VMC Engineer Apprentice

LINK BUSINESS LTD

WALSALL (WS8 7EX)

Closes in 7 days (Friday 16 January 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 7 January 2026


Summary

Vertical Machining Center (3 Axis) Programmer/Setter/Operator.
 

Wage

£15,311.40 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
Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Thursday, 7.00am - 4.00pm. Friday, 7.00am - 12.00pm.

39 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 26 February 2026

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

  • Learning to efficiently Programme Fanuc Controls online/offline
  • Learning how to make optimal efficiency of setting & cycle times
  • Optimising programmed tool paths & speeds & feeds
  • Setting tools to target
  • Cutting Mild & Stainless steels.
  • Operating machines to target
  • Assisting in Inspecting own & others work
  • Record Job tooling requirements and setting info
  • A 5s approach to working area cleanliness.
  • To be an efficiency champion with a focus on continuous improvement 

Where you'll work

TAURA HOUSE
COPPICE SIDE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
BROWNHILLS
WALSALL
WS8 7EX

Training

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

Training provider

SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE COLLEGE

Training course

Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
  • Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
  • Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
  • Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
  • Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
  • Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
  • Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
  • Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
  • Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
  • Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
  • Follow standard operating procedures.
  • Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
  • Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
  • Carry out and record learning and development activities.
  • Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
  • Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
  • Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
  • Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
  • Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
  • Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
  • Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
  • Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
  • Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
  • Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
  • Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
  • Follow standard operating procedures.
  • Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
  • Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
  • Carry out and record learning and development activities.
  • Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.

Training schedule

You will be shadowing qualified Engineers.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths & English (grade 4-9 (A*- C))

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Self Motivated
  • Machine programming

About this employer

Link Business is a family run, small but busy and fast paced sub contract machine shop and fabrication company that provides manufacturing solutions to regional, national and international customers from many industrial sectors. Based in Brownhills, we are looking to grow our teams and want to invest in apprentices to grow our team of Engineers. 

https://www.linkbusinessltd.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Fully qualified Support Technician.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000007343.

Apply now

Closes in 7 days (Friday 16 January 2026 at 11:59pm)