Summary
As an engineering apprentice at G&H you will have a unique opportunity to study and work in parallel in a dynamic and innovative environment. In partnership with SDC, you will spend four years working closely with our engineering team while complementing your workplace experience with a mixture of theoretical and practical lessons.
Wage
£20,000 a year
circa £20,000/year
Training course
Engineering manufacturing technician (level 4)
Hours
Mon-Thurs 8am to 4pm, Friday 8am to 3pm
39 hours a week
Start date
Tuesday 22 September 2026
Duration
4 years
Positions available
3
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
As an engineering apprentice at G&H Torquay you will have a unique opportunity to study and work in parallel in a dynamic and innovative environment. In partnership with South Devon College, you will spend four years working closely with our engineering team while complementing your workplace experience with a mixture of theoretical and practical lessons. As you progress through our apprenticeship programme you will learn about and contribute to the varied disciplines within fibre optics manufacturing while building upon your own skill set to enable the start of your career in engineering.
Our apprenticeship programme offers a structured and varied learning experience, providing you with the opportunity to acquire, refine and apply valuable technical and inter-personal skills employed in fibre optics engineering. You will receive mentorship and guidance from industry professionals, allowing you to grow and develop your expertise. During the four years other, additional training and development, personal and technical will be offered as required and where appropriate.
MANDATORY RESPONSIBILITIES
* Adherence to all Company policies, management systems and standard operational procedures, including legal responsibilities in relation to Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality
* Working positively to develop and foster good working relationships with colleagues and contracted personnel in order to maintain a culture of mutual respect and dignity
* Promote and display the G&H values: Customer focus, Integrity, Action, Unity, Precision
* Maintain good attendance at South Devon College
RESPONSIBILITIES
* Assisting in the design and development of fibre optic components and systems.
* Participating in the manufacturing process, including fibre routing, splicing, and assembly.
* Conducting quality control tests and inspections to ensure product reliability and performance.
* Collaborating with engineers to troubleshoot technical issues and implement solutions.
* Producing documentation, including operating procedures and technical reports.
* Maintaining and calibrating manufacturing equipment and tools.
* Tracking of your workplace accomplishments to meet learning outcomes.
* Plan and attend progress meetings with colleagues.
* Working with engineers and technicians to implement or improve processes.
* Working with engineers and technicians to complete personal competencies record.
* Attend South Devon College, on average, once per week.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
* Job reports
* Course work
* Personal one to one reviews (on-site/college)
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
* Self-driven
* Creative
* Inquisitive
* Reliable
* Honest
Where you'll work
Broomhill Way
Torquay
Devon
TQ2 7QL
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SOUTH DEVON COLLEGE
Training course
Engineering manufacturing technician (level 4)
What you'll learn
Course contents
* Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules, drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
* Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
* Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
* Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
* Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
* Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
* Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
* Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
* Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
* Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.
* Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules, drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
* Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
* Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
* Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
* Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
* Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
* Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
* Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
* Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
* Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.
Training schedule
At G&H Torquay we have four unique manufacturing areas. During the first two years of your apprenticeship you will spend six months in each area learning the key processes for each area to form the foundation of your engineering skill set.
Across all of our manufacturing areas there are a number of core skills which will be reinforced in each area:
* Optical fibre handling best practice
* Cleaving and splicing repeatability
* Measurement accuracy and data interpretation
In our Modules area you will learn:
* Optical fibre routing
* Bespoke electronic and optical testing for the particular assemblies
* Cleaving and splicing for critical lengths
In our Fibre-Q area you will learn:
* Active alignment of a Fibre Coupled Acousto-Optic Modulator (FCAOM)
* The introductory mathematics and physics around AOMs
In our Photonic Packaging area you will learn:
Introductory skills around photonics packaging such as; using pick and place machines, soldering of microelectronics, passive and active alignment and test of varied photonic devices
In our Fused Fibre Optics area you will learn:
* How to build a fused fibre optic coupler
* How these devices are measured and performance verified
In the final two years of your apprenticeship, you will move to our office area to support two different engineering functions; Manufacturing Engineering and NPI Engineering.
In Manufacturing Engineering, you will support this function while learning:
* Continuous improvement strategies and techniques
* Maintaining and implementing Six-Sigma and 6S methodologies
* Product lifecycle management
In NPI Engineering, you will support this function while learning:
* Documentation creation and maintaining; build and test procedures and bills-of-materials
* Creation and implementation of new optical and electronic test methods
* Managing product development cycles moving from Research and Development to Operational phases
Requirements
Essential qualifications
A Level in:
* Maths (or related) (grade B)
* Physics (or related) (grade B)
T Level in:
Engineering (or related) (grade Distinction)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* Organisation skills
* Team working
* Creative
* Initiative
Other requirements
Eagerness to learn and develop knowledge and understanding in the field of fibre optics is important