CNC Setter Operator Apprenticeship
SEM LIMITED
Dartford (DA1 5TH)
Closes in 6 days (Monday 24 August 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 17 August 2026
Contents
Summary
We are offering a Machining Technician apprenticeship at our site in Dartford. The candidate will be working in the Machine Shop as a CNC Setter Operator. We are a long standing business with over 100 years experience manufacturing servo motors.
- Wage
-
£25,610 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Production bonus
Shift premium
25 days holiday
Westfield Health Scheme
Subsidised canteen - Training course
- Machining technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
38.75 hours
06:00-14:15 or 14:00-22:15 Monday to Friday
2 weeks earlies and then 2 weeks lates.
38 hours 45 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 14 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
The purpose of this role is to support with the production of machined parts by setting and operating CNC equipment whilst maintaining quality and safety standards.
- Setting up and operating CNC grinders, CNC milling machines and CNC lathes as per defined tolerance levels.
- Verifying the machine settings by measuring positions, carrying out trial runs and sampling work pieces.
- Maintaining specifications by observing turning, milling or grinding operations, detecting malfunctions, troubleshooting processes and adhering to quality assurance procedures.
- Maintaining equipment by completing preventative maintenance processes as per manufacturer instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions where possible and escalating to the relevant engineers for issues that fall outside of remit.
- Maintaining continuity among work shifts by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities and continuing needs.
- Documenting actions by completing production and quality logs
Identifying improvements that have a direct impact on SQDCP KPI’s.
Where you'll work
One Hundred House Brunel Way
Dartford
DA1 5TH
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
MID-KENT 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
Maidstone Midkent college, 1 day per week.
Requirements
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
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Creative
Other requirements
Be comfortable with shift work.
About this employer
SEM is a world class manufacturer of AC permanent servomotors and asynchronous spindle motors with an over 100 years’ experience in producing rotating electrical equipment. In a modern, bright and clean 11,000m² factory located at ‘The Bridge’ in Dartford, Kent these products are manufactured with state of the art machines, equipment and processes.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
TBC
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
MID-KENT COLLEGE
Tammy Whiteman
Tammy.whiteman@midkent.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000048325.
Apply now
Closes in 6 days (Monday 24 August 2026 at 11:59pm)