Craft Machinist Apprenticeship 2025

Summary

A Machinist Apprentice trains to become a highly skilled craftsperson in the nuclear industry. The role will include the operation of lathes and milling machines to produce items to specification.

Annual wage

£19,207 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Increasing to £21,162 in year 2, £25,472 in year 3 and £26,326 in year 4. Higher rates are applied to those aged 21 and over. You’ll have the opportunity to benefit from an annual bonus, linked to company performance, of up to £4000*

Training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Hours

You will be required to work typical site-based hours at Sellafield Ltd, which is 7.30am - 3.40pm. However you may be requested to start earlier and work shifts. Days TBC.

37 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 8 September

Duration

4 years

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

You will be trained to:

Operate lathes and milling machines to produce items to specification
Manufacture items with threads, chamfers, radii, grooves and slots
As an integral part of your apprenticeship your progress will be monitored and assessed against the National Apprenticeship Standard requirements

You will compile an evidence folder, demonstrating your areas of learning with accredited certificates of completion for elements of your training
Within the last six months of your apprenticeship, you will undertake a knowledge, skills and behaviours assessment by an independently appointed organisation, where you will be expected to clearly demonstrate your ability to meet the apprenticeship

Where you’ll work

Sellafield Site / Surrounding offices in West Cumbria

CA20 1PG

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

GENII ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY 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

1st Year - training is delivered at our local of-site training facility.

2nd, 3rd & 4th Years - Site placement in central workshops at Sellafield.

After a period of foundation skills and technical knowledge development you will be required to achieve the following qualifications:

Level 3 ST0457 Engineering Technician - Machinist - Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Apprenticeship
Level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Foundation Competence)
Level 2 Diploma in Machining (Foundation Knowledge)
Award for Nuclear Industry Awareness (ANIA) Level 2 Qualification
Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Competence)
Level 3 Diploma in Machining (Development Knowledge)

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English Language (grade 4)
Mathematics (grade 4)
Science or Engineering (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

Attention to detail
Problem solving skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative

Other requirements

You may at times need to wear personal protective equipment, necessary for work in active areas (such as full PVC suiting, gloves and respirators) Candidates will be required to achieve appropriate security and medical clearances; these will be instigated on receiving a conditional offer of employment.

About this company

Sellafield Ltd is a global centre for nuclear engineering management. We pioneered the harnessing of nuclear power to generate electricity for the country. Now the world is watching as we set international standards in high-hazard reduction. In short, we’re at the forefront of the industry.

https://careers.sellafieldsite.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

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

Following successful completion of your apprenticeship, we will look to retain you in a professional full time position at Sellafield Ltd.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SELLAFIELD LIMITED

GBS Recruitment

recruitment@sellafieldcloud.co.uk

019467 81000

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000290911.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 16 February

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

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