Engineering Machinist Apprentice
WYCHWOOD MACHINING LIMITED
MILTON UNDER WYCHWOOD (OX7 6JF)
Closes in 30 days (Saturday 10 October 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 9 September 2026
Contents
Summary
Wychwood Machining are looking for an Engineering Apprentice to join our team in Milton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire. Learn CNC machining, milling and turning while gaining hands-on experience from skilled engineers. Perfect for someone practical who enjoys problem-solving, learning new skills, and building a future career in engineering.
- Wage
-
£16,016 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Salary incrementing annually.
After a trial period, assistance with travel when commuting over 5 miles.
- Training course
- Engineering operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Thursday.
8.00am to 1.00pm, Friday.
Half hour lunch.
38 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Saturday 21 November 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 4 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
Wychwood Machining are looking for an Engineering Apprentice to join their team in Milton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire. Learn CNC machining, milling and turning while gaining hands-on experience from skilled engineers. Perfect for someone practical who enjoys problem-solving, learning new skills, and building a future career in engineering.
They specialise in subcontract CNC as well as manual milling and turning. This is an excellent long-term opportunity for someone to be mentored by experienced engineers who themselves have been through the apprenticeship process.
This will be a practical apprenticeship, ideal for someone who would like to gain a skilled trade.
The work will be varied, involve trouble shooting and learning new skills.
Your training will provide you with the skills to.
- Read and understand engineering drawings
- Set up and operate standard and CNC machines to cut a variety of materials
- Use measuring equipment commonly used in machine shops
- Troubleshoot issues that arise in manufacturing processes
- Perform routine maintenance and cleaning of machines
This is a fantastic long-term opportunity to learn from experienced engineers who started out just like you. They’ll support you every step of the way, helping you grow your skills and confidence in a supportive environment.
If you’re curious about how things are made, enjoy problem-solving, and want to start a career in engineering, this could be the perfect first step for you.
Work based training will be one to one.
You will be trained to use the following equipment and software
- Standard Turning and Milling covering all aspects of machining
- CNC machining
- CAD and CAM
- Inspection equipment
As part of this apprenticeship, you will study one day a week at Abingdon and Witney College-Abingdon campus.
Where you'll work
BAY 4
UNIT 18
GROVES IND EST
MILTON UNDER WYCHWOOD
OX7 6JF
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
ABINGDON AND WITNEY 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
The college training element will be at Abingdon and Witney College-Abingdon Campus.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade A*-C/9-4)
- Maths (grade A*-B/9-5)
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
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Willingness to learn
- Reliable and Hard Working
- Excellent work ethic
- Safety Awareness
Other requirements
Please apply as soon as possible for this role. Should the right candidate be found prior to the closing date, then the vacancy may be closed early.
Apprenticeship Onboarding Session and Eligibility Checks:
Any new person applying for apprenticeship roles where Abingdon & Witney College deliver the training will be required to complete some eligibility checks. This will consist of a series of initial assessments and an interview with the team. There will be the opportunity to find out more about the apprenticeship process, the training included, and for any questions you might have. You may also be required to attend an Apprenticeship Onboarding Session at Witney, Abingdon or Bicester campus.
This will consist of a series of initial assessments (required prior to any apprenticeship offer), completion of essential paperwork, the opportunity to find out more about the apprenticeship process, the training included, and a forum for your questions.
As a new Apprenticeship applicant, you will only have to undergo this process once. If you would like to talk to us about the assessments or if you would need any extra support to attend the Apprenticeship Assessment and Information Session, please call us on 01235 216216.
Qualification checks:
By applying for this vacancy, you are giving Abingdon and Witney College permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. We make every effort to ensure that applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds or those who may not have the formal GCSE entry requirements can access apprenticeships where possible.
The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for Apprentices is £8.00 per hour from April 2026. This applies to 16 - 18 year old apprentices and those aged 19 and over during the first year of their apprenticeship. After this, the National Minimum wage appropriate to their age applies. The Wage for apprentices applies to both time spent on the job plus time spent training.
About this employer
With an extensive knowledge of the manufacturing field built over a period of 3 decades working in a variety of engineering sub-sectors, Wychwood Machining will be able to help design and make suggestions on what may increase the quality of your product and reduce the cost of manufacture.
Within our workshops we have specific manual and CNC machines, experience and CAD and CAM software to successfully manage a project from start to finish using a range of materials from ferrous and non-ferrous metals to carbon fibre and plastics.
On receipt of an inquiry, we aim to produce a quote within 24 hours which reduces the time taken to get the component complete and on your doorstep. We can produce one off prototype components or larger batch work.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
This is a long-term opportunity.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE
Tess Williams
Apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk
01235 216 216
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000050805.
Apply now
Closes in 30 days (Saturday 10 October 2026 at 11:59pm)