At a Glance
- Tasks: Create bespoke, high-tolerance parts using manual lathes in a dynamic workshop.
- Company: Established Cardiff-based engineering firm with a strong employee ownership model.
- Benefits: Profit share averaging £5,600-£6,750, generous annual leave, and a four-day work week.
- Other info: Opportunities for CNC training and a supportive, collaborative work environment.
- Why this job: Enjoy job security, flexible hours, and the chance to guide junior team members.
- Qualifications: Hands-on experience with manual lathes and ability to interpret engineering drawings.
Own a piece of where you work: If you're a manual turner or manual lathe machinist who wants real job security, a profit share every month, and a genuine stake in the business, this Cardiff role is worth a look. The numbers speak for themselves: Over the last two years, the team's profit share has averaged £5,600-£6,750 each. On top of that, the tax-free EOT bonus has been around £3,600 a year - worth roughly 20-30% more than the same money taxed.
Real security: 30 years in business. No redundancies, ever. No debt - when they buy a machine, they pay cash.
A four-and-a-bit day week: Monday to Thursday with a Friday finish around 11:30am-12pm. That's most of Friday and every weekend back for family, the workshop at home, or whatever you enjoy.
No overtime, no clock-watching: They don't need it. Because pay is linked to profit, people get the work out and go home - productivity jumped 15% after they became employee-owned.
Generous Annual Leave from Day One: You'll get 24 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays from Day One. Much more than the standard 20 days that most employers offer. They want a team that works hard and is rewarded with quality time off.
What you'll do as the Manual Lathe Machinist: You'll work in a precision engineering workshop alongside CNC mills, CNC lathes and a bank of manual lathes, making bespoke, high-tolerance parts to customer-supplied drawings. Runs are small - typically one-offs up to around 20 of a part - so no two days look the same.
- Turn high-tolerance parts manually: Take a drawing, the material and the tooling, and produce the part - working to fine tolerances (around 0.05mm and tighter).
- Work across materials: Aluminium, stainless steel, brass and some plastics, with the odd specialist ceramic job.
- Read and interpret engineering drawings and use both mechanical and digital measuring equipment to check your work.
- Guide the junior members: At the upper end of the salary, you'll help steer apprentices and more junior turners - sharing the best way to approach a job.
- Grow into CNC if you want to: The focus is manual turning, but if you're interested in CNC down the line, training could be available.
Hours of work: You'll work 39 hours Monday to Thursday plus a Friday morning, with room to flex when you start - some start at 6:30am, others at 8am.
What you'll need to apply for the Manual Lathe Machinist:
- Hands-on experience operating manual lathes (e.g. Colchester, Hardinge).
- The ability to take an engineering drawing and manually produce parts to a good, fine tolerance (around 0.05mm).
- Experience turning materials such as aluminium, stainless steel, brass or plastics, and confident use of mechanical and digital measuring devices.
Next Steps: Click Apply to find out more.
Manual Lathe Machinist employer: Sigma Recruitment
Join a thriving team in Cardiff where your skills as a Manual Lathe Machinist are truly valued. With a strong focus on employee ownership, you can enjoy exceptional benefits such as a generous profit share, a four-day work week, and ample annual leave from day one. The supportive work culture encourages personal growth and offers opportunities to mentor junior staff while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
