Mechanical Engineer Apprentice
M V P ENGINEERING LTD
Woodbridge (IP12 1BW)
Closes in 19 days (Saturday 15 August 2026)
Posted on 23 July 2026
Contents
Summary
We are looking for an apprentice to join our team where they will receive both college and in-house training from our highly skilled personnel. They will learn how to operate both manual and CNC machines, whilst acquiring a variety of other skills involved within the manufacturing industry.
- Wage
-
£17,888 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
- Overtime available at 1.33 x standard rate.
- Training course
- Machining technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday 8.00am - 4.30pm with a half hour break each day from 1.00pm - 1.30pm.
40 hours 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
Day to day responsibilities include:
- To operate machines within safety guidelines
- Cleaning and Deburring components
- Carry out basic maintenance of machines including cleaning, filling coolant and oil
- Inspect own work and work to Company instructions and drawings
- Maintain a safe working environment and ensure compliance with health and safety
- Conduct safety checks and performance monitoring for machining, associated equipment and surrounding work area.
- Receive, read and interpret engineering data and documentation, engineering drawings and technical data
- Contribute to or plan the days machining schedule
- Check and inspect materials to be machined to ensure that they conform to quality standards. Identify and report any issues or faults such as incorrect grades, dimensions and thicknesses
- Set up, operate, adjust or edit conventional or CNC machining equipment settings and programmes for the machine tool being used
- Inspect components produced. Adjust the machining equipment or programme and tooling to ensure components meet quality requirements
- Identify, communicate and report issues affecting machining component quality, quantity and deadlines
- Complete machining documentation at all stages of the work activity. For example, standard operational procedures, control documentation and contribution to audits
- Maintain and restore the machining work area, performing housekeeping and waste management as appropriate
- Ensure tools, unused materials and equipment are returned to a safe, clean and approved condition on completion of machining work
- Keep stakeholders for example, colleagues and line managers informed about machining work
- Perform scheduled daily inspection and machine shut down or safe isolation
- Support continuous improvement activity to address business problems
- Boxing and packaging components
Where you'll work
M V P Engineering
Ferry Quay
Woodbridge
IP12 1BW
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
COLCHESTER INSTITUTE
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
The apprentice will be working towards the Level 3 Machining Technician Apprenticeship Standard. Qualifications include:
- EAL Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (Development Competence).
- City and Guilds Machining technician.
- Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Machining) (Development Technical Knowledge).
More training information
- This is a 4 year apprenticeship with college attendance required one day per week.
- College attendance will be at our Colchester Institute - Braintree Campus.
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
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Patience
About this employer
Combining vast experience in the design and manufacture of CNC machined components and a dedication to customer-oriented solutions, our aim is to deliver innovative solutions that help you to meet and exceed your business goals. MVP Engineering ltd produce high quality components. From materials including Plastic - Bronze - Stainless steel - Duplex - Super duplex - Nickel alloy - Titanium. Components from casting - fabrication - bar - billet. We work together to create innovative solutions which help our customers operate more efficiently and effectively.
http://mvpengineering.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Benefits include:
- Company pension scheme.
- On site parking.
- Workwear and protective equipment will be provided.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
This is a full-time position with opportunities for career progression. We hope that by giving our apprentices a solid foundation in the industry that they can then go on to become key members of the business, progressing to operating CNC machines.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
COLCHESTER INSTITUTE
Colchester Institute - Apprenticeships Team
ci.apprenticeships@colchester.ac.uk
01206712043
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000044222.
Apply now
Closes in 19 days (Saturday 15 August 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.