Production Operative Apprentice
UNIVERSAL FABRICATIONS (COVENTRY) LTD
WARKS (CV11 6BX)
Closes in 6 days (Monday 18 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 4 August 2025
Contents
Summary
Gain hands-on experience across all areas of our engineering and fabrication business. From laser cutting and welding to CAD and production planning, you’ll rotate through departments and learn practical skills from experienced professionals. A great opportunity to start a long-term career in advanced manufacturing.
- Wage
-
£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Machining technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
7:30am - 4:30pm Monday to Thursday and 7am - 1pm Friday
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 25 August 2025
- Duration
-
1 year
- 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
The apprentice will complete rotations across key departments, spending around three months in each to gain a broad set of skills and experience. These include:
- Laser cutting, CAD design, and nesting
- Bending and forming of metal components
- MIG and TIG welding
- Robotic welding operations
- Linishing and fettling
- Product assembly and packing
- Office-based work: admin, estimating, and order processing
- Production support and planning
In addition to these departmental rotations, you will also:
- Perform regular safety checks and monitor the condition and performance of machines and the surrounding work area
- Read and interpret engineering drawings, technical documents, and specifications accurately
- Assist in planning and organising daily machining tasks
- Check incoming materials for correct dimensions, grades, and conformance to quality standards
- Identify and report any defects, deviations, or quality concerns
- Plan the sequence of machining operations, ensuring correct tools, fixtures, and materials are prepared
- Set up and operate both conventional and CNC machinery for complex machining tasks
- Machine high-precision components using a range of techniques, such as thread cutting, profiling, boring, slotting, and undercutting
- Inspect completed parts, make necessary equipment or program adjustments, and ensure all components meet required tolerances
- Maintain accurate records and documentation throughout the machining process
- Keep the work area clean and organised, returning tools and materials to their designated locations
- Communicate effectively with team members, supervisors, and other stakeholders regarding progress or issues
- Perform daily machine inspections, safe shutdowns, or isolation procedures
- Participate in continuous improvement activities to help drive efficiency and solve operational challenges
Where you'll work
WHITACRE ROAD INDUSTRIAL EST
NUNEATON
WARKS
CV11 6BX
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SANDWELL COLLEGE
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.
Training schedule
Machining Technician Level 3 (A level) Apprenticeship Standard:
Over a 12-month period, you will be working at the company for four days a week and then 1 day a week you will be in attendance at Sandwell College Engineering Centre
More training information
Please note shortlisted applicants will be required to complete a two-week unpaid work experience trial as part of the selection process.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
About this employer
Sheet Metal Fabrication Experts Since 1978 Universal Fabrications is a leading provider of subcontracted Fabricated and Machined parts to UK Product Makers. Spanning across an expansive 40,000 sq. ft of manufacturing space, we’re not just a supplier, we’re a supportive manufacturer, dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by assembly plants and their purchasing teams. From cutting and punching to bending and forming, from MIG/TIG to laser and robot welding, we offer a full range of manufacturing operations to customers technical needs.
After this apprenticeship
To progress within the business as a full-time employee.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SANDWELL COLLEGE
Gemma Taylor
apprentice@sandwell.ac.uk
0121 667 5018
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000335278.
Apply now
Closes in 6 days (Monday 18 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
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