CNC Engineering Apprentice
INSTRUMENT MACHINING SERVICES LTD
THETFORD (IP24 1HZ)
Closes in 7 days (Friday 14 August 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 31 July 2026
Contents
Summary
Instrument Machining Services Ltd is a small company located on the outskirts of Thetford that pride ourselves not only on the high-quality parts we produce for the aerospace industry but also the clean work environment in which we do so.
- Wage
-
£15,912 a year
- Training course
- Machining technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday- Thursday between 8.00 and 16:30, Friday between 7:30 and 11:30
36 hours 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
The successful candidate will be working alongside our current CNC engineers in the factory reporting to the factory floor team leader.
There day to day responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
- Helping to keep the machines producing high quality parts
- Inspecting parts to ensure they are correct to drawing
- Ensuring that they keep there area neat and tidy
- Assisting with deburring parts to ensure they meet the high standards our customers have come to expect
- Upholding and adhering to all health and safety policy’s at all times
- Reporting any issues to factory floor team leader or senior members of staff
- Ensuring that they are meeting all requirements set out by the college
Where you'll work
37 HOWLETT WAY
THETFORD
IP24 1HZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
WEST SUFFOLK 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
- The learner will be studying the Machining Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard qualification
- Day release to West Suffolk College
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 5)
- Maths (grade 5)
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
- Number skills
- Team working
- Initiative
About this employer
We are a small, well-established precision engineering company based on the outskirts of Thetford. At Instrument Machining Services, we take great pride in producing high-quality precision components for the aerospace industry, where accuracy, reliability, and attention to detail are essential.
http://www.instrumentmachiningserviceltd.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- Upon completion of your Apprenticeship there may be the opportunity for a full-time role as a CNC setter operator
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
WEST SUFFOLK COLLEGE
apprenticeships@easterneducationgroup.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000045775.
Apply now
Closes in 7 days (Friday 14 August 2026 at 11:59pm)