Level 2 Apprentice Fabricator
R H F FANS LTD
IRLAM (M44 5FS)
Closes in 16 days (Friday 25 September 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 8 September 2026
Contents
Summary
To train as a fabricator while completing a Level 2 Engineering Operative apprenticeship, cutting, shaping and forming sheet metal into the components from which RHF fans are built.
- Wage
-
£16,224 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
National Minimum Wage apprentice rate as a minimum. RHF Fans is an accredited real Living Wage employer. On successful completion into a permanent role, pay is at least the real Living Wage.
- Training course
- Engineering operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Thursday - 7am to 4pm and Friday - 7am to 12pm.
39 hours a week
- Start date
-
Thursday 1 October 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
You’ll start by learning the fundamentals before progressing onto specialist fabrication machinery.
You’ll learn to:
- Prepare, deburr and finish metal components
- Read engineering drawings and understand dimensions
- Mark out materials accurately
- Use measuring equipment, templates and gauges
- Load and operate laser cutting equipment
- Cut components to precise specifications
- Use press brakes to bend and form sheet metal
- Operate rolling and joining machinery
- Shape and assemble components
- Check your work against engineering drawings
- Carry out quality checks throughout the manufacturing process
- Complete production records accurately
- Carry out basic machine maintenance
- Work safely and keep your area clean and organised
As your confidence grows, you’ll move from supervised preparation work to setting and operating fabrication machinery and producing components yourself.
You’ll learn not just how to operate a machine, but why the machine is being used, how to set it up correctly and how to produce a quality component.
From raw material to finished product
Imagine taking a flat sheet of metal and turning it into a precision-engineered component that’s eventually part of a working industrial fan.
That’s fabrication.
You’ll see the results of your work as components move through the workshop and become part of the finished product.
It’s a career where you can look at something you’ve helped manufacture and say:
“I made that.”
Where you'll work
UNIT 2
FERROUS WAY GILCHRIST RD
NORTHBANK IND PARK
IRLAM
M44 5FS
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
TRAIN'D UP RAILWAY RESOURCING LIMITED
Training course
Engineering 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, environmental compliance procedures and systems and other relevant guidelines
- Identify and deal appropriately with any risks, hazards, hazardous situations and problems that may occur within the engineering environment within the limits of their responsibility
- Demonstrate effective communication skills which include oral, written, electronic
- Complete appropriate documentation accurately, efficiently and legibly using the correct terminology where required
- Obtain and follow the correct documentation, specifications and work instructions in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the engineering activities, extracting the necessary data/information from specification and related documentation
- Select and use appropriate tools, equipment and materials to carry out the engineering operation
- Deal appropriately with any problems that may occur within the manufacturing environment within the limits of their responsibility
- Work efficiently and effectively at all times maintaining workplace organisation and minimising waste
- Carryout fault location on appropriate equipment using suitable maintenance diagnostic techniques
- Carryout maintenance activities in line with work instructions
- Carryout tests on the maintained equipment in accordance with test schedule/defined test procedures
- Follow appropriate completion activities and restore equipment to service by replacing or repairing components
- Plan the mechanical manufacturing operation before they start
- Mount and set the required workholding devices
- Produce individual components, sub-assemblies or completed assemblies using mechanical manufacturing techniques
- Carryout quality checks during and after mechanical manufacturing operations
- Wire and terminate different types of cabling e.g. single core, multi core, screened, fire resistant, armoured, etc.
- Assemble and test a range of electrical components e.g. component panels, isolator switches, fuses, circuit breakers, contactors, relays, rail mounted terminal blocks, etc.
- Assemble and test a range of electronic components e.g. resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, etc.
- Follow appropriate completion activities and restore equipment/system to service after the assembly and testing has been completed
- Shape the materials using the appropriate methods and techniques
- Join the materials using the appropriate methods and techniques
- Produce components which meet the specification requirements
- Carryout quality checks during and after the fabrication activities
- Plan the materials, processing or finishing operation before they start
- Prepare equipment, tooling, materials, etc. and complete set up activities before carrying out the materials, processing or finishing operation
- Carry out the material, processing or finishing operation in line with specific safe working practices and specification requirements
- Carryout quality checks during and after the materials, processing or finishing operation
- Plan the technical support operation before they start
- Prepare equipment, tooling, materials, etc. and complete set up activities before carrying out the technical support
- Carry out the technical support operation in line with specific safe working practices and specification requirements
- Carryout quality checks during and after the technical support operation
Training schedule
From your first day, you’ll be employed and paid while gaining practical experience and working towards your apprenticeship qualification.
You’ll receive:
- Level 2 Engineering Operative apprenticeship
- Minimum 300 hours of off-the-job training delivered by Train’d Up
- Full training and qualification costs paid by RHF Fans
- A named workplace mentor
- Regular progress reviews
- PPE and tools provided
- Structured supervision as you develop your skills
- Hands-on experience across the fabrication department
- You’ll also work towards your English and maths requirements as part of the apprenticeship where needed
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English language (grade 3)
- Maths (grade 3)
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
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
Safety comes first.
You’ll be working around machinery, tools and materials, so safety is part of everything you do.
You’ll receive the appropriate PPE, training and supervision before operating equipment or carrying out tasks independently.
Manual handling training is also provided, with lifting and handling limits based on the relevant risk assessments.
Why choose fabrication?
If you enjoy making things, working with machinery and seeing a physical result from your work, fabrication could be a great place to start your engineering career.
You won’t spend your apprenticeship just watching someone else work.
You’ll learn the skills, gain qualifications, operate real machinery and gradually take on more responsibility as your confidence grows.
Start with a sheet of metal. Finish with a career.
About this employer
About RHF
RHF Fans is a family-owned and operated business. Founded in 1981, our passion for fan manufacturing has been passed down through generations. Our pride in our heritage, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence have helped us maintain our ISO9001 certification.
We have been at the forefront of energy efficiency in fan manufacturing, consistently delivering precision-engineered solutions that have set industry standards. But our success wouldn’t be possible without our highly skilled workshop and office staff. With decades of experience, our team ensures that every fan we produce meets the highest quality and performance standards.
Summary of Position
To train as a fabricator while completing a Level 2 Engineering Operative apprenticeship, cutting, shaping and forming sheet metal into the components from which RHF fans are built.
The role begins with supervised preparation and finishing work and progresses to the operation of fabrication machinery. On completion the apprentice will be able to work from an engineering drawing, set and operate the machinery, produce components to specification, and check their own work.
No previous experience is required. Full training is provided.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
This apprenticeship is designed to give you the skills and experience to build a long-term career in manufacturing and engineering.
As you develop, you could progress into roles such as:
Apprentice Fabricator → Fabricator → Senior Fabricator → Fabrication Specialist → Fabrication Supervisor
You could also develop your skills into wider manufacturing, production or engineering roles.
A permanent fabricator position is available on successful completion of the apprenticeship, subject to business needs.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
TRAIN'D UP RAILWAY RESOURCING LIMITED
Train'd Up recruitment team
recruitment@traindup.org
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000052033.
Apply now
Closes in 16 days (Friday 25 September 2026 at 11:59pm)