CNC Apprentice

Summary

Webtec is recognised world-wide as a leading brand in hydraulic measurement and control products. This apprenticeship provides an excellent opportunity, while starting a career in manufacturing. We are looking for applicants who have an interest in engineering and commitment to this apprenticeship and to start a fantastic career in manufacturing.

Wage

£16,640 a year

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Apprentice salary band starts at £16,640k raising to £26k in the final year of apprenticeship (the employer will offer incremental salary reviews throughout the apprenticeship programme). The company also pays a discretionary profit share.

Training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Hours

In the first 3 years while you are attending college, the hours are Mon- Thurs 8.30am - 5pm and Friday 8.30am - 4pm.Once you have finished college you will have gained the skills and experience to move on to our two-shift system which rotates weekly.

39 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

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

Your role as CNC Apprentice is to learn how to set and operate the CNC machines in a safe and competent manner and to work as part of a team producing high quality machined components for assembly into finished products. Supported by the employer, the successful applicant will study towards a Level 3 Machining Technician Apprenticeship qualification.

Year one is about providing a firm base, while also gaining an overview of how a company works. In addition to working in the machine shop, you will gain an insight into the wider teams, including Engineering, Assembly and Test, Production control, Inspection, Sales, Business support, Finance and HR.

Some key responsibilities of an apprentice are:

To learn how to set and operate the CNC lathes or mills
To learn how to use the many types of measuring equipment to check the quality of your work
To learn how to run production jobs on the CNC Machines and to carry out all inspection duties required to ensure that parts are manufactured correctly to the drawing and meet tight deadlines
To understand our ISO9001 quality system and how that impacts on your role at Webtec
To spend time working in other departments to broaden your skills and knowledge of what Webtec does
To learn about Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement techniques
To learn how to use the ERP system to ensure that all paperwork is completed correctly and on time
To ensure that all Health and Safety procedures are adhered to and to work in a safe and competent manner

Where you’ll work

11-13 NUFFIELD ROAD
ST IVES
PE27 3LZ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE

Your training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Equal to A level

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.

Your training plan

The practical training period is the time dedicated to the development of the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours for your Apprenticeship which includes the following components:

Level 3 Machining Technician Apprenticeship Standard
Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours (KSB’s)
Functional Skills maths and English Level 2 (exemptions apply)

The apprentice will be assigned an assessor through the College, who will typically come out to visit in the workplace to assess workplace competence.

During the first year of the apprenticeship, you will spend 2 days per week at college during term-time and the remaining 3 days in the workplace. In years 2 and 3 you will attend college 1 day per week with 4 days spent in the workplace. Towards the end of the practical training period of the apprenticeship, the training will be all in the workplace, preparing for the End Point Assessment.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English (grade C/4)
Maths (grade C/4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Number skills
Initiative
Punctual
Reliable
Self-motivated

Other requirements

This is a very hands-on position working on the machines on the shopfloor.

About this company

At Webtec, we are a team of about 70 employees spread across six countries with the majority based in the UK at our St Ives head office. We are proud to have been awarded ‘Investors in People Silver’. We have expertise across the team covering areas as diverse as Business Development to Graphic Design, Sales to Business Administration, Human Resources to Health and Safety, Manufacturing to Finance, Research and Development to IT and Automation.

https://en.webtec.com/?redir=no (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

This apprenticeship provides a fantastic grounding for a career in practical engineering. Skills learnt can be used in many aspects of engineering including machining, design and quality. Previous Webtec apprentices have gone on to become CNC programmers on both Mills and Lathes as well as taking on roles in quality inspection
Education is one of our 9 core values, and we often provide support for the right candidate if they wish to further their education, be that BTEC or Degree level, once they have successfully completed their apprenticeship

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