Mechanical engineering operative apprenticeship
Rotech Laboratories
Wednesbury (WS10 7BG)
Closes in 21 days (Monday 5 October 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 10 September 2026
Contents
Summary
You will develop practical engineering & laboratory skills, supporting the preparation of customer samples and test specimens within Rotech’s Machine Shop and Metallurgical Laboratory. You will receive structured training, supervision & practical experience across multiple areas.
- Wage
-
£17,238 a year
- Training course
- Engineering operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
• Mon-Thu: 07:00-15:30
• Fri: 07:00-14:30
• 30 mins unpaid lunch
• 20 min paid break
Paid hours:
Day On-site Less unpaid lunch Paid
Mon-Thu 8.5 hrs 0.5 hrs 8.0 hrs × 4 = 32.0
Friday 7.5 hrs 0.5 hrs 7.0 hrs
Total 39.0 hrs
39 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 12 October 2026
- Duration
-
1 year
- 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
MACHINE SHOP SUPPORT
- Assist with cutting and preparing customer samples
- Support the machining and finishing of tensile, impact
and other mechanical test specimens - Learn to operate appropriate machine tools and
workshop equipment safely under supervision - Identify and label specimens throughout the
preparation process - Check basic specimen dimensions using appropriate
measuring equipment - Deburr, clean and prepare completed specimens for
testing - Assist with routine equipment checks, basic
maintenance and housekeeping
METALLURGICAL SAMPLE PREPARATION
- Assist with sectioning customer samples for
metallurgical examination - Learn how to mount, grind and polish metallurgical
specimens - Prepare specimens for microscopic examination and
hardness testing - Maintain sample identification and traceability
throughout preparation - Clean and care for preparation equipment following use
- Monitor consumables and advise when replacement
stock is required
LABORATORY AND WORKFLOW SUPPORT
- Assist with receiving, identifying and moving samples between departments
- Follow job instructions and help progress work in the correct order
- Support the packing, storage and return of customer samples
- Assist with stock control and organisation of tools and consumables
- Maintain good housekeeping standards across all working areas
- Provide general support to laboratory technicians as knowledge and competence develop.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
- Complete the agreed apprenticeship programme and attend all required off-site training
- Maintain training records and complete coursework within required timescales
- Follow a structured internal training and competency programme
- Work under appropriate supervision until formally assessed as competent
- Develop an understanding of engineering drawings, dimensions and tolerances
- Develop practical knowledge of materials, machining and laboratory sample preparation
- Participate in regular progress reviews with Rotech and the training provider
QUALITY, SAFETY AND CONDUCT
- Follow Rotech health and safety procedures at all times
- Use required personal protective equipment correctly
- Follow documented work instructions, laboratory procedures and quality requirements
- Maintain accurate sample identification and traceability.
- Report equipment defects, safety concerns, errors or damaged samples promptly
- Take care of customer property, equipment, tooling and company facilities
- Maintain good standards of attendance, punctuality and professional conduct
Where you'll work
Rotech Laboratories
Unit 6 Moxley Industrial Centre Western Way
Wednesbury
WS10 7BG
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
IN-COMM TRAINING AND BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED
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
This is a Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship, Mechanical pathway, delivered over a period of 15 months
The apprentice will attend the training centre, In-Comm Training Services in Aldridge, WS9 8UG, 1 day per week for the first year, and the company for the rest of the time accompanied by assessor visits
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English and Maths (grade 4)
- Science (grade 4)
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
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
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Reliable
- Punctual
- Interest in engineering
- Work safely
Other requirements
- Comfortable carrying out practical, hands-on work and working as part of a team
- Practical engineering experience gained through school, college, hobbies or workexperience
- Basic awareness of engineering drawings or
measuring equipment - Interest in machining, metallurgy or
mechanical testing
About this employer
ABOUT ROTECH LABORATORIES AND BRITISH ENGINEERING SERVICES GROUP
Rotech Laboratories is a specialist materials testing laboratory based in Wednesbury, at the heart of the West Midlands
engineering and manufacturing community. Established in 1956, Rotech provides independent mechanical, chemical,
metallurgical and corrosion testing, supported by an in-house Machine Shop and specialist sample preparation
facilities. Our work helps manufacturers, engineers and quality professionals understand material performance, verify
compliance and investigate component failures across a wide range of industries,
Rotech is part of British Engineering Services Group, giving our specialist local team the backing,
investment and resilience of a wider UK engineering organisation. The successful apprentice will join an established materials testing business with opportunities to learn, develop and build a long-term engineering career
https://besgroup.com/services/testing/destructive-testing/rotech-laboratories (opens in new tab)
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
The opportunity to begin an engineering career within British Engineering Services Group.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
IN-COMM TRAINING AND BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED
Alex Jones
AlexJ@in-comm.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000052673.
Apply now
Closes in 21 days (Monday 5 October 2026 at 11:59pm)