This is an exciting opportunity to undertake a four-year Modern Apprenticeship in Manufacturing Engineering whilst also working in one of the country’s leading university mechanical engineering workshops. You’ll master the essential manufacturing operations that will enable you to produce a wide range of precision parts and equipment that underpin the School’s world-leading teaching and research programmes.
After a brief introductory period working in St Andrews, the rest of your first year will be dedicated to full-time study at Fife College gaining an NC in Manufacturing Engineering and basic workshop skills.
For years two and three you’ll transition to day-release, working towards your HNC in Manufacturing Engineering whilst simultaneously undertaking further training within the School’s workshop.
Through your college courses you will gain knowledge and skills in: computer-aided design; manufacturing processes (including advanced manufacturing); engineering materials; assembly skills; mechanical engineering principals and more.
Within the workshop you’ll develop your experience operating a range of CNC & manual lathes,
CNC & manual mills (both 3 and 5 axis), grinding (cylindrical & surface) and electrical discharge machining (EDM) along with the more traditional hand tools, guillotines, sheet benders and MIG/TIG welding equipment. You’ll learn to organise machining tasks, select the right tools for each operation, and set precise cutting speeds and feeds while adhering to drawing tolerances.
This is no ordinary role. This is not a production facility, you’ll become a multi-skilled precision engineer. It will be difficult to predict what types of work you’ll be undertaking from week to week. You could be helping to develop a radar system, machining jigs and fixtures for our cleanrooms or condensed matter labs, manufacturing parts that will be sent to the bottom of the ocean or into space. We work closely with the other science schools within the University so you could be working on an experiment that helps our colleagues in the School of Psychology & Neuroscience unravel the workings of the human brain or colleagues in the school of Mathematics & Statistics who are exploring the cloud systems of Saturn and Jupiter.
The University is committed to ensuring that all apprentices receive high-quality training that is not only rewarding but varied and interesting. If you enjoy variety in your work, thrive on challenges and gain satisfaction by taking projects from concept though to delivery, this could be the ideal job for you.
Employees of the University have access to a wide range of staff benefits including:
• Annual leave of 30 days, plus 5 public holidays
• Financial contribution to relocation
• Membership of the S&LAS Pension Scheme with generous employer
contributions
• A range of family friendly policies
• Staff discount scheme for local and national goods and services
• Free staff parking, employee Carshare and Cycle to Work Schemes and
subsidised local bus travel
• Subsidised sports membership, reduced tuition fees on degree programmes
for staff, access to training and development opportunities including LinkedIn
Learning, access to library facilities, salary sacrifice scheme
• A range of wellbeing initiatives including membership of Peppy, a health
application that connects staff to expert practitioners and personalized support
on health matters
This post will be located at the JF Allen Building, North Haugh, St Andrews, although the formal education courses will be delivered via Fife College. You will be required to make your own travel arrangements to attend classes at Fife College. Occasional travel to other schools and units within the University may be required.
Further information, informal enquiries and requests to visit the workshop may be directed to Mr. Mark Robertson, Workshop Manager, email: msfr@st-andrews.ac.uk, Tel: 01334 463190. We encourage all applicants to visit us prior to the closing date, to tour the facilities, see some of the fascinating work we undertake and to meet the team. This will be your opportunity to ask questions about the role, the apprenticeship and working at the University.
Applications are particularly welcome from women, people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented in professional posts at the University.
Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the St Andrews experience and form a central pillar of the University Strategy. We strive to create a fair and inclusive culture demonstrated through our commitment to diversity awards (Athena Swan, Carer Positive, Race Charters). We celebrate diversity by promoting profiles of BAME, LGBTIQ+ Disabled and Neurodiverse staff and supporting networks including the Staff BAME Network; Staff with Disabilities or Neurodiversity Network; Staff LGBTIQ+ Network; and the Staff Parents & Carers Network. Full details available online:
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Information on other visa options is available at or by contacting our HR Immigration Team on hrimmigration@st-andrews.ac.uk.