Engineering Composites Technician Apprenticeship

Summary

Our Engineering Composites Technician Apprenticeship is an engaging, exciting 4-year programme, where you will learn and practice composites layering, resins, vacuum forming in connection with modern aerospace products, including pilot and executive seating.

Wage

£15,311.40 to £24,761.88 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

This is currently under review pending the government's review. Most likely to be increased in line with other organisation's apprenticeship salary

Training course

Composites technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Thursday, 8.00am - 5.00pm - variable, Fridays 8.00am - 1.00pm - variable, 1st and 2nd Years attend 3rd and 4th Years attend 1st & 2nd Years attend 36.5 hours per week 3rd & 4th Years attend 39 hours per week

39 hours a week

Possible start date

Tuesday 2 September

Duration

4 years

Positions available

4

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

Attending college for the academic side of things, at NVQ Level 2 initially, leading to NVQ Level 3
Learning how to understand and apply the manufacturing instructions for different products
Learning and practicing different layering techniques with composites material layers
Learning and practicing assembly of various parts fitting into the composite products

Where you’ll work

Ipeco Composites Centre

Unit 15 Windmill Hill Business Park

Windmill Road

Clevedon

BS21 6SR

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

WESTON COLLEGE OF FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Your training course

Composites technician (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand task.
Plan work. Identify and organise resources.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace.
Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
Prepare and use mould tools.
Select and check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record.
Use or operate hand tools, equipment, and machinery.
Store mould tools, hand tools, and equipment.
Select, check, and prepare materials for example, weigh resins, cut reinforcement.
Follow quality control processes during manufacture for example, check for contaminants, record batch numbers or expiry dates.
Apply laminate to mould for example, cut, add darts, corner definition, orientation, position, and order.
Complete preparation for and start curing process for example, select and apply consumables for example vacuum bag, infuse with resin, add heat or pressure.
Extract product from mould (break out).
Conduct final product quality assurance procedure. For example, conduct grading parameters checks (size, appearance, weight), and take samples for laboratory testing.
Identify issues for example, de-laminations, inclusions, surface defects, surface imperfections, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
Record or enter data - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
Interpret data for example, defect data and geometrical measurements. Use data to validate suggestions.
Investigate a problem to identify the underlying cause. Identify a solution to the problem.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process, or task.
Apply team working principles.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Use information technology for work tasks. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand task.
Plan work. Identify and organise resources.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace.
Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
Prepare and use mould tools.
Select and check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record.
Use or operate hand tools, equipment, and machinery.
Store mould tools, hand tools, and equipment.
Select, check, and prepare materials for example, weigh resins, cut reinforcement.
Follow quality control processes during manufacture for example, check for contaminants, record batch numbers or expiry dates.
Apply laminate to mould for example, cut, add darts, corner definition, orientation, position, and order.
Complete preparation for and start curing process for example, select and apply consumables for example vacuum bag, infuse with resin, add heat or pressure.
Extract product from mould (break out).
Conduct final product quality assurance procedure. For example, conduct grading parameters checks (size, appearance, weight), and take samples for laboratory testing.
Identify issues for example, de-laminations, inclusions, surface defects, surface imperfections, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
Record or enter data - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
Interpret data for example, defect data and geometrical measurements. Use data to validate suggestions.
Investigate a problem to identify the underlying cause. Identify a solution to the problem.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process, or task.
Apply team working principles.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Use information technology for work tasks. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.

Your training plan

You will achieve NVQ Level 2 / BTEC Engineering
You will achieve Level 3 BTEC Composites Engineering
You will achieve NVQ Level 3 Composites Engineering
Workplace training will take place at Ipeco Composites in Clevedon on a variety of days each week to complete your in-work training. At other times you will be in Weston College

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade 4)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Science (grade 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

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Patience
Interested in Engineering

About this company

Aircraft interior excellence since 1960 Ipeco Holdings Limited is a world-leading supplier of aircraft crew seating and executive jet passenger seating, with a growing presence in the electrical galley insert sector. From ergonomic pilot and crew seating to minimise fatigue, to stylish and comfortable executive passenger jet seats, to the ultimate galley environment – it’s all about enhancing the flight experience. We have developed valuable long-term relationships with customers such as Boeing, Airbus, ATR, Lockheed, Embraer, Textron, Bombardier and Gulfstream. Engineering capabilities Engineering is core to the Ipeco culture and benefits from a programme of continuous improvement and investment. Product development processes utilising the latest 3D simulation and rapid prototyping tools enable us to develop innovative and state-of-the art solutions across our crew seating, executive passenger seating and galley insert portfolios. Ethos, ethics and culture It is our mission to perform to the highest standards in everything we do and we value the long-term relationships we have established with our customers and suppliers. To sustain our business, we are proud to invest in our people, our infrastructure and our capabilities. Our facilities are maintained to the optimum environmental, health and safety criteria in consideration of the employees’ work-space. All engineers and technicians are trained extensively in the use of equipment and materials across our business.

http://www.ipeco.com (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

After 12 months, employees will be enrolled for Simply Health and other varying benefits...

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Composites laminator
Composites technician
Composites materials technician
Composites tooling technician

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Ipeco Composites Centre - part of Ipeco Holdings Ltd

Brian Bingham

bbingham@ipeco.com

07974405339

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000298154.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 30 June 2025

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