Apprentice Laboratory Technician
LTI METALTECH LIMITED
Oxfordshire (OX14 4RT)
Closes in 12 days (Monday 2 November 2026)
Posted on 21 October 2026
Contents
Summary
This role will help to facilitate the mechanical and metallographic testing of a variety of metal samples to produce accurate and reliable data for our customers who come from sectors involving cryogenic pressure vessels, energy solutions, performance vehicles and ship building.
- Wage
-
£20,419 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Salary will be adjusted after the first year, and then in annual increments. In Year Two it will be no less than the National Minimum Wage, currently £25,254.04 for the year 2026/27.
- Training course
- Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday
08:00 am to 16:00 pm (approximately, but flexitime will be applied)
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 9 November 2026
- Duration
-
3 years
- 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
- Preparing and testing of metal samples of various types and geometrics.
- Using a variety of mechanical and metallographic techniques according to defined methodologies and standards in order to produce reliable and accurate data for our customers.
- This will include prep using lathes, milling machines, angle grinders, ban saws, and hand tools and then testing those samples against various global standards and will include tensile, bend, hardness, fracture, impact and metallographic tests.
Where you'll work
Metaltest
38C Innovation Drive, Park Drive, Milton Park
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
OX14 4RT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
ENGINEERING TRUST TRAINING LIMITED
Training course
Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
- Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
- Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
- Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
- Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
- Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
- Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
- Follow standard operating procedures.
- Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
- Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Carry out and record learning and development activities.
- Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
- Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, segregation of resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Comply with engineering standards and regulations. For example, British Standards (BS), International Organisation for Standardisation standards (ISO). European Norm (EN).
- Analyse engineering and manufacturing data and information to support technical outputs. For example, read and interpret text, data, engineering drawings, work instructions, method statements, operation manuals.
- Apply scientific, technical or engineering principles.
- Apply problem solving techniques to solutions for identified technical problems.
- Organise, plan and prioritise workflow and scheduling of work with stakeholders.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, considering cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Produce job specific technical outputs. For example, engineering drawings, quality control management, computer control programming, business improvement, adverse incident reports, technical investigations, equipment appraisals and specifications.
- Provide support and guidance for handover of work to stakeholders. For example, checklists, product or process status, access to supporting documents.
- Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, equipment service records, test results, handover documents, checklists.
- Follow standard operating procedures.
- Follow manufacturer's instructions. For example, safe instructions for use of products, processes and machinery.
- Apply quality assurance and control principles and practices. For example, conduct physical checks, take samples, inspections or tests.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate in writing with others for example, stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Carry out and record learning and development activities.
- Apply equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Training schedule
Qualifications included:
- Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technician - Apprenticeship Standard.
- Company Training Plan.
- Level 3 Diploma in Engineering and manufacturing Support technologies (1 day per week for 2 years at college).
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Technical Support.
- Level 2 Functional Skills- Math's (if required).
- Level 2 Functional Skills - English (if required).
- End Point Assessment.
More training information
College is in Bicester.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
A Level 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
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Time Management
- Methodical
- Interest in Engineering
Other requirements
- Whilst Metaltest UK is a part of LTi Metaltech, the office is separate from it and has a small team.
About this employer
Metaltest UK is a UKAS Accredited, metallurgical testing facility offering a premier metallurgical testing service to
Clients across the UK and to all industrial Sectors and businesses requiring such tests. They are a subsidiary of LTi
Metaltech, a precision fabrication and welding company, and part of the LTi group of companies
https://lti-metaltech.com/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- 25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays
- Salary Sacrifice pension scheme – matched contribution of up to 8%
- Private Healthcare (AXA)
- Healthcare Cash Plan (Healthshield)
- Financial Wellbeing scheme (Stream)
- Bonus scheme
- Life Assurance
- Group Income Protection
- Paid Sickness (once Probation Period is completed)
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Company social events
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- Within Metaltest UK there is an Assistant Laboratory Manager and a Laboratory Manager.
- There is also LTi Metaltech, based at Milton Park as well and LTi Vessco, based at Bridgend in Wales. Both of those organisations have roles in Manufacturing, Engineering and Quality and work in sectors including Health, Energy, Nuclear and Defence.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
ENGINEERING TRUST TRAINING LIMITED
Sally Parr
s.parr@theengineeringtrust.org
07879 128768
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000060258.
Apply now
Closes in 12 days (Monday 2 November 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.