use hand and power tools safely and effectively
- Carry out fitting tasks such as drilling, tapping, fastening, and aligning parts
- Ensure all assemblies meet required quality standards
- Perform basic inspections and checks during and after assembly
Paint Shop Support (Secondary Role):
- Assist with preparation of parts for painting (e.g. masking, cleaning, loading / unloading)
- Support paint processes in line with quality and safety standards
- Help maintain cleanliness and organisation within the paint area
Health & Safety Compliance:
- Follow all site health and safety, environmental, and quality procedures always
- Maintain a clean and organised work area (5S standards)
Where you'll work
Avenue 1
Chilton Industrial Estate
Ferryhill
County Durham
DL17 0SG
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
EAST DURHAM COLLEGE
Training course
Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, and other relevant guidelines. Identifying risks within their processes and support/carry out countermeasure activities to improve safe working. Manage tooling, equipment and materials daily in-line with supplier standards e.g. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
- Comply with environmental procedures and systems and contribute to the achievement of specific standards e.g. ISO 14001 or other relevant environmental standards and use the 4R’s (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Recover) where possible
- Demonstrate their ability to carry out their role effectively, efficiently and flexibly maintaining lean manufacturing principles to meet customer’s demands e.g. JIT
- Demonstrate their skill and knowledge following SOPs and building their versatility across a number of processes and process areas. Select and use appropriate tools, equipment and materials to carry out the manufacturing operation
- Demonstrate appropriate process documentation control. Accurately completing check sheets, monitoring process and equipment data efficiently and legibly using the correct terminology required to meet the quality standard e.g. ISO 9002
- Demonstrate their ability to identify and resolve problems within the lean manufacturing environment using effective problem solving tools and techniques. Manage problems that may occur during the manufacturing process within the limits of their responsibility and escalate as appropriate
- Generate ideas and contribute to process improvement activities individually or as part of a team through fact finding and analysis to improve the safety, environment, quality, cost or production process. Identifying and eliminating the 7 wastes (defects, over production, transportation, waiting, inventory, motion and processing)
- Demonstrate communication skills which include oral, written, electronic (PC), information boards or visual displays to effectively share information
- Maintains and monitors the work site efficiently and effectively at all times using the elements of sifting, sorting, sweeping, spick & span (5’s) within the lean manufacturing environment
- Check components for damage and that they are in a usable condition
- Correctly position, align and secure the components
- Secure the components in position using the specified fastening device/method
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions/Standard operating procedures production/assembly specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the production/assembly activity
- Produce components which comply with the specification and quality requirements
- Carryout quality checks on component parts and completed assemblies and deal with quality concerns and defects in line with their responsibility
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, inspection/quality procedures and product specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the inspection/quality assurance activity
- Collect production samples at the required frequency in accordance with inspection specification and operating procedures
- Carryout inspection and testing activities using the specified methods and equipment
- Prepare, Handle, transfer and store samples safely and correctly in accordance with quality control procedures
- Accurately interpret the data/results gained from the inspection and testing procedures being used
- Record and report inspection findings to relevant person
- Safely move materials to the correct location using the relevant equipment
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, specification details and specific transfer/handling procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the logistic/material handling activity
- Move materials using the appropriate procedures, ensuring the materials are correct, safely loaded and secure.
- Check materials selected to be moved are in line with job requirements
- Carryout quality checks on materials that are to be moved and deal with quality concerns and damage in line with their responsibility
- Return equipment to its correct location on completion of the activities and leave it in a safe and usable condition
- Perform one processing/finishing operation method e.g. hand processing, manually operated machine processing, fully automated machine processing, combined processing
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, processing/finishing procedures and equipment operating procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the processing/finishing activity
- Perform the processing/finishing operation according to instructions and safe operating procedures
- Monitor and control the processing/finishing operation
- Produce processed/finished products which comply with processing specification
Training schedule
- The successful candidate will complete Level 2 Lean Manufacturing Apprenticeship Standard
- This will be delivered in the workplace, with a tutor visiting once a month but may also require college attendance
- If you don't already have maths and English, you will need to attend weekly classes which would be weekly until the exams are passed
- If you hold either GCSE grade 3 or above, or a level 1 in maths and English, you will not be required to do these again
More training information
Hydram is committed to its apprenticeship programme, including extra-curricular activities. One element is a three-day residential aimed to promote and improve team skills, expected for all apprentices. Considerations will be made for any specific needs.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4 / C and above)
- Maths (grade 4 / C and above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
About this employer
Sheet metal fabrication company Hydram Sheet Metalwork supplies metal products, components and precision sheet metal fabrications on a subcontract basis to market leading companies in industries such as railway, public transport, lighting, furniture, earth-moving machinery/off-highway vehicles and white goods. The sheet metal fabricator is committed to providing outstanding manufacturing services, working closely with customers to establish long-term partnerships and aiming to be the one of the best sheet metal fabrication companies in the UK.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Possibility of permanent employment and going on to complete further qualifications.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
EAST DURHAM COLLEGE
Craig Grimes
craig.grimes@eastdurham.ac.uk
0191 518 8294
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000039705.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Monday 13 July 2026 at 11:59pm)