Apprentice Machinist

HR Smith Group of Companies

Hereford, HR2 6JZ

Closes on Tuesday 15 April

Posted on 17 January 2025


Summary

Working in our fully equipped machine shop; using a range of manual and CNC machines to produce piece parts that go into Search and Rescue equipment.

Annual wage
£17,201.60 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Opportunity for company bonuses.

Training course
Machining technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 16:30, Two 15-minute paid breaks (One in the morning and one in the afternoon)

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 8 September

Duration

3 years 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

The role of apprentice machinist will involve;

  • Shadowing qualified staff to both assist them with the task at hand and also to gain knowledge.
  • Produce piece parts using manual and CNC machines, both milling and turning.
  • Reading engineering drawings.
  • Keep machines and clean and in working order.

Where you’ll work

HR Smith

Unit 416, Tarsmill Court

Rotherwas Ind Est

Hereford

HR2 6JZ

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

HEREFORDSHIRE AND WORCESTERSHIRE GROUP TRAINING ASSOCIATION 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

Formal training is delivered at HWGTA, located in Hereford (HR4 9SX).

Level 3 comprises of:

Duration approximately 40-45 months.

Years 1/2 is a combination of off the job training at HWGTA Training Centre as well as training on site with your employer. This includes 26-42 weeks within the training Centre plus 1 day per week in a classroom setting to cover practical and theory aspects and complete EAL Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering - Development Knowledge.

Years 3/4 based full time in company developing skills in preparation for the end point assessment to gain your level 3 qualification.

You will receive monthly visits from your assigned Learning and Development Specialist, who will set you work, monitor your development and wellbeing, and discuss training sessions. They will also prepare you for your End Point Assessment.

Additional training for functional skills in English and Maths will be undertaken if needed.

There is also a five-day teambuilding residential trip that is held in the spring of each year offered to all apprentices on programme.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English and Maths (grade 4 or C above)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Design and Technology (grade 4 or C above)

BTEC in:

  • Engineering (grade Pass)

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

  • Team working
  • Motivated
  • Enthusiastic
  • Polite
  • Evidence of good timekeeping
  • Engineering work experience

About this company

If you are looking for a new challenge with a global market leader which designs and manufactures aerospace search and rescue equipment, HR Smith Group of Companies is the one for you. We are a family run business based in Herefordshire with over 5 decades of experience and are dedicated to finding the perfect solutions for our customers.

http://hr-smith.com (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Career progression will be determined by the requirements of the company as a whole but is largely dependent on the desires of the individual. HR Smith group of companies is growing and recognises the benefits of promoting from within, shown by the number of past apprentices who hold supervisor and management roles, though there is no pressure if staff are happy to stay in their current position.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HEREFORDSHIRE AND WORCESTERSHIRE GROUP TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Lisa Wilkinson

lisa.wilkinson@hwgta.org

01432377002

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000296549.

Apply now

Closes on Tuesday 15 April

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