Engineering Lab Technician Apprentice
METAL PROCESS SERVICES LTD
NOTTINGHAM (NG16 6LE)
Closes on Monday 27 July 2026
Posted on 19 June 2026
Contents
Summary
The Apprenticeship role is to be predominantly laboratory based where the successful candidate will be testing the coatings we apply to aerospace components using various equipment and tools. You will learn to carry out hardness testing, microscopy, tensile testing and more.
- Wage
-
£19,760 a year
- Training course
- Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Thursday, 7.00am - 4.00pm.
Friday, 7.00am - 11.30am.
38 hours 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
- Testing and approval of plasma and HVOF coated test pieces
o Sectioning and mounting
o Polishing of Metallurgical specimens
o Rockwell and Vickers hardness testing
o Assessing coatings on the microscope and generating report.
o Progressing to approval of reports and signing jobs as compliant / non compliant on behalf of the customer - Assist with TPM schedule in the laboratory – calibration of hardness testers, checking coolant / degreaser concentrations etc.
- Tensile testing of Plasma and HVOF coatings in support of R & D and NPI projects
- Assisting the wider engineering team with coating development and NPI activities
Where you'll work
WHARF ROAD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
PINXTON
NOTTINGHAM
NG16 6LE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
WEST NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 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
This programme is delivered via a day release delivery model which means that one day per week, your attendance is required at our Engineering Campus. This attendance is required during term time only.
You will work with expert assessors and tutors to develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours within the profession.
You will experience a blended learning model.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
Desirable 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
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Initiative
About this employer
Metal Process Services Ltd provide uniquely integrated process engineering solutions.
We provide coating and finishing services on components from 1mm to 2 metres in diameter predominantly for the Space, Aerospace and Industrial Gas Turbine markets but the technologies employed have applications in a wide range of other sectors:
Space
Aerospace
IGT Industrial Gas Turbine
Oil
Gas
Biochemical
Textile
Automotive
Construction
https://www.metalprocessservices.com/about (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Christmas shutdown on top of annual leave entitlement.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Full time permanent role upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
WEST NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COLLEGE
Libby
apprenticeships@wnc.ac.uk
01623 900290
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000037537.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 27 July 2026