Machining Apprentice
FORT VALE ENGINEERING LIMITED
Burnley (BB12 7ND)
Closes in 28 days (Friday 13 February 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 15 January 2026
Contents
Summary
Join as an apprentice mechanical engineer, honing skills in machining. Gain hands-on experience in various machining areas, assembly, and inspection. Learn to machine components using conventional and CNC tools.
- Wage
-
£14,918.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Machining technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Thursday, 07:30 - 16:15 and Friday, 07:30 - 12:30
38 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years 6 months
- Positions available
-
5
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
- Conduct safety checks and performance monitoring for machining, associated equipment and surrounding work area
- Receive, read and interpret engineering data and documentation, engineering drawings and technical data
- Contribute to or plan the days machining schedule
- Check and inspect materials to be machined to ensure that they conform to quality standards. Identify and report any issues or faults such as incorrect grades, dimensions and thicknesses
- Plan and prepare sequence for the machining activities
- Ensure that the correct tooling, work holding, and materials are used
- This applies to conventional complex or CNC complex machining tasks
- Set up, operate, adjust or edit conventional or CNC machining equipment settings and programmes for the machine tool being used
- Machine high-quality complex components using a broad range of processes. For example, internal or external thread cutting, slots and pockets, internal or external under cutting. Also profile forms, tapered and eccentric diameters, bored holes, and tee slots
- Inspect components produced. Adjust the machining equipment or programme and tooling to ensure components meet quality requirements
- Identify, communicate and report issues affecting machining component quality, quantity and deadlines
- Complete machining documentation at all stages of the work activity. For example, standard operational procedures, control documentation and contribution to audits
- Maintain and restore the machining work area, performing housekeeping and waste management as appropriate
- Ensure tools, unused materials and equipment are returned to a safe, clean and approved condition on completion of machining work
- Keep stakeholders for example, customers, colleagues and line managers informed about machining work
- Perform scheduled daily inspection and machine shut down or safe isolation
- Support continuous improvement activity to address business problems
Where you'll work
Calder Vale Park Simonstone Lane Simonstone
Burnley
BB12 7ND
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BURNLEY 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
The training for this apprenticeship will be conducted through Burnley College
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
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Initiative
About this employer
Fort Vale Engineering Limited is the world leader in the design and manufacture of manways, safety valves and loading and discharge systems for the transportation, transfer and storage of bulk liquids and liquefied gas. Fort Vale owns self-sufficient manufacturing facilities, having total control over all manufacturing processes from foundry to testing. From initial research and development to the final product, Fort Vale can supply quality equipment, both standard and bespoke, to meet with each client’s requirements.
https://www.fortvale.com/ (opens in new tab)
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
- There will be progression routes available following the completion of the apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BURNLEY COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000008960.
Apply now
Closes in 28 days (Friday 13 February 2026 at 11:59pm)