Kickstart your engineering career with a hands-on Machining Technician Apprenticeship at a close-knit, family-run business, where you'll be more than just a ‘button pusher’. From machining to design and software, you'll gain real experience and become an integral part of the day to day running of the business.
Qualification Requirements
Minimum 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) - Grade 5 or above in Maths. Grade 4 or above in English and Science, and a further 2 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above.
A Level 2 Engineering Qualification will also be considered
Salary - National Minimum Wage
Salary will rise in line with national minimum wage rates.
The earnings potential for a newly qualified Machining Technician, with design and software experience, is currently up to around £30k p.a.
Benefits
Holiday Allowance - 25 Days Holiday Allowance, plus Bank Holidays
Pension - Employee 5%, Employer 3%
Discount Schemes
Employee Assistance Programme
Onsite Parking
Employee recognition / awards
Location - Lancashire Business Park, Enterprise Drive, Leyland, PR26 6TG
Working Hours
Monday to Friday, 8am – 4.30pm with 1 hour unch break.
Duration - 45 months
Start Date - September 2026
Interview Date - 3rd August 2026
Closing Date for Applications - 13th July 2026
To Apply
To apply, please click the Apply Now button and complete the form. Once you submit, you will receive an email to verify your email address that will then submit your application to us. If you do not receive an email confirming your application, please check with us that this has been submitted.
If you are having difficulty in completing this, please contact recruitment on recruitment@cogentskills.com for assistance
Next Steps
Successful candidates will be progressed to a one way video interview, invites will be sent via email.
The video interview will be reviewed by the Hiring Manager
Are you ready to kickstart your career in engineering and manufacturing? We’re offering an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and inquisitive individual, who has an interest in mechanical design and a pro-active, practical approach to work, to join our family-run business as a Machining Technician Apprentice.
This isn’t your average apprenticeship. As part of our close-knit team, you won’t be just another employee, you’ll become an integral part of the operation. You’ll gain hands-on experience in precision machining, while also developing skills in design and software, giving you a well-rounded foundation in modern manufacturing techniques.
We pride ourselves on nurturing talent and providing real responsibility from day one. You’ll be supported and mentored by experienced professionals in a friendly, collaborative environment where your ideas and contributions truly matter.
Whether you’re just leaving school or looking for a fresh start in a practical, creative field, this apprenticeship offers genuine career development and the chance to grow with the business.
The Apprentice will follow the Machining Technician Apprenticeship Standard, which will combine on-job practical learning with classroom/workshop-based learning at Blackburn College. The successful candidates will be employed by Cogent Skills Services Ltd but will undertake all on-job learning with Gerotor.
As a Machining Technician, you'll develop the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to produce complex and precision work by machining components. Components are machined from metal or specialist materials using conventional or CNC machine tools.
Typical duties will include:
In years 1 and 2:
Setting up CNC machines to run pre-programmed production components
Operation of CNC machines for manufacturing production components
Performing daily maintenance tasks on CNC machines
Component inspection & checking for conformance
Creating inspection reports
Creating fixturing and developing machining strategies (with help) for new components
Trialling machining strategies prior to production implementation
Duties / tasks later in apprenticeship, with more experience and help from line manager:
Assisting in the design of gerotor profiles and pumps
Use of CAD / CAM software for design and manufacture of components
Creating schedules and plans for manufacturing operations to meet customer requirements
Determining the need for further equipment / resources as the business expands
Developing own brand of pumps / solutions for various industries
In addition to the course content provided by the college, you will be trained how to use CAD and our own bespoke software for designing of pump components and how to transfer this to a CAM system for creating machining toolpaths. There is also the scope for conducting desktop simulations and analysis of fluid systems.
This apprenticeship will provide you with a good all-round engineering knowledge and we are looking for someone with an enthusiastic and inquisitive nature, who has an interest in mechanical design and a pro-active, practical approach to work.
Please be aware that the business location is Leyland and the college location is Blackburn. You will be expected to make your own travel arrangements to both site and college.
We’re seeking motivated applicants who want to build a career in engineering and manufacturing. The ideal candidate will be:
A strong team player, with an open and clear communication style
Able to build positive relationships with colleagues and clients
Practical and hands-on, with a methodical and safety-conscious approach
Detail-oriented, with a strong focus on quality and accuracy
A logical problem-solver, who enjoys working with equipment and tools
Eager to learn and develop, with a flexible, can-do attitude
Qualification to be delivered: Machining Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
EAL L3 Extended Diploma in Machining (Development Knowledge)
Apprenticeship Standard: Level 3 Machining Technician
Training Provider: Blackburn College
Delivery model: Day release at Blackburn College to complete the knowledge qualification throughout the duration of the apprenticeship. 4 days per week hands-on, on site at Gerotor Design Studio, with regular support and guidance visits from your Blackburn College assessor, plus independent end point assessment
This role is part of our talent planning for the future and, for the right person, we are looking to continue to develop the Apprentice upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Our business is growing and is evolving, so there is potential to gain permanent employment in the team, subject to performance, successful completion of the apprenticeship, and a role being available.
Completion of this apprenticeship provides potential to progress to higher education (HNC, HND, Foundation Degree)
Cogent Skills is managing the recruitment process in partnership with Gerotor Design Studio Limited. To ensure fairness and equality of opportunity all applications must be made by completing the application on the Cogent Skills Apprenticeship portal.
The successful candidate will be employed by Cogent Skills Services Ltd but will undertake all on-job learning with Gerotor Design Studio Ltd. at its manufacturing site in Leyland.
Please be aware that the business location is Leyland and the college location is Blackburn. You will be expected to make your own travel arrangements to both site and college.
Please also note that this is a fully non-smoking site. If you do wish to smoke or vape, you will only be able to do so out of working hours, or in your designated lunch break, completely off site.
Gerotor Design Studio is a family run business, based in Leyland on Enterprise Drive. The core purpose of the business is the design and manufacture of gerotor style oil and fuel pumps for a wide variety of industries – including Formula 1, Automotive OEM, motorsport, aerospace, EV & net zero technologies, medical and the large air compressor industry.
The facility in Leyland is in a new build 3000 sq ft industrial premises, equipped with modern CNC equipment, including 2x Haas CNC vertical mills, a Haas CNC lathe with live tooling, NC surface grinding, Makino Wire EDM and laser marking. The company has ISO 9001 accreditation and utilises Solidworks CAD systems with Fusion 360 and HyperMill for creating CAM programs for manufacturing. All design and manufacturing is carried out on site and so it is a true end-to-end engineering business.
The business began with the creation of a bespoke software design tool for gerotor profiles and has grown to its present form over the past 8 years. Future growth plans include scaling up the manufacturing capabilities and supplying higher volumes for niche vehicle markets. It is expected that you will become an integral part of the day to day running of the business, providing a more interesting prospect than is perhaps the case in other companies. Ultimately, we are looking for someone who can help us develop our manufacturing processes alongside their own personal and professional development - it will be a very engaging role.
You would be the second apprentice in our business, as we had a new starter in September 2025. We hope it to be an annual occurrence for the next few years as we grow.
Cogent Skills is the skills specialist for the UK science and technology sectors. Our purpose is to make sure your business, your people and our industry are future-ready.
As a not-for-profit organisation with a family of commercially-focused companies, we are committed to supporting the skills, needs and ambitions of the sector.
We have been named one of the best medium-sized employers in the UK in The Sunday Times Best Place to Work 2024.
We offer a diverse range of market-leading skills services, from process safety and competency solutions in high-hazard industries to end-to-end apprenticeship services for some of the world’s leading science, manufacturing and technology employers.
