Engineering Technician Apprentice
BARKSTON PLASTICS ENGINEERING LIMITED
LEEDS (LS9 0DX)
Closes in 30 days (Sunday 13 September 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 13 August 2026
Contents
Summary
Becoming an apprentice at Barkston Plastic will allow you to build a wide range of engineering and design skills within a supportive and successful business. Our apprenticeships follow a structured programme under which you will receive close mentoring from experienced engineers, alongside support from Leeds City College.
- Wage
-
£19,136 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
- Pay: Year one - £9.20ph
- Training course
- Engineering operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Thursday, 8.00am - 4.00pm and Friday, 8.00am - 2.00pm (one day per week at college)
40 hours a week
- Start date
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Wednesday 16 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years 9 months
- Positions available
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3
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
- How to interpret and produce engineering drawings and CAD models using industry‑standard software
- How to understand materials, tolerances, manufacturing processes and how design decisions affect production
- How to support the estimating and design teams with technical data, drawings, and documentation
- How to work with engineering change processes, revision control and technical specifications
- Quality control principles, inspection techniques and how to design for quality and manufacturability
- How to communicate technical information clearly to colleagues in design, production and sales
- Recognised engineering and manufacturing standards including 5S, safe working practices and continuous improvement
- How to contribute to problem‑solving activities and support engineering projects from concept to manufacture
Where you'll work
221 PONTEFRACT LANE
LEEDS
LS9 0DX
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
LUMINATE EDUCATION GROUP
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
- Training will take place at Printworks Campus, Leeds
- You will attend college one day per week
Requirements
Essential 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
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
About this employer
Barkston is a British specialist plastic company leading the way in plastic manufacturing thanks to a combination of experienced engineers, specialist equipment and focus on timely quality.
Our specialist plastic company comprises manufacturing teams led by committed engineers with at least 25 years’ experience. Working with them are subsequent generations of plastic specialists, trained engineers and our next generation of specialists; our apprentices.
Company benefits
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Life insurance
- On‑site parking
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- Progression onto Level 3 Apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
LUMINATE EDUCATION GROUP
apprenticeships@leedscitycollege.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000048258.
Apply now
Closes in 30 days (Sunday 13 September 2026 at 11:59pm)