Apprentice Machine Operator

Summary

Rochling are a world leading company in Thermoplastics & Composite machining which like to train the youth of today by offering a Mechanical Apprenticeship. 1st year they would be required to attend full-time at GET, then a further 2 years at their work place, to improve the techniques & practical skills on the machine shop to become a skilled engineer.

Wage

£16,710 a year

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Training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Hours

Days 8.00am - 4.45pm (Monday - Thursday) and 8.00am -2.30pm (Fridays).

39 hours a week

Start date

Monday 15 September 2025

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

An Apprentice will learn with the help of skilled machinist on the shop floor to use Manual machines, CNC Machines and inspect their part with the aid of engineered drawings.

This will include various types of CNC machines, eg Mazak Lathes, Haas 5 Axis, Hass Routers, Datrons and various others. Also during their apprenticeships they will touch on CAD CAM and also the Inspection Department.

Where you’ll work

Waterwells Drive
Waterwells Business Park
Gloucester
Gloucestershire
GL2 2AA

Training

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

College or training organisation

GLOUCESTERSHIRE ENGINEERING TRAINING LIMITED

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

Machining technician Level 3 (A level).

Apprentices will study one of the following:

EAL Level 3 Extended diploma in Machining (Development Knowledge)
EAL Level 3 Extended diploma in Machining (Development Knowledge)
Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Machining) (Development Technical Knowledge)

Also - Functional skills if required.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English (grade 4-9 or C and above)
Maths (grade 4-9 or C and above)

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

Enthusiastic
Self Motivated
Friendly
Helpful

Other requirements

Great opportunity, however, will require a lot of hard work and dedication.

About this company

The Rochling Industrial division offers a large selection of thermoplastics and composites for technical applications. We supply our products in the form of semi-finished products such as sheets, round rods, tubes, profiles and finished castings right through to precision-machined parts. Rochling Industrial (UK) Ltd in Gloucester – UK specialist in machining of high-precision routed parts up to 3 metres in diameter made of composites and thermoplastics, with a high quality surface finish. Our cutting experts work on state-of the art CNC machining centres, producing components with complex geometries, and close tolerances, to customer specifications. “Our facility is dedicated to machining high performance plastics and composites. We have 30 year’s experience and the latest in modern CNC equipment and techniques, ensuring high quality parts with complete traceability’’. Mike Knowles, Managing Director, Rochling Industrial (UK) Ltd Rochling Gloucester uses its expertise to contribute to the Industrial Division’s expertise in the machining composites and thermoplastics. The division combines a unique international network of flexible enterprises specialising in the manufacture of high quality finished parts for virtually every industry.

After this apprenticeship

To be offered a skilled machinist role within the business.

Ask a question

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