Engineering Apprentice - Worcestershire

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Group Training are recruiting Engineering Apprentices for local Engineering Companies. This is a fabulous opportunity to earn while you learn and gain a nationally recognised qualification. The salary paid will be provided by the employing company and will be at least the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices.

Training course: Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)

Hours: Monday - Thursday, 08:30 - 16:30, Friday, 08:30 - 15:15 whilst at the training provider. 37 hours a week.

Duration: 4 years

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you will do at work:

• Multi-skilled Maintenance - Installing machinery and advanced equipment, fault finding, testing and monitoring, repairing and replacing components, ongoing improvement and preventative maintenance planning.
• Machining/CNC - Manufacture using own initiative and design or interpret customer requirements, understand and use a variety of hand and machine tools, produce diagrams and programmes conforming to British and International standards and to customer specifications, modify and control CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) programmes.
• Toolmaker - Manufacture using own initiative and design or interpret customer requirements, understand and use a variety of hand and machine tools, produce diagrams and programmes conforming to British and International standards and to customer specifications.
• Technical Support - Working to meet customer specifications, understand methods for designing projects, analyse designs against the brief, produce detailed design drawings.
• Production Engineering/Fitting - Read and interpret drawings and specifications, inspect wiring installations, mechanical assemblies and electronic circuits, adjust, repair and correct defects, test product to ensure conformance to specifications.
• Welder/Fabricator - Setting and operating welding equipment and machinery, completing inspections to ensure compliance to national standards for weld quality, understanding and producing a variety of welded joints, preparing materials ready to join by cutting, bending and folding.

Training Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Group Training Association Limited

Use information technology to create documentation, communication and information management. Obtain, read and interpret task-related documentation, such as work instructions, quality control documents, drawings, operation manuals, specifications and service manuals. Record information such as 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.

Conduct initial assessment of equipment that requires maintenance. Formulate plans setting out the methodology of the maintenance activity including timescales and resources. Select, prepare and use material, consumables, tools and equipment. Comply with health and safety regulations and organisational requirements applicable in the workplace.

Apply dynamic risk assessment, hazard identification and risk mitigation principles and techniques. Apply isolation principles and techniques to equipment undergoing maintenance, including dissipation of stored energies as required. Manufacture, repair and refurbish components using hand and machine tools. Restore the workplace on completion of the maintenance activity. Handover resources, consumables and equipment to process owner.

Apply the techniques and processes used in reactive maintenance and repair activities on complex engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems. Produce, maintain, update, record and store documentation including electronic items such as PLC and robot programmes. Apply techniques and processes used in planned and preventative maintenance activities on engineered systems.

Apply functional testing and checking techniques and processes after maintenance interventions, and handover to the operational team. Apply techniques and processes used in condition monitoring, non-destructive or sensory testing. Record findings and take necessary actions. Apply calculation techniques such as feeds, speeds, tolerances, electrical calculations using Ohm's law, power calculations and cable sizing calculations.

Select, use and confirm calibration of electrical and mechanical testing and measuring equipment. Produce sketches or drawings to support maintenance activities. Communicate in writing. Prepare communications, documents and reports on technical matters. Segregate, separate and dispose of waste streams and by-products. Apply 4S or 5S principles of housekeeping to the work environment. Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve operational performance. Apply continuous improvement techniques. Communicate with others verbally. Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders.

Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities. Apply fault finding techniques used in reactive maintenance on complex integrated systems.

Formal training is delivered at HWGTA, located in Worcester (WR4 9GN). Duration approximately 40-45 months. Year 1, between 22–39 weeks are spent at HWGTA Training Centre developing practical engineering skills, alongside one day per week in the classroom, completing the theoretical elements of the EAL Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. Year 2, predominantly based in your company, returning to the Training Centre one day per week to continue and complete the specialised elements of their Level 3 Diploma. Years 3-4 – Based full-time in your company, developing practical skills and knowledge in preparation for the End Point Assessment. Additional training for functional skills in English and maths will be undertaken if needed. There is also a five-day teambuilding residential trip that is held in the spring of each year offered to all apprentices on programme.

Requirements: GCSE in English & Maths (grade C or 4 above). Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills: Logical, Creative, Initiative.

Other requirements: HWGTA hold Open Events where you can meet local employers, tutors, current apprentices and tour our facilities. Visit our website for more details and to register: https://www.hwgta.org/openevents.

About this employer: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Group Training Association (HWGTA) is an employer-led, not-for-profit training provider offering bespoke apprenticeships and training to local businesses and communities. HWGTA has over 50 years of experience in delivering excellent training across the two counties, consistently rating above the national average for learner success rates, holding “Outstanding” grading from Ofsted and maintaining successful, long-term relationships with local employers.

On successful completion of the four-year programme, a full-time position could be offered by the employing company.