Apprentice Metal Fabricator
Hughes Fabrications
Cheshire (CW9 7LU)
Closes in 11 days (Monday 23 June 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 17 March 2025
Contents
Summary
An excellent opportunity to start a solid career in metal fabrication at a small, family firm, which combines a highly skilled team with cutting-edge technology to provide a high-quality service to customers from a wide range of different industries.
- Wage
-
£15,311.40 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Metal fabricator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Thursday between 8am to 4.30pm, Friday: 8:00am to 3:30pm.
39 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 7 July 2025
- 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
This is an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to work in a multidisciplined metal fabrication company. Working alongside experienced staff to gain knowledge and skills in all aspects of metal fabrication, including:
- Welding using MIG, TIG, and MMA
- Operation of laser cutting and water jet cutting machines
- Operation of press brakes
- Engineering maintenance
- Working at customer sites to install our work or complete maintenance
Initial Job duties will include:
- Assisting senior welder/fabricators to complete their work
- Cleaning tools, maintaining equipment, and tidying work area
- Ensure you always wear your mandatory PPE
- Undertake any other task as reasonably instructed by a superior
- Must be prepared to work within and as part of a team, be able to interact with colleagues and management at all levels
Once the candidate is deemed competent:
- Cutting materials into the required shapes, checking dimensions and thicknesses
- Welding or joining metal
- Following engineering plans, drawings, and instructions
- Operating tools and machinery and welding equipment
Where you'll work
Unit 5
Denton Drive
Northwich
Cheshire
CW9 7LU
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
CHESHIRE COLLEGE SOUTH AND WEST
Your 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.
Your training plan
The candidate will follow a Level 3 Apprenticeship programme and study towards a full standard as a Metal Fabricator. This training will be structured and delivered by Cheshire College - South & West. If you do not already hold GCSEs at grade A-D/8-4 or equivalents in English and maths, you will complete Functional Skills in the related subjects to attain Level 2 Functional Skills.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
- English (grade C/4)
- Maths (grade C/4)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Logical
- Team working
- Professional
- Enthusiastic
- Reliable
About this company
Hughes Fabrications was set up 45 years ago and has developed into a well-respected, multi-service metal fabrication firm which combines the specialist skills of its dedicated team with the latest sophisticated technology to achieve the best results for their customers. The company’s sought-after services, used by a range of industries, include laser cutting, water jet cutting, bending, forming, welding and assembly. Work ranges from one off commissions such as an intricately-designed beacon to celebrate the late Queen’s platinum jubilee to high volume batch work for prestigious clients in the automobile and food industries. Their creative work includes many ‘Welcome to’ village signs with laser cut images representing the activities which take place in the particular community. The firm was set up by Ian Hughes, whose son Iain, is now the Managing Director. One of their first apprentices has now been with the company for 40 years and will be there to help guide the next generation of Hughes apprentices. Successful apprenticeship candidates will gain specialist skills and support the company with its further development which includes continued investment in new machinery and equipment. All staff are trained on the state-of-the-art equipment giving everyone the chance to rotate around the workshop and gain experience using the machinery, as well as ensuring their fabrication skills are kept up to date.
After this apprenticeship
To become a full-time and highly skilled member of the team following on from successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CHESHIRE COLLEGE SOUTH AND WEST
Sophie Cain
sophie.cain@ccsw.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000310050.
Apply now
Closes in 11 days (Monday 23 June 2025 at 11:59pm)
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