Welding Fabricator Apprentice
UNIPRES (UK) LIMITED
Tyne And Wear (SR5 3NT)
Closes in 12 days (Monday 5 October 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 21 September 2026
Contents
Summary
The Kaizen Department are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Welder Fabricator Apprentice to join their growing team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to learn a skilled trade while gaining hands-on experience working alongside experienced professionals.
- Wage
-
£17,471.04 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Yearly pay increase, performance dependant.
- Training course
- Metal fabricator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday- Thursday, 6:45am- 3:03pm (including set breaks).
Friday college day release time throughout the apprenticeship.
39 hours a week
- Start date
-
Thursday 15 October 2026
- Duration
-
3 years 6 months
- 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
As an apprentice you will actively participate in Kaizen and continuous improvement activities.
Identify opportunities to reduce:
- Waste
- Downtime
- Manual handling
- Scrap and rework
- Changeover time
- Unnecessary movement
- Production bottlenecks
You will also:
- Respond to improvement requests from production teams.
- Develop practical fabrication solutions to improve manufacturing processes
- Support 5S activities within the fabrication and maintenance areas
- Keep work areas organised, clean and safe
Welding & Fabrication:
- Carry out MIG/MAG, TIG and other appropriate welding processes as required
- Fabricate components and structures from drawings, sketches and measurements
- Cut, drill, grind, bend and prepare materials using appropriate equipment
- Manufacture guards, brackets, frames, platforms, supports and other fabricated items
- Carry out repair welding on production equipment, fixtures and stillages
- Select appropriate materials, welding processes and consumables for each job
Production Support
- Respond to urgent fabrication and repair requirements from Production.
- Minimise production downtime by completing repairs efficiently and safely
- Support the maintenance team with fabrication and welding requirements
- Manufacture temporary or permanent solutions where appropriate and authorised
- Assist with modifications to jigs, fixtures, tooling and production equipment
- Work closely with Production Engineering to implement improvement projects
Where you'll work
Cherry Blossom Way
Sunderland
Tyne And Wear
SR5 3NT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CITY OF SUNDERLAND COLLEGE
Training course
Metal fabricator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Comply with environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Obtain, check and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
- Carry out relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity.
- Undertake the work activity using the correct processes, procedures and equipment.
- Carry out the required checks (such as quality, compliance or testing) using the correct procedures, processes and/or equipment.
- Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
- Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
- Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
- Identify and follow correct Metal work instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
- Mark out using appropriate tools and techniques.
- Cut and form Metal for the production or maintenance of fabricated products.
- Produce and assemble Metal products to required specification and quality requirements.
- Identify and follow correct joining instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
- Carry out the relevant preparation before starting the joining fabrication activity.
- Set up, check, adjust and use joining and related equipment.
- Weld joints in accordance with approved welding procedures and quality requirements.
- Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Comply with environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Obtain, check and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
- Carry out relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity.
- Undertake the work activity using the correct processes, procedures and equipment.
- Carry out the required checks (such as quality, compliance or testing) using the correct procedures, processes and/or equipment.
- Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
- Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
- Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
- Identify and follow correct Metal work instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
- Mark out using appropriate tools and techniques.
- Cut and form Metal for the production or maintenance of fabricated products.
- Produce and assemble Metal products to required specification and quality requirements.
- Identify and follow correct joining instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
- Carry out the relevant preparation before starting the joining fabrication activity.
- Set up, check, adjust and use joining and related equipment.
- Weld joints in accordance with approved welding procedures and quality requirements.
Training schedule
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4 or C and above)
- Maths (grade 4 or C and above)
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
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Work under own initiative
- Time Management
About this employer
Unipres UK Ltd is a first tier supplier and manufactures steel car components for Nissan, Renault and Honda. Our plant is based in Sunderland and has been established for over 30 years. We are a global company powered by local people – focused on achieving product excellence, committed to developing our skilled workforce and dedicated to driving forward innovation across our industry. We currently have around 1000 people employed at Unipres (UK).
https://unipres.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Company Benefits
- Bereavement leave
- Canteen
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Free parking
- Health & Well-being Programme
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Profit sharing
- Sick pay
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
The apprentice on successful completion of their apprenticeship will be offered a full-time role within the Kaizen department.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
UNIPRES (UK) LIMITED
Miss Georgia J Hales
georgia.hales@upuk-unipres.com
0191 418 2000
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000054618.
Apply now
Closes in 12 days (Monday 5 October 2026 at 11:59pm)