Overview
We are currently seeking an Apprentice Workshop Technician to join our team. In this role, you will provide a service to many of the top research medical industries throughout the UK.
Wage and Benefits
Wage: £14,560 to £23,132.20, depending on your age.
National Minimum Wage.
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab).
- Depending on individual performance, a discretionary bonus payment is paid annually to employees.
Annual Holiday: 24 days a year + bank holidays. After 5 years, an extra day per year up to a maximum of 28 days.
Following successful probation period of 3 months, you will be eligible to join the company pension scheme.
Apprenticeship Details
Hours: Monday to Thursday 7:30am – 4:00pm. Fridays 7:30am – 12:30pm. One‑hour lunch break each day.35 hours per week.
Start Date: 7 September 2026.
Duration: 3 years 6 months.
Location
1A Chapel HillBraintreeCM7 3QT
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by gaining hands‑on experience.
Responsibilities
- Repair faulty modules and units using soldering and desoldering equipment.
- Use workshop equipment for fabrication, temperature measurements, and calibrations.
- Understand electrical principles.
- Fault find to component level.
- Administration – use PC and telephone to communicate with suppliers, customers, and company staff.
- Purchase components required for the day‑to‑day running of the company.
- Assist field and workshop engineers with sourcing replacement components.
- Arrange collection and returns of customers’ equipment.
- Store operations – package goods into boxes and unpack goods shipped to Labcare.
- Inspect goods on receipt and dispatch, ensuring all paperwork is supplied for dispatch.
- Occasionally visit other sites to assist field engineers with their workloads.
- Plan and implement process improvement activities.
- Review existing engineering or production processes (e.g., machining, assembly, maintenance workflows).
- Financial planning or costing activities.
- Assist in estimating costs for engineering projects, including materials, labour, and material selection.
- Collect and analyse operational data from machines, production lines, or maintenance systems (KPIs).
- Present KPI data through charts, dashboards, or reports.
- Participate in quality improvement processes.
- Engage in quality control activities such as inspections, testing, and verification of components or systems.
- Understand engineering drawings, tolerances, and specifications.
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training Provider
Colchester Institute
Training Course
Engineering Manufacturing Technician (Level 4)
- Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing data and information (e.g., workplans, project plans, schedules, drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) to draw accurate conclusions and make informed decisions.
- Use project management tools such as SWOT, stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart, and summary risk profiles.
- Apply 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 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 – formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media, incorporating relevant data or metrics.
- Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
- Employ lean tools and techniques such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace Organisation (5S: sort, set in order, shine, standardise, sustain), Kaizen, and Poka‑Yoke (error proofing).
- Apply documentation control processes and procedures – 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 such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics, and Databases.
- Work towards the Level 4 Engineering Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Standard (Mechanical Pathway).
- Qualifications: Level 4 HNC in Engineering or Manufacturing.
- College attendance will be at the Colchester Institute – Colchester Campus one day per week during term time.
Requirements
- GCSE in Maths and English (grade A*‑C/9‑4 or equivalent).
- 2 A‑Levels in Maths and Science (grade A*‑C/9‑4).
- Level 3 or equivalent in (additional specification required).
- Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience; the apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Customer care skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical thinking
- Creative problem‑solving
- Initiative
- Non‑judgemental attitude
- Physical fitness
Other Requirements
The position is mainly workshop‑based, but there may be field work as needed, and some long periods of computer use.
About this Employer
Labcare Service Ltd is a service company supplying the UK medical research industry with the repair of faulty laboratory equipment, equipment service and a UKAS calibration service. Our engineers are recognised throughout the industry for their skills in getting our customers back up and running in quick time. Being in the East means we have quick access to a large customer base such as Cambridge, London, Oxford, etc.
After this Apprenticeship
Technician → Engineer → Senior Engineer as appropriate to experience and training passes.
Contact
Colchester Institute01206 712043Reference code: VAC2000026987
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