Apprenticeship - Machining Technician

SMC CORPORATION (U.K.) LIMITED

Milton Keynes (MK8 0AN)

Closes on Friday 27 June 2025

Posted on 25 April 2025

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Contents

Summary

The opportunity at SMC is exciting for individuals passionate about engineering and curious about the manufacturing industry. As an apprentice, you’ll benefit from the support of dedicated line managers, colleagues, and an Apprenticeship Manager to guide your development and provide valuable opportunities.

Wage

Competitive

Competitive wage offered

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Machining technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8.00am - 4.00pm

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Tuesday 30 September 2025

Duration

3 years 6 months

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

During your time in the workplace, you'll gain hands-on experience in engineering and manufacturing, applying proven techniques and procedures to tackle real-world challenges. Based in our large production factory in Milton Keynes, you'll work across various manufacturing teams, with a focus on machining.

Throughout your apprenticeship, you'll collaborate with colleagues and mentors who will support and nurture your skills. Developing safe working practices will be a key priority, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, environmental procedures, and industry standards.

Your role will involve making meaningful technical contributions to the manufacturing or maintenance of products and systems for SMC customers. Additionally, you'll have opportunities to cultivate effective interpersonal skills, enabling you to communicate both technical and non-technical information with confidence.

Where you’ll work

Vincent Avenue
Crownhill
Milton Keynes
MK8 0AN

Training

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

College or training organisation

MILTON KEYNES 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

  • Machining Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
  • Training will take place at Milton Keynes College and you will attend college 1-2 days per week

More training information

  • Exact details of the structure of the training are not yet finalised but will be covered by modular training in a classroom environment, typically 1-2 modules per term

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

A Level in:

  • Mathematics (grade D or above)
  • Science (grade D or 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

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working

About this company

Established in Japan in 1959, SMC is the UK and world market leader in the supply and support of pneumatic and electro pneumatic products. We currently have a sales presence in 82 countries and we are proud of our purpose built production, logistics and administration facility in Milton Keynes.

https://www.smc.eu/en-gb (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Cycle to Work scheme, Pension, Benefits portal including retail, leisure and gym discounts, BUPA cashback scheme, Private medical insurance, onsite canteen and more. Some benefits require a period of service before becoming available.

After this apprenticeship

  • Following successful completion of your apprenticeship, SMC would be happy to support you further on your learning journey and would hope to progress you to a further level 4 qualification

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SMC CORPORATION (U.K.) LIMITED

Sarah King

king.sarah@smc.com

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000315306.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 27 June 2025

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.