Apprentice Composite Technician
3D COMPOSITE MANUFACTURING LTD
CHICHESTER (PO18 9HP)
Closes in 13 days (Friday 15 May 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 1 May 2026
Contents
Summary
3DCM (3D Composite Manufacturing Ltd) is an industry-leading composite manufacturer, committed to delivering high-quality products and exceptional customer service. They are looking for Apprentice Composite Technicians wanting to kick-start a career in advanced manufacturing, developing real-world skills in a collaborative environment.
- Wage
-
£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Composites technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 8.00am - 4.00pm with half hour for lunch. One day at college in Chichester.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 5 October 2026
- Duration
-
3 years
- Positions available
-
10
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
There are 10 Apprentice Composite Technicians places available to join a very friendly and supportive team from October 2026. You’ll work on high-performance components across industries like motorsport and automotive, offering a great platform to learn, grow and build your career.
As an apprentice you will work full time for 3DCM whilst studying for a Composite Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship. 3D Composites Manufacturing Ltd prides itself on delivering high quality products, with excellent customer service, whilst ensuring that they create a great working environment for everyone. 3D Composite Manufacturing Ltd is an inclusive & equal opportunities employer.
As an Apprentice for 3DCM you will learn:
- To select the right techniques and processes to manufacture composite components
- Handle composite materials safely and follow key H&S procedures
- Store and apply materials correctly for optimal performance
- Work with resins and adhesives for bonding and assembly
- Produce and prepare carbon fibre mould tools
- Manufacture high-quality components across multiple sectors
- Read and interpret technical drawings and process documents
- Laminate complex geometries and carry out assembly tasks
- Apply quality control, inspection, and basic project management methods
Who you will be:
- 3DCM are looking for candidates who will strive to carve out a career in manufacturing and engineering of motorsports and automotive components
- Successful candidates will already have achieved GCSE in maths and English with at least a Grade 4/C
- A team player who understands and displays a strong work ethic and possesses great attention to detail
- Able to get to work each day. Due to the company location, motorised transport will be essential to enable you to get to site every day (car/motorcycle preferred due to remote location and nature of the roads)
Where you'll work
CROWS HALL FARM
CHILGROVE ROAD
LAVANT
CHICHESTER
PO18 9HP
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CHICHESTER COLLEGE GROUP
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.
Training schedule
Composite Technicians Level 3 Apprenticeship On the job training and mentoring with experienced colleagues.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- Maths (grade 9-4)
- English (grade 9-4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Willingness to learn
- Ability to work as a team
- Reliable
- Punctual
- Hardworking
- Positive can-do attitude
- Good communication skills
- Strong work ethic
- Strong Numeracy Skills
- Dedication
Other requirements
What you need to know:
- This apprenticeship requires full-time commitment of a minimum 40 hours per week including attendance at Chichester College
- This is a 36-month apprenticeship (training period) excluding End Point Assessment starting in October 2026 and ending in 2029 - only applicants who can commit to the full 3 years should apply
- You MUST BE free from full-time education to be eligible to apply for an apprenticeship
- You MUST HAVE BEEN resident in the UK for a minimum of 3 years prior to the start of learning and have work authorisation for the UK
- The location is remote with no public transport and only accessed by rural roads so applicants need to have appropriate means of transport
About this employer
3D Composite Manufacturing Ltd is a fast-growing composite manufacturing company, specialising in the production of pre-preg fibre components, supporting multiple Formula One Teams. The aim of 3DCM is to produce high quality and on-time results, whilst advocating and nurturing close and confidential customer relationships. 3DCM operates an ISO9001 accredited Quality Management System which demonstrates production control, conformance and traceability. An objective of 3DCM is to continually develop its crew of Technician colleagues, therefore always enhancing a motivated, dedicated and fully skilled team
After this apprenticeship
- Apprentices will have the opportunity to experience different disciplines and departments within the organisation
- Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship there is potential to continue study at Level 4 and beyond
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CHICHESTER COLLEGE GROUP
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000029618.
Apply now
Closes in 13 days (Friday 15 May 2026 at 11:59pm)