Apprentice CNC Machinist

Summary

Supply Plus Ltd manufactures fire rescue ladders and hose reels for the fire industry. Manufacture includes all the machining and fabrication of the components as well as final assembly. They are currently looking for an apprentice CNC Machinist to join and learn within their team.

Wage

£17,000 a year

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There is an annual bonus paid depending on the company profit for that financial year. A mentor is assigned to the apprentice.

Training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Thursday, between 7:30am and 4pm, Friday between 7:30 am and 12:30pm

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 18 August 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

Reading a drawing and programming a machine to manufacture the component
Setting the machine with the tools required
Carrying out the necessary quality checks using appropriate measuring equipment

Where you'll work

Supply Ltd, 1 Papworth Business Park, Stirling Way
Cambridge
CB23 3GY

Training

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

College or training organisation

WEST SUFFOLK COLLEGE

Your training course

Machining technician (level 3)

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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

The learner will be studying the Machining Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard qualification
Day release to West Suffolk College

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Maths and English (grade 4-9)

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
Problem solving skills
Logical
Team working
Number skills

Other requirements

The company has 6 fully CNC lathes / mill and 5 manual machines inside the factory. This involves collecting all the material required for the job, programming and setting the machine. Once welding is complete the individual will be required to check the component to drawing. All tasks of a machinist sits with the apprentice.

About this company

Design, manufacture, repair and servicing of aluminium ladders, shutters and gantries for the fire, police and commercial market worldwide. Delivery of ladder Maintenance and Repair courses. Design and manufacture of hose reels, road and tanker fittings and cable drums. The manufacture of pressure and vacuum relief valves. Procurement stockholding and maintenance of emergency fire and rescue equipment

After this apprenticeship

From time-to-time employees leave / retire and it is the policy that wherever possible vacancies are filled internally.

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The contact for this apprenticeship is: