Apprentice Plant Operative
VORTEX OPTICAL COATINGS LIMITED
LEICESTERSHIRE (LE10 3BS)
Closes in 20 days (Tuesday 21 July 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 30 June 2026
Contents
Summary
An opportunity to become a permanent employee with great career prospects. Learn and develop new skills to help you progress within the business.
- Wage
-
£17,056 a year
- Training course
- Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Thursday, 08:00 - 16:30 and Friday, 08:00 - 15:00
(including paid 40-minute lunch per day).
41 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 10 August 2026
- Duration
-
1 year
- 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
- Operate plant machines for coating substrates
- Conduct quality checks on finished parts
- Perform routine maintenance and basic troubleshooting on the machine
- Manage stock levels of consumables used in the process
- Work collaboratively with other operators and team members to meet production targets and deadlines
- Always follow health and safety protocols
Where you'll work
10 JACKNELL ROAD
DODWELLS BRIDGE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
HINCKLEY
LEICESTERSHIRE
LE10 3BS
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
NORTH WARWICKSHIRE AND SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE 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
- Lean Manufacturing Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard
- Training will be delivered at North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College, Mira Technology Institute, MIRA Technology Park,1 Eastern Avenue, Nuneaton, CV10 0UX
More training information
Block release, one week in every 6-week learning cycle and on-site visits to the workplace by Skills Development Coaches.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4 or above)
- Maths (grade 4 or above)
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
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Team working
- Initiative
About this employer
Vortex Optical Coatings is a dynamic and innovative company specialising in high precision optical coatings. Our small, enthusiastic team is committed to quality and continuous learning, working together to meet production targets in a fast-paced environment
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- To become a permanent long-term employee
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
NORTH WARWICKSHIRE AND SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE COLLEGE
Gaynor Catlow
gaynor.catlow@nwslc.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000040033.
Apply now
Closes in 20 days (Tuesday 21 July 2026 at 11:59pm)