25-0021 Apprentice Pattern Maker

WILLIAM LEE LIMITED

Derbyshire, S18 2XU

Closes on Thursday 31 July

Posted on 13 January 2025


Summary

The candidate will be actively involved in developing ways to improve efficiencies and production methods across the site, pro-actively seeking out problems and finding solutions. The candidate will learn how to use lathes, milling machines, sanding and bobbin machines, vertical bandsaws, pedestal drills amongst other hand and power tools.

Annual wage
£14,918.80 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Machining technician (level 3)
Hours
You will work Monday to Friday. Your start and finish times including your shift pattern will be determined by the employing company.

38 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 8 September

Duration

3 years 3 months

Positions available

2

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

Role & responsibilities:

  • Producing precision fixture tooling and grippers for the automated grinding areas
  • The repair and/or modification of pattern and core box tooling and making patterns for the foundries
  • Manufacturing bespoke items of plant machinery for the maintenance department
  • Gauges and checking equipment for Quality Assurance
  • Repairing feeders and running systems
  • Working to tight tolerances from engineering drawings or verbal discussions

Health, Safety & Environment

  • Ensure compliance with the company’s health and safety and environmental policies, ensuring these are understood and upheld
  • Ensure that you are always equipped with the correct personal protective equipment and is properly looked after and maintained
  • Ensure that all accidents are reported and recorded in the accident book
  • Ensure any spillages are cleared up immediately and the correct emergency equipment is always available

Where you’ll work

Callywhite Lane

Dronfield

Derbyshire

S18 2XU

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

THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD

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

You will study on a Level 3 Machining technician apprenticeship. On completion of this, you will gain a qualification in Engineering at Level 3 standard.

During the first year of the apprenticeship, your learning will take place at the University of Sheffield’s AMRC Training Centre based at Catcliffe, Rotherham, for an initial block of study on a full-time basis. After this, you will attend the Training Centre for one day a week for knowledge study.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English Language (grade 4)
  • Mathematics (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
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Analytical skills

About this company

This is a great opportunity for apprentices to get hands on experience in the foundry industry in a British owned company competing in a global market in business for over 150 years. William Lee makes iron castings for a wide variety of international customers including BMW, Mercedes, Daimler, Borg, Castings and GT. With four foundries on site and over 400 personnel, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to learn about the company as a whole and you will be mentored directly by our skilled team while studying a Level 3 qualification with our training provider, AMRC Training Centre.

After this apprenticeship

Completion of the University of Sheffield’s AMRC Training Centre apprenticeships are nationally recognised qualifications which are acknowledged and respected by employers across the world. These can open the door to many more opportunities, such as Engineering Management and Project Engineering positions across a range of sectors worldwide.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD

AMRC Training Centre Recruitment Team

recruitment@amrctraining.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000295889.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 31 July

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

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

Company’s application instructions

Please follow the link to apply on the University of Sheffield’s AMRC Training Centre website and complete an application form. Once this has been received, it will be reviewed, and you will receive an email response with the next steps of the application process. Please note the AMRC Training Centre reserves the right to close company vacancies, should they get filled, ahead of the published closing date.