Summary
You will develop advanced fabrication and welding skills, with a strong focus on aluminium TIG welding, precision sheet metal work, and general fabrication.
Wage
Competitive
Competitive wage offered
Training course
Metal fabricator (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday 08:30 to 17:30
40 hours a week
Start date
Monday 7 September 2026
Duration
3 years 6 months
Positions available
1
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
Key Skills to be developed during the Apprenticeship include:
* Understanding and application of TIG welding techniques, with a specific emphasis on aluminium welding to aerospace and motorsport standards
* Experience with MIG and jewellery welding
* Sheet metal fabrication
* Reading, interpreting, and working to technical drawings, and welding symbols
* Use of fabrication and measuring tools including bandsaws, guillotines, rollers, jigs, and inspection equipment
* Understanding material types, heat distortion, joint preparation, and welding sequences to achieve consistent quality
* Developing professional, collaborative relationships within the Fabrication Shop, Machine Shop and across departments, including Design and Quality
* Safe working practices in line with Health, Safety, and Environmental regulations and specific departmental risk assessments
Where you'll work
Operations Centre
Brackley
Northamptonshire
NN13 7BD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE
Training course
Metal fabricator (level 3)
What you'll learn
Course contents
* Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
* Comply with environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
* Obtain, check and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
* Carry out relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity.
* Undertake the work activity using the correct processes, procedures and equipment.
* Carry out the required checks (such as quality, compliance or testing) using the correct procedures, processes and/or equipment.
* Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
* Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
* Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
* Identify and follow correct Metal work instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
* Mark out using appropriate tools and techniques.
* Cut and form Metal for the production or maintenance of fabricated products.
* Produce and assemble Metal products to required specification and quality requirements.
* Identify and follow correct joining instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
* Carry out the relevant preparation before starting the joining fabrication activity.
* Set up, check, adjust and use joining and related equipment.
* Weld joints in accordance with approved welding procedures and quality requirements.
* Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
* Comply with environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
* Obtain, check and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
* Carry out relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity.
* Undertake the work activity using the correct processes, procedures and equipment.
* Carry out the required checks (such as quality, compliance or testing) using the correct procedures, processes and/or equipment.
* Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
* Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
* Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
* Identify and follow correct Metal work instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
* Mark out using appropriate tools and techniques.
* Cut and form Metal for the production or maintenance of fabricated products.
* Produce and assemble Metal products to required specification and quality requirements.
* Identify and follow correct joining instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
* Carry out the relevant preparation before starting the joining fabrication activity.
* Set up, check, adjust and use joining and related equipment.
* Weld joints in accordance with approved welding procedures and quality requirements.
Training schedule
Day release learning at MK College
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
* English (grade 5 and above)
* Maths (grade 5 and above)
* Science (grade 5 and above)
* Two other GCSEs (grade 5 and above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* IT skills
* Attention to detail
* Organisation skills
* Problem solving skills
* Number skills
* Analytical skills
* Logical
* Team working
* Creative
* Initiative