Machining Technician Apprenticeship
HILL ENGINEERING (CATFORD) LTD
ORPINGTON (BR5 3RZ)
Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 9 September 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 26 August 2026
Contents
Summary
The apprentice will work as part of Hill Engineering's engineering and manufacturing team, gaining hands-on experience across a range of engineering activities.
- Wage
-
£19,760 a year
- Training course
- Machining technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday 8.00am - 4.30pm.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 16 September 2026
- Duration
-
4 years
- 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
In short, the role involves learning to operate CNC Mill and Turn machines, working from engineering drawings, carrying out measurements and inspections, and developing skills in CNC / CAM programming.
Additional duties / responsibilities are listed below:
- Operating CNC milling and turning machines
- Reading engineering drawings
- Measuring and inspecting components
- Learning CNC / CAM programming
- Supporting production and experienced engineers
- Following health and safety procedures
Where you'll work
VALLEY HOUSE
CRAY AVENUE
ORPINGTON
BR5 3RZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
MID-KENT 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 apprentice will receive practical training in the workplace while attending MidKent College in Maidstone on weekly day release to complete the Level 3 Engineering Machining Technician qualification.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English Language (grade 4/C)
- Mathematics (grade 4/C)
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
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
The role would suit someone who is practical, accurate, technically minded and interested in engineering and manufacturing. Attention to detail is important, as the apprentice will be working with machinery, measurements and engineering specifications.
You will need to be comfortable working in a typical, busy Engineering workshop.
About this employer
Hill Engineering has been manufacturing precision engineered Ferrari replacement parts for over 25 years. Combining more than 75 years of engineering experience with modern CNC manufacturing, our components are designed to equal or exceed the quality of the original equipment.
Every component is manufactured under our ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, fully traceable throughout production and rigorously inspected before leaving our factory.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Over the course of the apprenticeship, the successful candidate will build the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to progress into a career as an engineering technician / CNC machinist.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
MID-KENT COLLEGE
MidKent College Apprenticeship Recruitment
apprenticeshiprecruitment@midkent.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000050000.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 9 September 2026 at 11:59pm)