V05100 - Advanced Apprentice Machining

Furness College; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Barrow-in-Furness is offering an apprenticeship for a Machining Technician. You'll gain hands-on experience in manufacturing submarine components while receiving technical training. Successful candidates will have 5 GCSEs including Maths, English, and Science. This role provides a competitive salary with benefits, and at least 20% of working hours are dedicated to training.

Benefits

Free higher education

Access to pension and share saving scheme

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• GCSE in 5 subjects including Maths, English & Science.
• Relevant qualifications and industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Using a variety of machines to manufacture components.
• Measuring and checking components for specifications.
• Adhering to health and safety regulations.

Skills

Using machines

Measuring and checking components

Attention to tolerances

Education

5 GCSEs including Maths, English & Science

Tools

CNC lathe

CNC mill

Job description

Our Submarines business has been safely delivering world class submarines to the UK Royal Navy for more than a century. The Astute class will equip the Royal Navy with its largest and most capable generation of attack submarines. We are responsible for the design, build, test and commissioning of these state‑of‑the‑art vessels.

We offer a competitive salary with annual increases throughout the apprenticeship and a range of employee benefits including, free higher education as well as access to the Company pension and share saving scheme.

Training course Machining technician (level 3)

Hours Shifts to be confirmed.

37 hours a week

Monday 21 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

• Using a variety of machines to manufacture components within a Submarine build, ranging from manually operated machines such as lathes and milling machines, to Tornado (CNC lathe) and the Storm (CNC mill)
• You would learn skills such as turning, threading, milling, tapping and boring
• Measuring and checking the components produced, adjusting the machinery and software to ensure the components meet the necessary specifications
• Paying close attention to tolerances, which range from 0.5mm to as little as 0.02mm by utilising a range of measuring devices such as micrometres, vernier callipers, slip gauges and screw thread gauges

Where you'll work

BAE Systems
1st Floor, Main Shipyard Offices
Barrow‑in‑Furness
Cumbria
LA14 1AF

Training

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

• Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures.
• Comply with environmental, ethical and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, recycling 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 manufacturer’s documentation, asset management records, worksheets, 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 set up 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.

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.

Requirements

GCSE in:

5 GCSE Inc Maths, English & Science or Technical (grade A*‑C or 9‑4 or equivalent)

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

About this employer

At BAE Systems, we provide some of the world’s most advanced, technology‑led defence, aerospace and security solutions. We employ a skilled workforce of more than 93,000 people in around 40 countries. Working with customers and local partners, we develop, engineer, manufacture, and support products and systems to deliver military capability, protect national security, and keep critical information and infrastructure secure.

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing & lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts.

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

Approximately 95% of apprentices choose to stay on with us. As a global business there are a world of opportunities – whether you decide to stay in the UK, or explore an overseas role.

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

FURNESS COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship isVAC2000000084.

Apply now

Closes on Saturday 28 February 2026

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