Composite Level 3 Manufacturing Apprentice

Summary

In this role, you will support the Manufacturing and Engineering teams in the production of aerospace components using composite materials. You’ll gain hands-on experience manufacturing composite components developing practical skills and engineering knowledge in a safety-conscious and innovative environment.

Wage

£18,026 a year

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Apprentice salaries increase annually with experience and are reviewed each September, depending on individual performance. Apprentices are also included in Parker Meggitt's bonus scheme, which pays out based on company performance.

Training course

Composites technician (level 3)

Hours

Your contracted hours each week throughout your apprenticeship will be 37 hours, Monday - Friday.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

3 years

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

Composite Manufacturing: Support the production of aerospace components using composite materials.
Testing & Calibration: Assist with lab testing and machine calibration to ensure quality and accuracy.
Engineering Support: Apply general engineering skills and support process improvements.
System & Equipment Setup: Maintain systems and help set up tools and equipment for daily tasks.
Health & Safety: Follow all health and safety procedures while working on-site.
Technical Admin: Take notes in meetings and help track technical actions and updates.
Workshop Operations: Use workshop machinery and tools, following clear instructions.
Problem Solving: Help identify and resolve basic technical issues on the shop floor.

Where you'll work

Horizon Technology Park
Six Hills Way
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG1 2DH

Training

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

College or training organisation

WESTON COLLEGE OF FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Your training course

Composites technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand task.
Plan work. Identify and organise resources.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace.
Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
Prepare and use mould tools.
Select and check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record.
Use or operate hand tools, equipment, and machinery.
Store mould tools, hand tools, and equipment.
Select, check, and prepare materials for example, weigh resins, cut reinforcement.
Follow quality control processes during manufacture for example, check for contaminants, record batch numbers or expiry dates.
Apply laminate to mould for example, cut, add darts, corner definition, orientation, position, and order.
Complete preparation for and start curing process for example, select and apply consumables for example vacuum bag, infuse with resin, add heat or pressure.
Extract product from mould (break out).
Conduct final product quality assurance procedure. For example, conduct grading parameters checks (size, appearance, weight), and take samples for laboratory testing.
Identify issues for example, de-laminations, inclusions, surface defects, surface imperfections, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
Record or enter data - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
Interpret data for example, defect data and geometrical measurements. Use data to validate suggestions.
Investigate a problem to identify the underlying cause. Identify a solution to the problem.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process, or task.
Apply team working principles.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Use information technology for work tasks. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand task.
Plan work. Identify and organise resources.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace.
Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
Prepare and use mould tools.
Select and check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record.
Use or operate hand tools, equipment, and machinery.
Store mould tools, hand tools, and equipment.
Select, check, and prepare materials for example, weigh resins, cut reinforcement.
Follow quality control processes during manufacture for example, check for contaminants, record batch numbers or expiry dates.
Apply laminate to mould for example, cut, add darts, corner definition, orientation, position, and order.
Complete preparation for and start curing process for example, select and apply consumables for example vacuum bag, infuse with resin, add heat or pressure.
Extract product from mould (break out).
Conduct final product quality assurance procedure. For example, conduct grading parameters checks (size, appearance, weight), and take samples for laboratory testing.
Identify issues for example, de-laminations, inclusions, surface defects, surface imperfections, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
Record or enter data - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
Interpret data for example, defect data and geometrical measurements. Use data to validate suggestions.
Investigate a problem to identify the underlying cause. Identify a solution to the problem.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process, or task.
Apply team working principles.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Use information technology for work tasks. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.

Your training plan

Travel will be required for approximately 1 week per month to Weston-Super-Mare to attend college during the first year.

More training information

Block release training.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

2 Other Subjects (grade 4 or above / C or above)
English (grade 4 and above / C or above)
Maths (grade 4 or above / C or above)
STEM Subject (grade 4 or above / C or above)

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
IT skills
Attention to detail
Problem solving skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Hand skills

Other requirements

This position will require travel and overnight stays.

About this company

Parker Meggitt is a business segment of Parker Aerospace. At Parker Aerospace, we develop technologies and innovative solutions that enable reliable, efficient and increasingly sustainable flight, for the lifecycle of the aircraft, including aftermarket support. Our passionate people, together with our breadth of differentiated technologies, ensure that we make the extraordinary happen and continue to shape the future of aviation in partnership with our customers. Joining our team means you're helping to deliver our purpose of 'Enabling Engineering Breakthroughs that Lead to a Better Tomorrow'. A career at Parker Meggitt offers boundless potential for professional and personal growth. You will work alongside the brightest minds in the world, help develop innovative technology and products, and contribute to our company's goal of solving the world's greatest engineering challenges. We have succeeded in employing the top talent in the industry by focusing our hiring efforts on the individual, not the job description. If you are an inquisitive thinker with great ideas and a desire to succeed, we will find the perfect spot for you on our team.

Company benefits

Company Bonus Pension scheme and generous life assurance. Work laptop provided. Access to health and wellbeing support. Access to employee discounts. Cycle to work scheme.

After this apprenticeship

Upon successful completion of the programme — and subject to performance — you may have the opportunity to move into a permanent role within the team or business area where you completed your apprenticeship.

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