Metal Fabricator
Fabricators in the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and Construction engineering sector are predominantly involved in highly skilled, complex, specialist and detailed work covering a wide range of common and job specific skills sets that can be transferred across the wider engineering industry sectors during the course of their careers.
Fabricators would work on one or more discipline from sheet metal working; plateworking; structural steelwork, pipe and tube fabrication, manual joining, joining machine setting and operating. They need to work safely in line with relevant Health and Safety regulations and are required to interpret a wide range of technical data and information in order to be able to carry out the fabrication activity efficiently and effectively.
Apprenticeship information
Entry requirements
A minimum of four GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above including English, Maths, Science and Technology is desirable. Other equivalent qualifications are acceptable
Where will I study?
Training 2000 Blackburn
Duration
- Up to 4 years
- Year 1* - full time at Training 2000 OR x3 blocks of training and 1 day per week to complete the Technical Certificate (if required)
- Year 2 - 1 day per week to complete the Technical Certificate (if required) / assessment in your workplace
- Year 3/4 - assessment in your workplace
English and Maths
You may need to complete your English and Maths Functional Skills depending on your GCSE grades, or if you cannot provide evidence of your GCSE results.
The Functional Skills programme runs as an addition to the time you are already required to spend doing your off-the-job training. Following a thorough assessment process, we will select a learning plan suitable for you, which will be either 2-weeks full-time or 12-weeks (one day per-week) each for English and/or maths.
If a subject needs re-sitting, this will be additional time in the classroom on top of your learning plan.
Apprenticeship information
Working safely
Work safely at all times complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, organisational and environmental requirements
Planning
Plan and prepare for the metal fabrication activities before commencing work
Specifications
Check materials conform to the specified grades, dimensions and thicknesses identified on detailed engineering drawings
Moving and handling
Use the correct methods for the moving and handling resources and materials
Safe use of equipment
Set up, check and adjust the equipment for use in the safe and reliable fabrication of metal products or components and maintaining the equipment in a reliable and safe condition throughout
Interpret technical drawings
Interpret technical drawings, patterns, templates and specifications to mark out, produce and assemble complex fabricated products to meet the required specification and quality requirements
Tools, equipment and techniques
Use appropriate tools, equipment and techniques to shape and form (hot or cold) metal materials, demonstrating and applying knowledge of material properties and characteristics throughout
Monitor and improve
Monitor resources and activities throughout the fabrication of products or components, identifying areas for improving the production process where possible
Preparation
Cutting, drilling, shaping and preparing metal materials during fabrication activities using manual and power tools, thermal and laser cutting, as required calculating dimensions and tolerances using knowledge of mathematics and instruments/equipment
Operating tools and equipment
Operate appropriate tools and equipment to join metal parts using a range of mechanical fasteners and fixing techniques required by the specifications appropriate to the fabrication activity being carried out and in accordance with approved joining procedures and quality requirements
Joining equipment
Operate joining equipment to join metal parts using a range of appropriate techniques to the standards required by the specifications for the fabrication activity being carried out
Insect and test
Inspect and test joins for security against required standard
Quality control
Carry out quality checks on component parts and completed assemblies
Problem solving
Deal with problems that occur within the fabrication activity in line with responsibilities of the role
Completing the activity
Restore the work area and equipment to a safe and reliable condition on completion of the activity
Completing documentation
Complete documentation at the appropriate stages of the work activity
Welding
Weld joints in accordance with approved welding procedures and quality requirements
*Year 1 full time at Training 2000 could be for a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 12 months.
Year 1 blocks could take between 12 and 18 months to complete. Full time or block training to be decided by employer.
Next steps
On completion of this course you may want to consider the following options to further your career.
Where can you progress to?
Frequently asked questions
Most of our Apprenticeships are 4 years but can be shorter dependant on the type of engineering you are learning.
We offer engineering Apprenticeships in a range of areas, such as CAD (Computer Aided Design), Welding, Fire & Security systems, Electronics, Mechatronics and CNC.
We work with many local engineering companies, who advertise their vacancies on our website. These will change daily, so always check back for the latest ones.
As we are part of the University of Central Lancashire, you can easily progress onto a Degree Apprenticeship