Machining Technician Apprentice
NEPTUNE INJECTION LIMITED
STEVENAGE (SG1 2DL)
Closes in 17 days (Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 12 June 2026
Contents
Summary
Join a well-established engineering company specialising in the design, manufacture, and modification of high-precision injection mould tools. You’ll be trained in a modern, fully equipped toolroom using advanced machinery and industry-leading software, setting you up for a long-term career in engineering.
- Wage
-
£17,264 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Machining technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
41.5 hours per week 08.00 - 17.00 Monday to Thursday, 08.00 - 16.00 Fridays
41 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years 6 months
- 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
During your apprenticeship, you will learn to:
- Operate manual milling machines and lathes
- Develop skills in CNC milling and turning
- Use surface and cylindrical grinding equipment
- Work with wire and spark erosion machines (manual & CNC)
- Assist with manufacture, modification and repair of injection mould tools
- Carry out tool fitting and assembly
- Use a variety of hand tools and workshop equipment
- Support design office activities and CAM programming
- Gain exposure to laser welding and hot runner systems
- Maintain a clean, safe and organised workshop environment
- Develop general engineering and toolmaking skills
Where you'll work
UNIT 10
BOWMANS TRADING ESTATE
BESSEMER DRIVE
STEVENAGE
SG1 2DL
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
OAKLANDS 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
Day release to Oaklands College - Welwyn Garden City Campus.
You will receive structured training covering:
- Toolmaking fundamentals
- CNC machining and programming
- Engineering drawing and design exposure
- Maintenance and fault-finding techniques
- Use of workshop machinery and safety procedures
More training information
Machining Technician Level 3.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade Level 4-9)
- Maths (grade Level 4-9)
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
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Patience
About this employer
At Neptune Injection Ltd, part of Neptune Engineering, we have built a strong reputation for quality, innovation, and flexibility. With over 50 years of combined experience, we are proud to be one of the UK’s leading specialists in injection moulding and mould tooling.
After this apprenticeship
- Opportunity to become a fully qualified, time-served Toolmaker
- Potential for long-term career progression within the company
- Development into advanced engineering roles
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
OAKLANDS COLLEGE
Will Ellis
will.ellis@oaklands.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000036861.
Apply now
Closes in 17 days (Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 11:59pm)