Overview
Department: Science Apprenticeship - Process Industries Manufacturing Technician (Chemical) L3
Location: Sheffield
Compensation: £9.83 - £12.71 / hour
Location
24 Don Rd, Sheffield, S9 2UB
Working for SPL
Stainless Plating Limited (SPL) is a long-established company based in Sheffield, with over 95 years of experience in precision surface engineering and metal finishing. We work with major industries like aerospace, defence, electronics, and oil & gas, providing high-quality electroplating, anodising, and coating services.
As an apprentice with SPL, you’ll gain hands-on experience in our purpose-built facility, learning techniques such as anodising, chromate conversion, hard chrome plating, and non-destructive testing (NDT). You’ll also develop practical skills in quality assurance and get the chance to work on projects for industry leaders like Rolls-Royce and Airbus.
We’re committed to sustainability and responsible practices, holding accreditations like AS9100 Rev D, NADCAP, and ISO 14001. This is a great opportunity to start your career with a company that values quality, innovation, and long-term development.
The Package
* Starting hourly rate of £9.83 to £12.71 depending on age
* 38 hours per week
* Monday to Thursday, 7:45am - 4:15pm; Friday, 7:00am - 1:00pm
* 23 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
* Company Pension Scheme
* Healthcare Cashplan
What will I be doing as a Manufacturing Technician Apprentice?
As a Manufacturing Technician (Heat Treatment) Apprentice you will learn how to carry out heat treatment and surface processing activities in line with company and aerospace standards. You will gain hands-on experience operating specialist equipment, maintaining process control, and ensuring full traceability and quality compliance of components.
Key Responsibilities
* Process components through stainless steel passivation and heat treatment operations in line with company and aerospace standards.
* Operate and monitor equipment such as vapour degreasers and heat treatment ovens to ensure effective and safe processing of parts.
* Maintain accurate documentation and full traceability of components, recording all batch and process data clearly.
* Follow strict quality procedures, carrying out basic inspections and reporting any issues or non-conformances.
* Adhere to all health, safety, and environmental regulations while maintaining a clean and organised work environment.
* Work collaboratively with team members to meet production targets and support wider business activities.
Future Opportunities
When you join SPL, the possibilities for your success are limitless. As a successful applicant, you have the potential to secure a full-time position within the company at the conclusion of your apprenticeship.
Through practical training on the job, you will acquire new skills and gain the competence and responsibility required for manufacturing and process operations. This apprenticeship programme serves as a stepping stone towards a rewarding career in process manufacturing, with the added opportunity for the apprentice to become a registered Science or Engineering Technician (RSci/Eng Tech).
This apprenticeship offers opportunities for professional growth, enabling you to specialise in areas such as process optimisation, quality control, or maintenance, and to progress into supervisory or leadership roles within the manufacturing environment.
Skills, Knowledge, and Experience
About You
At SPL, we’re looking for someone who is eager to learn, hands-on, and ready to get stuck in from day one. This is a practical role, so you should enjoy working in a structured, process-driven environment where attention to detail and focus are essential. You’ll need to be adaptable, able to cope with change, and have a strong awareness of health and safety regulations.
Good communication skills are important, as you’ll be working closely with a team to ensure smooth operations. If you enjoy working with tools and technical equipment, this apprenticeship is the perfect opportunity to develop your skills and build a long-term career in process operations.
To succeed in this role, you’ll need enthusiasm, teamwork, and a hunger to learn. If you love being busy and hands-on and want to be part of a company that values growth and development, we’d love to hear from you!
Please note: Due to the nature of this position, applicants must be 18+
Experience
We value attitude, curiosity, and commitment just as much as past experience. While previous experience can be helpful, it’s not essential - we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, especially those with a genuine interest in the field and the motivation to build a career. You might be a school or college leaver, or someone looking to retrain. Either way, if you’re enthusiastic, proactive, and ready to learn, you’ll fit right in.
Qualifications
It’s about enthusiasm, not school results. In our experience the most successful apprentices are those who are driven to find out more about the sector, can be up front about what they do and don’t already know, are considerate, self-reflective, and impatient to learn the job role!
So how does the apprenticeship work?
Over 22 months, you’ll devote a minimum of 6 hours of your working week on ‘off the job’ training. This can include theory training (for example, virtual lessons & online learning), alongside practical training (for example shadowing, mentoring, & time spent writing assignments). Together this will count towards a Level 3 Process Industry Manufacturing Technician apprenticeship.
You’ll be trained by an expert tutor from Tiro as well as an experienced mentor at SPL who together, will make sure you develop the knowledge, skills, and work habits you’ll need to succeed in your career.
Being an apprentice is hands-on, so you’ll get the chance to learn things you might otherwise not have experienced in a university or college environment.
The best part? You’ll be earning a salary while you gain your qualifications, meaning no huge student loans to pay back at the end of the programme!
Eligibility
While we never want to hinder your job application process with obstacles, there are some minimum requirements you’ll need to meet in order to do an apprenticeship, these are rules set by the UK Government.
As a training provider, we are committed to ensuring that our apprenticeship programs deliver significant new knowledge and skills. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate that the program will provide learning and experiences beyond their current qualifications and professional expertise.
If you already hold a Level 3, degree or equivalent higher-level qualification in a closely related field, or possess substantial relevant experience, you may not be eligible for apprenticeship funding, as these programmes are designed for individuals who require upskilling or reskilling in their chosen career pathway.
You’ll need to be over 18, not in full time education, have lived in the UK for 3 years and have the right to work in the UK.
If you don’t quite meet these minimum requirements yet, let us know you’re interested here and we’ll get in touch to discuss this further with you.
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