Apprentice Manufacturing Technician
Oxford Instruments - TW
Oxon (OX13 5QX)
Closes on Monday 18 August 2025
Posted on 4 March 2025
Contents
Summary
As an Apprentice Manufacturing Technician at Oxford Instruments, you’ll rotate around all of our different Value Streams, learning about every step of manufacturing and testing our range of products. You'll also complete your HNC so will have good academic knowledge to complement the practical experience you build.
- Wage
-
£18,000 a year
- Training course
- Engineering manufacturing technician (level 4)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30pm.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 1 September 2025
- Duration
-
3 years
- Positions available
-
2
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
• In addition to day release at college, you'll complete a placement in each of our manufacturing cells, and will also spend time in New Product Introduction, Supply Chain, Service, Manufacturing Engineering.
• This will give you experience with all the different products we manufacture and send to customers around the world as well as an excellent introduction to all the possible career directions that Manufacturing and Operations might take you in with Oxford Instruments.
Where you’ll work
Tubney Woods
Abingdon
Oxon
OX13 5QX
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
ENGINEERING TRUST TRAINING LIMITED
Your training course
Engineering manufacturing technician (level 4)
Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)
Course contents
- Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules, drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
- Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
- Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
- Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
- Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
- Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
- Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
- Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
- Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
- Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.
- Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules, drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
- Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
- Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
- Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
- Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
- Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
- Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
- Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
- Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
- Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.
Your training plan
Qualifications included:
- Engineering Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Standard. Company Training Plan & Assessment.
- BTEC Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Engineering (1 day per week for 2 years at college)
- Level 4 Diploma in Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing (Development Competence)
- Level 2 Functional Skills - Maths (If required)
- Level 2 Functional Skills - English (If required)
- End Point Assessment at the end of the apprenticeship (Months 36 to 39)
- College will be in Bicester, Oxfordshire.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- A Min of 5 GCSE's inc Science, English & Maths (grade 5-9 / C-A*)
A Level in:
- A Levels in Mathematics and Physics (grade A* - E)
Other in:
- Must have a level 3 Engineering qualification (grade Pass, Distinction, Merit)
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
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Interest in Engineering
- Time Management
- Willingness to learn
- Commitment
Other requirements
We are based just outside Abingdon in Tubney (OX13 5QX). We're on a good bus route which connects Oxford to Wantage, and a short walk away from the Oxford-Faringdon-Swindon route. College will be in Bicester, Oxfordshire.
About this company
Oxford Instruments is a leading provider of high technology products and services to the world's leading industrial companies and scientific research communities. Our core purpose is to support our customers to address some of the world's most pressing challenges, enabling a greener economy, increased connectivity, improved health and leaps in scientific understanding. We are proud to be recognised as the leaders in what we do and for the difference we make in the world.
After this apprenticeship
- We offer exciting career prospects in Manufacturing and Engineering. Your post-apprenticeship career may be in Manufacturing where you develop expertise in manufacturing processes or people management. Alternatively, previous Apprentices have moved into Services, Engineering and Operational Excellence. Our Manufacturing Director started his career with us as an Apprentice, so your future prospects are very exciting!
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 VAC1000307465.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 18 August 2025
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Company’s application instructions
Please use the link to fill out an application form.