Machining Apprentice
HORSTMAN DEFENCE SYSTEMS LIMITED
Avon (BA1 3EX)
Closes in 27 days (Friday 2 May 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 2 April 2025
Contents
Summary
As a Machining Apprentice, you will learn to, and gain hands on experience in machining technology, providing the opportunity to develop a solid foundation in precision Engineering and machining operations whilst studying for a recognised qualification.
- Wage
-
£18,470 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Apprentice wage is increased in line with machinist rates each completed year.
- Training course
- Machining technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Thursday, 7.30am - 4.00pm and Friday, 7.30am - 12.30pm
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 28 July 2025
- Duration
-
3 years 6 months
- 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
The apprenticeship is held in partnership with Bath College at the Radstock Somer Valley Campus. The apprentice will be expected to attend college in person for part of their working week, and attend work at Locksbrook the days you are not at college.
Duties will include:
- Assist in the setup and operation of CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines, lathes, milling machines, and other machining equipment
- Diagnose faults and implement corrective actions to ensure equipment efficiency
- Learn and apply machining techniques to produce high-precision components and parts according to technical drawings and specifications
- Interpret and analyse engineering drawings, blueprints, and schematics
- Work closely with engineers, technicians, and team leaders to support production goals
- Conduct quality checks on finished products using measuring instruments such as calipers, micrometers, and gauges to ensure adherence to specifications
- Maintain a high standard of 5S
- Maintain and troubleshoot machinery and tooling, learning best practices for maintenance and repair
- Ensure company policies and procedures are adhered to at all times
- Ensure compliance with all relevant Environmental, Health & Safety and regulatory legislation
- Actively support continuous improvement activities throughout the business
Through a combination of classroom and work based learning over 4 years, the Machining Apprentice will gain knowledge of a broad range of activities and departments including Procurement, Projects, Health and Safety, Manufacturing and Design.
Where you’ll work
Locksbrook Road
Bath
Avon
BA1 3EX
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
BATH 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
- You will attend college two days per week, term time only at our Somer Valley Campus in Radstock
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4/C or above)
- Maths (grade 4/C or above)
- Science (grade 4/C 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
- Problem solving skills
- Initiative
Other requirements
Being part of the defence industry, offer of employment is subject to BPSS screening.
About this company
Horstman is a high value added, innovative engineering business with a global footprint that provides quality, technically excellent solutions for customers. World leading in the design and development of military vehicle suspension systems, we cover solutions from ultra-lightweight wheeled vehicle , C130 air portable vehicles, through to infantry and engineer vehicles up to the heaviest in the fleet as well as Main Battle Tanks. We are based in Bath, UK and as part of the Global RENK Group by working for Horstman you become part of an international team committed to providing the highest standards to our customers and partners around the world. Many of the positions within the business give opportunities for international travel meeting customers or suppliers.
After this apprenticeship
- Apprentices can progress to machinist, manufacturing engineers, design engineers and potentially complete a HNC
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BATH COLLEGE
Laura Joy
laura.joy@bathcollege.ac.uk
01225328752
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000313307.
Apply now
Closes in 27 days (Friday 2 May 2025 at 11:59pm)
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