Machining Technician Apprentice

Summary

Are you ready to kickstart a career in engineering and manufacturing? As a Machining Technician, you'll be at the heart of creating precision components used in everything from aeroplanes to medical equipment.

Wage

£14,918.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday – Friday, between 8am – 4pm.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

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

Using advanced machines like CNC lathes and milling machines, you'll learn to produce top-quality parts from metals and specialist materials.

You'll gain skills in reading technical drawings, setting up and operating machinery, and even writing and validating CNC programs. Plus, you'll inspect finished parts to ensure they meet exact standards. This role is perfect for someone who loves hands-on work, problem-solving, and working with cutting-edge technology.

Start your journey towards a rewarding career where precision and creativity meet!

The opportunity at SMC is exciting for individuals passionate about engineering and curious about the manufacturing industry.

Located in Milton Keynes.

About you:
You’ll be able to demonstrate your interest in engineering through hobbies (car mechanics, fixing your bike etc..) and possible work experience. The successful applicant will have a strong desire to learn, good attention to detail, be organised and able to manage their time and own workload. Good communication and team working skills are essential.

Salary - Competitive.

We reserve the right to close applications earlier than the specified closing date if volume has been reached.

Where you'll work

Vincent Avenue
Milton Keynes
MK8 0AN

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE

Your 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.

Your training plan

Apprentices will be follow the Machining Technician Apprenticeship Standard with Milton Keynes College, Innovation & Technology Centre one day a week.

As an apprentice, you’ll benefit from the support of dedicated line managers, colleagues, and an Apprenticeship Manager to guide your development and provide valuable opportunities.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

5 GCSE's including Maths & English (grade 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

About this company

You’d be amazed at the things we get involved with…We’ve got airplanes into the air, cars on the road, battened down the hatches on board ship, and reduced the CO2 footprint of commercial freight. We’ve put bread on your table, pulled you a pint, put the shirt on your back and a phone in your pocket. Imagine working for us - a global market leader in pneumatic and automation technology, where innovation and customer satisfaction is at the forefront of what we do.

After this apprenticeship

A permanent position may be on offer upon successful completion of the Apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: