Composites Technician Apprentice (Level 3)
SGI Composites
Colchester (CO2 8JF)
Closes in 29 days (Saturday 15 August 2026)
Posted on 16 July 2026
Contents
Summary
Join SGI Composites – a UK-leading GRP and FRP manufacturer based in Colchester – and earn while you learn. You will develop hands-on skills in composite manufacturing, working alongside experienced technicians to produce high-quality industrial and commercial composite products.
- Wage
-
£17,680 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 to Friday, 7:45am - 5:00pm, with a 15-minute tea break and 30 minutes unpaid lunch break. Additional short breaks in line with Working Time Regulations 1998.
42 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 7 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years
- 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
Role responsibilities will include:
- Prepare composite materials including GRP and FRP laminates, resins, and fibreglass in line with production schedules and quality specifications
- Operate hand lay-up and spray-up moulding processes under the supervision of senior technicians, developing proficiency in a range of composite manufacturing techniques
- Assist in the fabrication, trimming, and finishing of composite components such as tanks, bunds, enclosures, anti-slip systems, and architectural mouldings
- Support site installation activities including the application of protective linings and coatings to industrial structures such as storage tanks, bund walls, and cooling towers
- Carry out surface preparation tasks including abrasive blasting and cleaning of substrates prior to lining or coating application, following COSHH and PPE requirements at all times
- Conduct quality checks on finished components, identifying and reporting defects or non-conformances to the Production Manager
- Maintain a clean, safe, and organised workshop environment, adhering to all health & safety protocols, site-specific safety procedures, and SGI Composites’ company standards
- Complete all apprenticeship off-the-job learning requirements and portfolio evidence as required by the apprenticeship standard
- Support the team across multiple product lines including spill containment, enclosures, furniture and planters, and anti-slip grating as business needs require
- Participate in continuous improvement activities and contribute ideas to enhance production quality and efficiency
Where you'll work
The Chandler Centre
Hythe Quay
Colchester
CO2 8JF
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
COLCHESTER INSTITUTE
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
- The apprentice will be working towards the Level 3 Composites Technician Apprenticeship Standard
- This is a 3 year apprenticeship with college attendance required one day per week
- All college attendance will be at Colchester Institute at our Colchester Campus one day per week
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
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
This role involves working in a manufacturing environment and may include:
- Working with chemical resins, fibreglass materials, and industrial coatings – full PPE will be provided
- Occasional travel to customer sites across the UK for installation projects
- Working outdoors or in confined/industrial spaces on certain site-based activities
- Physical elements including lifting, standing for extended periods, and manual handling
- Adherence to strict health & safety procedures at all times
All apprentices will receive full health & safety induction and ongoing H&S training.
About this employer
SGI Composites (formerly Sui Generis) is a UK-leading manufacturer of high-performance GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) and FRP (Fibre Reinforced Polymer) composite solutions, based in Colchester, Essex. Established in 1996, the business has grown from a specialist fibreglass mouldings company into a diverse composite solutions provider recognised internationally for its quality and expertise.
The company specialises in bespoke component manufacturing, protective linings and coatings, anti-slip systems, spill containment, enclosures, and composite furniture and planters – serving clients across industrial, construction, transport, rail, and architectural sectors.
SGI Composites is part of The Milbank Group and holds a range of accreditations including Achilles UVDB Silver+, RISQS, SafeContractor, and Constructionline Gold. The business is proud to be a British manufacturer with a long-standing reputation for technical excellence, personal service, and reliable delivery.
With long staff retention and a culture of growing talent from within, SGI Composites offers a genuinely supportive environment for apprentices to build a lasting career in composites manufacturing.
http://www.sgicomposites.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- After probation HealthShield cash Health plan
- EAP Help@Hand
- Group Life Insurance
- Paid annual leave –statutory
- Pension scheme
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
SGI Composites has a strong track record of developing apprentices into long-term team members. Several current senior staff – including the Operations Manager, Production Manager, and Technical Specialist – started their careers as trainees with the business.
On successful completion of the Level 3 Composite Technician Apprenticeship, opportunities may include:
- Progression to a permanent Composite Technician role
- Specialist development in site installation, laminates, or coatings
- Pathway toward supervisory or senior technical roles
- Further qualifications in composites or engineering disciplines
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
COLCHESTER INSTITUTE
Colchester Institute - Apprenticeships Team
ci.apprenticeships@colchester.ac.uk
01206712043
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000043114.
Apply now
Closes in 29 days (Saturday 15 August 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.