Summary
We are seeking eight composite apprentices to undertake a variety of tasks within the production environment. Training will be provided onsite at Piran for 80% of the week with the other 20% by the college & our team. This apprenticeship is designed to open new opportunities here in Cornwall in an exciting and niche industry.
Wage
£19,890 a year
Full time, 3 year apprenticeship with opportunity for full time permanent.
Training course
Composites technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday You may be required to work early shift or late shift. 06.00 - 14.30 /08.00 - 16.30 / 14.00 - 22.30.
42 hours 30 minutes a week
Possible start date
Friday 27 June
Duration
3 years
Positions available
8
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
* Cutting and kitting of carbon fibre raw material
* Laying up on carbon fibre materials into mould tools
* Releasing of carbon composite components from moulds
* Cleaning/sealing/applying release agents to mould tools
* General cleaning and tidying of the work areas
* Maintaining and completing relevant engineering paperwork
* Aid various production departments with tasks such as manual lifting and fitting, gluing, machine maintenance, packaging and documentation
* Correct usage of advanced machinery - press, autoclave, kit cutter, CNC machine to name a few
* You may be required to work early or late shifts. 06.00-14.30/ 08.00-16.30/ 14.00- 22.30)
Where you’ll work
UNIT 16
BARNFIELDS BUSINESS PARK
ST ISSEY
WADEBRIDGE
PL27 7SE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
TRURO AND PENWITH COLLEGE
Your training course
Composites technician (level 3)
Equal to A level
Course contents
* Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand task.
* Plan work. Identify and organise resources.
* Identify hazards and risks in the workplace.
* Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
* Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
* Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
* Prepare and use mould tools.
* Select and check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record.
* Use or operate hand tools, equipment, and machinery.
* Store mould tools, hand tools, and equipment.
* Select, check, and prepare materials for example, weigh resins, cut reinforcement.
* Follow quality control processes during manufacture for example, check for contaminants, record batch numbers or expiry dates.
* Apply laminate to mould for example, cut, add darts, corner definition, orientation, position, and order.
* Complete preparation for and start curing process for example, select and apply consumables for example vacuum bag, infuse with resin, add heat or pressure.
* Extract product from mould (break out).
* Conduct final product quality assurance procedure. For example, conduct grading parameters checks (size, appearance, weight), and take samples for laboratory testing.
* Identify issues for example, de-laminations, inclusions, surface defects, surface imperfections, and maintenance requirements.
* Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
* Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
* Record or enter data - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
* Interpret data for example, defect data and geometrical measurements. Use data to validate suggestions.
* Investigate a problem to identify the underlying cause. Identify a solution to the problem.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process, or task.
* Apply team working principles.
* Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
* Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
* Use information technology for work tasks. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
* Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
* Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand task.
* Plan work. Identify and organise resources.
* Identify hazards and risks in the workplace.
* Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
* Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
* Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
* Prepare and use mould tools.
* Select and check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record.
* Use or operate hand tools, equipment, and machinery.
* Store mould tools, hand tools, and equipment.
* Select, check, and prepare materials for example, weigh resins, cut reinforcement.
* Follow quality control processes during manufacture for example, check for contaminants, record batch numbers or expiry dates.
* Apply laminate to mould for example, cut, add darts, corner definition, orientation, position, and order.
* Complete preparation for and start curing process for example, select and apply consumables for example vacuum bag, infuse with resin, add heat or pressure.
* Extract product from mould (break out).
* Conduct final product quality assurance procedure. For example, conduct grading parameters checks (size, appearance, weight), and take samples for laboratory testing.
* Identify issues for example, de-laminations, inclusions, surface defects, surface imperfections, and maintenance requirements.
* Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
* Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
* Record or enter data - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
* Interpret data for example, defect data and geometrical measurements. Use data to validate suggestions.
* Investigate a problem to identify the underlying cause. Identify a solution to the problem.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process, or task.
* Apply team working principles.
* Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
* Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
* Use information technology for work tasks. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
* Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
Your training plan
This Apprenticeship programme at Truro & Penwith College, designed in partnership with Piran Advanced Composites, offers a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience incomposite technology. This programme focuses on the production of high-performance composite components for industries such as aerospace, automotive, marine, andrenewable energy.
As an apprentice, you will work with advanced materials like carbonfibre, glass fibre, and Kevlar to create strong, lightweight products used in everything fromaircraft to medical equipment. You will learn a variety of skills, from moulding andproduction techniques to quality control, ensuring products meet rigorous standards.
This programme provides a unique chance to develop your expertise in an innovative field,while working with a leading company committed to sustainability and high-quality manufacturing.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
* English (grade 4)
* Maths (grade 4)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* Attention to detail
* Organisation skills
* Problem solving skills
* Presentation skills
* Number skills
* Analytical skills
* Logical
* Team working
* Creative
* Initiative
* Non judgemental
* Patience
* Physical fitness
Other requirements
We offer a competitive apprenticeship salary, 20 days holiday plus bank holidays, a good, safe working environment with the opportunity to work on cutting edge engineering and manufacturing projects that are not available anywhere else in Cornwall. Benefits: •Company pension •On-site parking •Workplace Mentor Apprentice candidates must be aged 16 years old or over. Apprentice candidates must have lived in the UK or EEA for the last 3 years up to the start date of their course (which will be November 2025). Apprentice candidates must not already be enrolled on another apprenticeship or currently in any other form of full-time education. Apprentice candidates must not have a degree level qualification or higher in a related subject.