The Level 3 Machining technician, and the 77 providers delivering it.
Setting up machines prior to production as well as monitoring and correcting them as needed.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Apprentices learn to produce complex, precision-machined components from metal and specialist materials using both conventional and CNC machine tools. The programme covers setting up, operating and adjusting machinery including centre lathes, milling machines, grinding machines, electro discharge machines, and gear cutting equipment. Apprentices also learn to read and interpret engineering drawings, write and edit CNC programmes, apply quality assurance procedures, carry out risk assessments, and support continuous improvement activities. Health, safety and environmental compliance runs throughout, including COSHH, PPE and RIDDOR obligations.
Day-to-day responsibilities
On any given week, an apprentice will prepare machines for production runs, select appropriate tooling and work-holding devices, and machine components to tight tolerances against engineering drawings and specifications. They will check stock levels, complete job sheets and inspection records, and report any quality or equipment issues to a team leader. Where CNC equipment is in use, they may prove or edit programmes. They work alongside other machinists and interact with quality auditors, colleagues and sometimes suppliers, always maintaining a clean and safe work area.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship opens routes into roles such as CNC machinist, CNC machinist programmer, precision engineer, centre lathe turner, gear cutter, or horizontal borer. Progression typically leads to senior machinist or team leader positions, with experienced technicians sometimes moving into quality, process engineering or production planning roles. Employers are found across aerospace, automotive, defence, maritime, nuclear, medical device manufacturing, and domestic appliance production, spanning large original equipment manufacturers and specialist precision engineering subcontractors.
77 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
IPS International is an independent training provider offering apprenticeships and commercial traini...
Tyne North Training is a specialist apprenticeship training provider based in Wallsend, supporting e...
South Tyneside College is part of Tyne Coast College and is presented as a leading centre for educat...
Alliance Learning is an independent training provider based in Horwich, Bolton, delivering apprentic...
Tameside College is a further education college based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, prov...
Training 2000 is a long-established training provider, founded in 1966, offering apprenticeship prog...
The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise that has delivered high-quality training an...
Harlow College is a further education provider offering a wide range of programmes designed to prepa...
South West Durham Training is a specialist vocational training provider based in modern, purpose-bui...
MGTS is an educational charity with over 50 years’ experience specialising in engineering apprentice...
The Sheffield College is a large further education provider offering a wide range of technical, voca...
Lincoln College is part of the Lincoln College Group, encompassing Lincoln and Newark colleges, and ...
Trafford College is part of The Trafford & Stockport College Group and offers a wide range of techni...
Stoke on Trent College is the largest provider of further education in Stoke and North Staffordshire...
South Essex College, part of South Essex Colleges Group, is a further and higher education provider ...
City of Wolverhampton College is a further education provider offering apprenticeships, full-time an...
Lakes College is a further and higher education provider in West Cumbria offering a wide range of te...
Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC) offers a wide range of technical and professional education o...
South Devon College is a further and higher education provider offering a wide range of apprenticesh...
Appris is a West Yorkshire-based, employer-led training provider whose core business is engineering ...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads into roles such as CNC Machinist, CNC Machinist Programmer, Manual Machinist (Miller, Turner or Grinder), Centre Lathe Turner, Precision Engineer, EDM Machinist Technician, Gear Cutter and Grinder, or CNC Horizontal Borer. The specific title depends on the machinery and processes the apprentice has focused on. Most completers move straight into a substantive production or precision machining role within the organisation where they trained.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, experienced machinists commonly move into Senior Machinist, Lead Machinist, or Machining Setter Operator roles, taking on greater responsibility for programme proving, tooling selection, and quality sign-off. From there, two broad tracks open up. The leadership route leads toward Manufacturing Team Leader, Production Supervisor, or Manufacturing Engineer. The specialist route takes machinists deeper into CNC programming, multi-axis machining, or metrology, potentially moving into roles such as CNC Programmer, Process Engineer, or Quality Engineer.
Where these roles sit
Demand for machining technicians is concentrated in aerospace, automotive, defence, nuclear, and medical device manufacturing. Employers range from large Tier 1 manufacturers and defence primes to specialist precision engineering subcontractors with smaller workforces. Both the private sector and government-owned defence and nuclear sites recruit at this level. Roles are found across England, Scotland, and Wales, with stronger concentrations in the Midlands, North West, South West, and Scotland.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Learning takes place in the workplace alongside a training provider, with apprentices building competence in precision machining, CNC operation, quality assurance and health and safety over the course of the programme. Before moving to final assessment, the apprentice must pass a readiness check, commonly called the gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm that the required knowledge, skills and behaviours have been met. Final assessment then determines whether the apprentice can perform the full role to the required standard. Assessment arrangements for many standards are currently being updated; check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Keeping thorough, dated records of workplace activity from the start of the programme makes the final assessment process significantly easier. Apprentices should document their work across machining processes, quality checks, technical drawings interpretation and safety procedures as they go, rather than trying to reconstruct evidence later. Regular reviews with both the employer and training provider help identify any gaps in competence early. Close communication between all three parties throughout the programme is the most reliable way to reach the gateway with confidence.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% on their FATP profile, and ideally above 75% for a 42-month standard where attrition over time is a real risk. Strong providers will have access to a range of physical machining equipment, including both conventional machines (centre lathes, milling, grinding) and multi-axis CNC machine tool centres. Ask to see the workshop or training facility, not just a prospectus photo. Employer satisfaction scores above 80% suggest the provider keeps close contact with employers throughout delivery. Learner reviews mentioning hands-on machine time from early in the programme are a positive signal.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers running large cohorts across many engineering standards where machining appears to be a secondary specialism. If a provider cannot clearly describe which CNC platforms or control systems apprentices train on, that is a gap worth probing. A falling achievement rate on FATP, even if the current figure looks acceptable, suggests problems with retention or delivery quality. Vague answers about how off-the-job training is structured across 42 months, or an inability to show alumni now working in precision machining roles, are both worth treating with scepticism.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What physical machining equipment do apprentices train on, and does it include both conventional and CNC machine tools?
- Which CNC control systems do you cover, and are these current in the sectors we work in (aerospace, automotive, medical, or other relevant areas)?
- How is the 42-month programme structured, and when do apprentices progress from basic machine operation to complex component work?
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard specifically, and has it been stable or improving over recent cohorts?
- How do you handle the end-point assessment preparation, particularly for apprentices working across different machine types?
- How many employers are currently running apprentices on this standard with you, and what sizes of employer do you typically work with?
- Can you connect us with a current employer or recent completer working in a similar manufacturing environment to ours?
Common questions
What entry requirements do employers and candidates need to meet?
There are no nationally set entry requirements for this apprenticeship, so employers can set their own criteria. In practice, most employers look for a reasonable level of maths and English, often GCSE grade 4 or above, since the role involves reading engineering drawings and applying calculations. Apprentices must be employed for the duration and working in a role where they can gain genuine machining experience. Prior engineering exposure is useful but not essential.
How long does the apprenticeship take and how is the time split between work and learning?
The typical duration is 42 months, though the exact off-the-job training requirement is subject to current government reforms. Check the gov.uk page for standard ST0691 for the current specification. Throughout the apprenticeship the learner remains employed full time, applying new skills directly on the job. Off-the-job learning is delivered by a training provider and covers theory, technical knowledge and practical skills that cannot always be acquired through day-to-day work alone.
How is the apprentice assessed at the end?
Before sitting the end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer, training provider and apprentice confirm that the required knowledge, skills and behaviours have been demonstrated. Assessment models for many standards are being updated under Skills England reforms, so check gov.uk for the current end-point assessment arrangements for ST0691. Generally, the apprentice will need to show they can machine complex and precision components to specification, interpret engineering information and work safely and accurately.
How does the employer pay for the training?
The funding band for this standard is £27,000, which is the maximum that can be drawn from the apprenticeship levy or co-investment arrangement. Levy-paying employers use their digital apprenticeship service account to fund training. Employers who do not pay the levy co-invest with government, currently paying 5 percent of training costs. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on a 16 to 18-year-old apprentice pay nothing toward training costs. Costs cover training and assessment only, not the apprentice's wages.
What does a machining technician apprentice actually do at work each day?
Day-to-day tasks centre on setting up, operating and adjusting conventional and CNC machine tools, which can include centre lathes, milling machines, grinding machines, EDM equipment and gear cutting machines. The apprentice reads and interprets engineering drawings, selects appropriate tooling and work-holding devices, machines components to tight tolerances and carries out quality checks. They also record job information, manage stock, apply risk assessments and follow health, safety and environmental procedures throughout.
What can an apprentice do once they have completed this apprenticeship?
Completing this apprenticeship leads to roles such as CNC machinist, precision engineer, CNC machinist programmer, gear cutter or horizontal borer, across sectors including aerospace, automotive, defence, nuclear and medical equipment manufacturing. From there, progression typically moves toward senior machinist, team leader or manufacturing engineer positions. Some completers go on to study for a higher-level engineering qualification or a Level 4 or Level 5 apprenticeship to develop further technical or supervisory expertise.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 691.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.