Machinist - Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Apprentice

METROL SPRINGS LTD

NORTHAMPTON (NN3 6QF)

Closes in 21 days (Friday 31 July 2026)

Posted on 9 July 2026

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Summary

The Apprentice Machining Setters main focus will be to machine and inspect components, to the correct quantity, on time and to the correct specification to ensure customer needs are met.

Wage

£19,760 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Machining technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Thursday 8:00am to 4:30pm, Friday 7:30am to 3:00pm.

39 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 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

  • Use of CNC’s to produce parts as required.
  • Use of Manual Machines to produce parts as required.
  • Use of Welding Machines to produce parts as required.
  • Issue of raw material to appropriate Works Orders, ensuring that issued materials are booked out correctly on the Progress Plus system.
  • Receipt of finished goods from production departments, ensuring that the quantities are recorded on the Progress Plus system correctly.
  • Meet the required personal / department KPI’s, and work towards achieving the companies’ set objectives.
  • Maintain a clean and safe working environment, ensuring that Health and Safety Policy is adhered to.
  • Ensure non-conformance reports are raised with the correct level of detail, and the correct procedures are followed or actioned.
  • To ensure the companies processes are followed in accordance with the Company’s Quality Policy and ISO Management procedures.
  • To ensure calibration records and reports are kept up to date, and external calibration is organised in a timely manner.

Where you'll work

5 CLAYFIELD CLOSE
MOULTON PARK INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
NORTHAMPTON
NN3 6QF

Training

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

Training provider

NORTHAMPTON COLLEGE

Training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures.
  • Comply with environmental, ethical and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
  • Prepare and set up conventional or CNC machines.
  • Operate and adjust conventional or CNC machines.
  • Apply risk assessment and hazard identification processes and procedures in the work area.
  • Monitor, obtain and check stock and supplies, and complete stock returns.
  • Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
  • Read and interpret information. For example, data and documentation used to produce machined components.
  • Apply engineering, mathematical and scientific principles.
  • Plan and organise own work and resources.
  • Follow and apply inspection, quality assurance procedures and processes.
  • Select machining process.
  • Select and setup tooling and work holding devices.
  • Set and adjust machine operating parameters. For example, setting feeds and speeds for roughing and finishing operations, loading, proving and validating programs when using a CNC machine tool.
  • Apply machining operations and techniques to produce complex components with features. For example, parallel; stepped; angular diameters and faces; grooves; slots; recesses and undercuts; radii and chamfers; internal and external forms and profiles; reamed; bored; drilled and electro eroded holes; internal and external screw threads.
  • Measure and check components.
  • Select and check condition of tools and equipment. Identify issues, resolve and take action as needed.
  • Identify and action issues in the manufacturing process.
  • Apply fault-finding and diagnostic testing procedures to identify faults. Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
  • Maintain the work area and return any resources and consumables.
  • Communicate with others verbally. For example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Follow machine shut down, safe isolation, handover, start up or warm up procedures. Escalate issues.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
  • Apply ethical principles.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures.
  • Comply with environmental, ethical and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
  • Prepare and set up conventional or CNC machines.
  • Operate and adjust conventional or CNC machines.
  • Apply risk assessment and hazard identification processes and procedures in the work area.
  • Monitor, obtain and check stock and supplies, and complete stock returns.
  • Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
  • Read and interpret information. For example, data and documentation used to produce machined components.
  • Apply engineering, mathematical and scientific principles.
  • Plan and organise own work and resources.
  • Follow and apply inspection, quality assurance procedures and processes.
  • Select machining process.
  • Select and setup tooling and work holding devices.
  • Set and adjust machine operating parameters. For example, setting feeds and speeds for roughing and finishing operations, loading, proving and validating programs when using a CNC machine tool.
  • Apply machining operations and techniques to produce complex components with features. For example, parallel; stepped; angular diameters and faces; grooves; slots; recesses and undercuts; radii and chamfers; internal and external forms and profiles; reamed; bored; drilled and electro eroded holes; internal and external screw threads.
  • Measure and check components.
  • Select and check condition of tools and equipment. Identify issues, resolve and take action as needed.
  • Identify and action issues in the manufacturing process.
  • Apply fault-finding and diagnostic testing procedures to identify faults. Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
  • Maintain the work area and return any resources and consumables.
  • Communicate with others verbally. For example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Follow machine shut down, safe isolation, handover, start up or warm up procedures. Escalate issues.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
  • Apply ethical principles.
  • Apply team working principles.

Training schedule

Training to be held onsite and day release at Northampton College

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 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
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative

Other requirements

Lifting Heavy Objects

About this employer

Metrol is the UK’s largest manufacturer of gas springs and we are extremely proud to export our quality British engineered and manufactured products around the world. Metrol Springs was established in 1984 to introduce gas springs to the UK
market. Since our humble beginnings we have grown and diversified into a global business with two strategic divisions; Metrol Tooling and Metrol Motion Control.

https://www.metrol.com/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • Bonus schemes / Performance increases
  • 21 days paid holiday + bank holidays

After this apprenticeship

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

Qualified CNC Programmer / Setter

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NORTHAMPTON COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041627.

Apply now

Closes in 21 days (Friday 31 July 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.