Engineering Operative Apprentice (Mechanical Manufacturing)
LIFELINE FIRE & SAFETY SYSTEMS LTD
COVENTRY (CV4 8AU)
Closes in 9 days (Friday 28 August 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 18 August 2026
Contents
Summary
We are looking for a motivated Engineering Operative Apprentice to join our engineering team and gain hands-on experience within a mechanical manufacturing environment. The apprenticeship will provide exposure to production, quality, and engineering functions, supporting the development of a broad range of engineering skills and behaviours.
- Wage
-
£16,224 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Engineering operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday shifts to be confirmed.
39 hours a week
- Start date
-
Thursday 1 October 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 3 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
You will work as part of the engineering team, learning a variety of manufacturing and engineering processes while supporting production and engineering activities. You will receive structured training and mentoring to develop practical engineering skills and knowledge.
The apprenticeship will provide experience in:
- Manufacturing and assembly operations
- Mechanical workshop activities
- Quality inspection and measurement
- Engineering drawings and documentation
- Health, safety and quality procedures
- Continuous improvement activities
- Production support and problem solving
Key Responsibilities:
- Follow all health, safety and environmental procedures
- Support production and engineering teams with day-to-day activities
- Learn to use engineering measuring equipment including callipers, micrometres and gauges
- Assist with inspection and quality control activities
- Support prototype manufacture and engineering development projects
- Assist with maintaining engineering documentation and records
- Learn basic CAD and drawing interpretation skills
- Participate in continuous improvement
- Work effectively as part of a team and maintain a professional attitude
- Keep work areas clean, organised and safe
Day to day Activities:
- Shadow experienced engineers, technicians and production operators
- Spend time within our R&D workshop learning manual machining techniques
- Operate milling machines and lathes under supervision to manufacture simple prototype components
- Assist with reverse engineering activities, measuring existing components and creating basic records where drawings are unavailable
- Support prototype assembly and testing activities
- Gain experience on the production line, understanding manufacturing processes and product assembly
- Carry out basic inspection tasks alongside the Quality department
- Use measuring equipment to verify component dimensions and quality standards
- Assist with material preparation, tooling and workshop housekeeping
- Complete apprenticeship portfolio activities and training assignments
Where you'll work
FALKLAND CLOSE
CHARTER AVENUE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
COVENTRY
CV4 8AU
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
COVENTRY COLLEGE
Training course
Engineering operative (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, environmental compliance procedures and systems and other relevant guidelines
- Identify and deal appropriately with any risks, hazards, hazardous situations and problems that may occur within the engineering environment within the limits of their responsibility
- Demonstrate effective communication skills which include oral, written, electronic
- Complete appropriate documentation accurately, efficiently and legibly using the correct terminology where required
- Obtain and follow the correct documentation, specifications and work instructions in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the engineering activities, extracting the necessary data/information from specification and related documentation
- Select and use appropriate tools, equipment and materials to carry out the engineering operation
- Deal appropriately with any problems that may occur within the manufacturing environment within the limits of their responsibility
- Work efficiently and effectively at all times maintaining workplace organisation and minimising waste
- Carryout fault location on appropriate equipment using suitable maintenance diagnostic techniques
- Carryout maintenance activities in line with work instructions
- Carryout tests on the maintained equipment in accordance with test schedule/defined test procedures
- Follow appropriate completion activities and restore equipment to service by replacing or repairing components
- Plan the mechanical manufacturing operation before they start
- Mount and set the required workholding devices
- Produce individual components, sub-assemblies or completed assemblies using mechanical manufacturing techniques
- Carryout quality checks during and after mechanical manufacturing operations
- Wire and terminate different types of cabling e.g. single core, multi core, screened, fire resistant, armoured, etc.
- Assemble and test a range of electrical components e.g. component panels, isolator switches, fuses, circuit breakers, contactors, relays, rail mounted terminal blocks, etc.
- Assemble and test a range of electronic components e.g. resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, etc.
- Follow appropriate completion activities and restore equipment/system to service after the assembly and testing has been completed
- Shape the materials using the appropriate methods and techniques
- Join the materials using the appropriate methods and techniques
- Produce components which meet the specification requirements
- Carryout quality checks during and after the fabrication activities
- Plan the materials, processing or finishing operation before they start
- Prepare equipment, tooling, materials, etc. and complete set up activities before carrying out the materials, processing or finishing operation
- Carry out the material, processing or finishing operation in line with specific safe working practices and specification requirements
- Carryout quality checks during and after the materials, processing or finishing operation
- Plan the technical support operation before they start
- Prepare equipment, tooling, materials, etc. and complete set up activities before carrying out the technical support
- Carry out the technical support operation in line with specific safe working practices and specification requirements
- Carryout quality checks during and after the technical support operation
Training schedule
Engineering Operative Level 2.
You will be required to travel to Coventry College for one day per week for off-the-job training, mostly during term times. Other off-the-job training will be provided in the workplace during your usual working hours.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
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
- Initiative
Other requirements
You will have experience working in a machine workshop, be familiar with the operations of a range of relevant machines (such as lathes, milling machines and/or grinding machines), and be able to demonstrate safe working practices in this environment.
About this employer
Lifeline Fire & Security Systems Ltd is a Coventry-based engineering company specialising in the design, manufacture, servicing and maintenance of fire safety equipment and systems. With a strong focus on quality, safety and continuous improvement, Lifeline provides innovative solutions to customers across a range of industries. As an apprentice, you will gain hands-on experience working alongside skilled engineers and technicians in a supportive environment that encourages learning, development and career progression.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
You will be able to work as an Engineering Operative in a workshop environment with minimal supervision. You may be able to progress onto a Level 3 Machining Technician Apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
COVENTRY COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000047323.
Apply now
Closes in 9 days (Friday 28 August 2026 at 11:59pm)