Apprentice Welder / Fabricator
THE BIG ORCHARD LIMITED
WAKEFIELD (WF1 1TT)
Closes in 5 days (Wednesday 16 September 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 9 September 2026
Contents
Summary
We’re a Yorkshire manufacturer of drawing boards, plan chests, wooden furniture, cabinet making and custom
illuminated equipment. We’re looking for an apprentice on a multi-skill apprenticeship specialising in welding and fabrication — learning on real product that ships to customers, not throwaway training pieces.
- Wage
-
£14,560 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Metal fabricator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Full-time, based at our Wakefield factory.
35 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 21 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
You’ll work as part of the factory team helping get product out of the door, while building skills across:
- Welding & fabrication — tubular mild steel and stainless steel, including laser welding
- Sheet metal — folding and forming on our press brake
- Woodwork & cabinet making — wooden furniture, cabinets and timber components alongside our steelwork
- Build & finish — drawing stands, custom illuminated equipment and related product assembly
- Workshop skills — hand tools and power tools day to day
- Basic electronics — low-voltage wiring and soldering where the job needs it
- Teamwork — supporting production so orders leave on time and to Orchard quality
This is a hands-on multi-skill apprenticeship with a focus on welding and fabrication. You’ll also gain exposure to woodworking and cabinet making as part of how we build our product range. You’ll learn by doing, with guidance from experienced fabricators and makers.
Where you'll work
1 UNION SQUARE
WAKEFIELD
WF1 1TT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
KIRKLEES COLLEGE
Training course
Metal fabricator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Comply with environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Obtain, check and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
- Carry out relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity.
- Undertake the work activity using the correct processes, procedures and equipment.
- Carry out the required checks (such as quality, compliance or testing) using the correct procedures, processes and/or equipment.
- Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
- Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
- Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
- Identify and follow correct Metal work instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
- Mark out using appropriate tools and techniques.
- Cut and form Metal for the production or maintenance of fabricated products.
- Produce and assemble Metal products to required specification and quality requirements.
- Identify and follow correct joining instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
- Carry out the relevant preparation before starting the joining fabrication activity.
- Set up, check, adjust and use joining and related equipment.
- Weld joints in accordance with approved welding procedures and quality requirements.
- Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Comply with environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Obtain, check and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
- Carry out relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity.
- Undertake the work activity using the correct processes, procedures and equipment.
- Carry out the required checks (such as quality, compliance or testing) using the correct procedures, processes and/or equipment.
- Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
- Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
- Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
- Identify and follow correct Metal work instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
- Mark out using appropriate tools and techniques.
- Cut and form Metal for the production or maintenance of fabricated products.
- Produce and assemble Metal products to required specification and quality requirements.
- Identify and follow correct joining instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
- Carry out the relevant preparation before starting the joining fabrication activity.
- Set up, check, adjust and use joining and related equipment.
- Weld joints in accordance with approved welding procedures and quality requirements.
Training schedule
You will study at Kirklees College Engineering Centre HD1 6AG one day per week and four days per week at the workplace.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4 / C or above)
- Maths (grade 4 / C or above)
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
- Team working
- Initiative
About this employer
Our Orchard brand, and our association with quality, continues to become ever more widely recognised as we constantly endeavour to improve our product range, services and customer relations.
We are a closely knit family business based in the heart of West Yorkshire offering an exceptional and unique service across the UK and around the world.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Full time employment at The Big Orchard Ltd.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
KIRKLEES COLLEGE
Mark
mcooney@kirkleescollege.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000052202.
Apply now
Closes in 5 days (Wednesday 16 September 2026 at 11:59pm)