2026 Manufacturing Apprentice - Cheadle

The Trafford & Stockport College Group; Stockport; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution is offering a Level 3 Manufacturing Apprenticeship in Cheadle, Stockport. This 3.5-year program combines hands-on experience in various placements with academic studies at Trafford College. Apprentices will develop key manufacturing skills such as assembly techniques, wiring, and soldering. Upon completion, participants will earn a Level 3 Diploma in Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technologies. The program also includes generous benefits such as annual leave, a pension, and health care support.

Benefits

201 hours annual leave

Company Pension

Health Care Cash Plan

Life Insurance

Discount Portal

80 Hours Volunteering (first two years)

Responsibilities

• Learn on the job through hands-on experience.
• Rotate through a series of different placements.
• Gain skills in manufacturing areas like assembly and soldering.

Skills

Analytical skills

Logical

Initiative

Education

5 GCSEs incl Maths, English & a Science (grade 9-4)

Job description

Our manufacturing apprenticeship in Cheadle is a fantastic opportunity to learn our business from the ground up, giving you an insight that will be invaluable regardless of whether you choose to stay in manufacturing or move into a different function.

Training course: Maintenance and operations engineering technician (level 3)

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 37 hours a week (9.25 hours a day).

Start date: Monday 7 September 2026

Duration: 3 years 6 months.

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 programme will allow you to rotate through a series of different placements, so you can see what you enjoy the most and where your strengths lie.
• You will learn the key skills required for working in the manufacturing areas: assembly techniques, wiring and imminent, soldering and ESD safety.
• You will receive all the relevant equipment and software needed to work throughout Thales.

Where you'll work

Dolphin House
Ashurst Drive
Stockport
SK3 0XB

Training

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

Training provider

THE TRAFFORD AND STOCKPORT COLLEGE GROUP

Training course

Maintenance and operations engineering technician (level 3)

Year 1 of the apprenticeship focusses mainly on learning, spending 3 days a week at Trafford College and 1 day in the workplace, following a set curriculum to give you the skills required for your future career. Year 2 allows you to embed those skills and is predominantly based on site working with our experienced technicians, learning in role while continuing at college on day release to complete a BTEC NVQ. Year 3 will offer the opportunity to rotate through other business functions, where you will gain experience and knowledge in different manufacturing departments, while you work your way to end end‑point assessment.

More training information

As a Manufacturing Apprentice, you will enrol onto a Level 3 Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technician Apprenticeship at Trafford College over a 3.5‑year duration. Delivered via a day release delivery model, you will complete your academic studies at college each week and then come back to the workplace in order to apply what you have learned. The End Point Assessment will consist of a work‑based project report and a professional discussion. Upon completion of the programme, you will have achieved a Level 3 Diploma in Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technologies, plus a Level 3 apprenticeship qualification.

Requirements

GCSE in:

5 GCSEs incl Maths, English & a Science (grade 9‑4 (A‑C))

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Initiative

About this employer

Together, we create the ingenious technological systems and innovations that impact and improve people's lives every single day. Even if you haven't heard the name Thales before, you've definitely benefited from our inventiveness. We reinvest 20% of our sales in Research & Development in the UK. We support businesses, organisations and governments in addressing tomorrow’s major challenges by developing advanced Defence, Security, Cybersecurity, Digital Identity, and Aerospace solutions, in the most sustainable, responsible and ethical manner.

• 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays)
• Company Pension
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Life Insurance
• Discount Portal
• 80 Hours Volunteering (first two years)

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

You will move into a permanent manufacturing role in Cheadle.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 12 February 2026

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