Summary
Responsive Engineering is a contract manufacturer based in the North East of England. We specialise in large, complex fabrications for the Defence, Energy and Rail sectors. We are recruiting to join our Surface Finisher Apprenticeship within our finishing department. This level 3 program will provide you with all you need to thrive.
Wage
£14,526.20 a year
Company pension scheme – employer contributes 7%
Training course
Surface finisher (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Thursday, between 7:00am - 15:30pm and Friday, 7:00am - 12:00pm.
37 hours a week
Possible start date
Monday 1 September
Duration
3 years 6 months
Positions available
1
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
* Learn a range of skills, including the knowledge to lead and control manual and semi-automated surface finishing processes.
* Work across different sections in the finishing team to develop skills and knowledge.
* Build positive relationships with internal and external customers
* Work with the team to support the finishing of complex assemblies using surface preparation and finishing equipment.
Where you’ll work
Armstrong Works
Scotswood Road
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE15 6UX
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
TDR TRAINING LIMITED
Your training course
Surface finisher (level 3)
Equal to A level
Course contents
* Use communication and interpersonal techniques and terminology to aid interactions with colleagues, contractors, suppliers and others.
* Deliver appropriate customer service principles and techniques, in accordance with organisational policy and processes.
* Maintain the safety of self along with others by following safe systems of work and complying with all relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant information and guidance.
* Consider sustainability and environmental impacts when planning and performing surface finishing work operations.
* Follow approved industry and manufacturer’s guidance and techniques, operational work methods, practices, processes, principles and procedures when undertaking different surface finishing work operations, within required time frames.
* Select, use, and store resources safely and correctly including tools, materials, equipment, machinery and consumables.
* Carry out the correct preparation techniques when working with a substrate.
* Follow quality improvement principles, techniques, and methods and identify any areas for improvement, consulting internally and externally as appropriate.
* Conduct required tests and checks when performing surface finishing work operations.
* Restore work area to a safe and tidy condition in accordance with organisational and legislative policy and procedures.
* Complete records and documentation relevant to surface finishing work operations, in accordance with requirements such as legislative or regulatory.
* Check and identify surface defects and contamination issues to company and industry standards, using appropriate and relevant documentation.
* Dispose of waste materials, in accordance with safe working and environmental practices and approved procedures.
* Carry out required rework using approved materials and techniques.
* Perform routine maintenance and servicing on relevant equipment.
* Deal with any problems that may present themselves within their own area of responsibility.
* Adhere to work at height regulations and requirements for safe access and egress from or around a vessel and utilise appropriate PPE when working at height ensuring pre-use checks, operation and maintenance activities are carried out correctly.
* Setup work platforms to requirements and current regulations including staging, towers and mobile elevated work platforms (MEWP) to ensure safe use.
* Carry out lifting operations in accordance with lifting operations and lifting equipment regulations (LOLER).
* Identify hazards and control their associated risks when working on or near the water, using techniques such as risk assessment. Use emergency preparedness procedures when carrying out work in an operational marine environment (including on or near the water).
* Adapt working practices to support marine paint operations which affect the workflow. Schedule work to accommodate other trades processes and COSHH requirements such as to meet product overcoating timeframes.
* Use products, techniques and various methods of applying coatings by hand such as roll and tip and hand varnishing.
* Use the correct products, techniques and various methods of polishing and finishing such as French polishing and gel coat finishing.
* Use products, techniques, methods and equipment for spraying complex shapes, structures and components such as maintaining a wet edge whilst spraying and team-based application methods (multiple sprayers, pot men and spotters to safely spray hulls and large structures).
* Set up spray facilities in accordance with the manufacturer’s product data sheets and differing temperature and humidity requirements when applying coatings to wooden, composite or metal vessels.
* Carry out masking and demasking of large or complex shapes, without causing surface finish defects during the demask process.
* Follow the approved ground handling procedures in place to ensure the aircraft is correctly positioned in the hangar, ensuring safe working systems are in place to allow access prior to commencement of agreed works.
* Comply with the manufacturer’s guidance notes on specific aircraft types using the Aircraft Maintenance Manual, structural repair manual and procedures when preparing and finishing aircraft substrates along with in-house quality documentation and procedures.
* Inspect, identify and report surface defects, contamination and quality issues using appropriate and relevant documentation and in accordance with the manufacturer’s and the regulators requirements.
* Complete relevant task staging documentation to the work carried out, ensure this has been signed for and any materials used recorded and provide reference for technical data used.
* Inspect an aircraft, recording and rectifying listed defects using relevant documentation. Comply with technical data and measuring methods during the inspection, for example dent and buckle charts, structural repair manual and standard practices.
* Interpret and understand Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and customer data to apply and position external markings, both mandatory and customer selected.
* Use materials, equipment and techniques to achieve acceptable finishes on substrates such as plastics, metals and composites used in automotive manufacture.
* Apply spray coatings across varying parts of a vehicle shell including vertical, horizontal and internal aspects of the vehicle.
* Apply various types of spray coating, such as base coats, lacquer coats, anti-chip.
* Carry out masking of product.
* Demask products without causing surface finish defects.
* Select the materials and methods and complete polishing and finishing of vehicle coatings.
* Use communication and interpersonal techniques and terminology to aid interactions with colleagues, contractors, suppliers and others.
* Deliver appropriate customer service principles and techniques, in accordance with organisational policy and processes.
* Maintain the safety of self along with others by following safe systems of work and complying with all relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant information and guidance.
* Consider sustainability and environmental impacts when planning and performing surface finishing work operations.
* Follow approved industry and manufacturer’s guidance and techniques, operational work methods, practices, processes, principles and procedures when undertaking different surface finishing work operations, within required time frames.
* Select, use, and store resources safely and correctly including tools, materials, equipment, machinery and consumables.
* Carry out the correct preparation techniques when working with a substrate.
* Follow quality improvement principles, techniques, and methods and identify any areas for improvement, consulting internally and externally as appropriate.
* Conduct required tests and checks when performing surface finishing work operations.
* Restore work area to a safe and tidy condition in accordance with organisational and legislative policy and procedures.
* Complete records and documentation relevant to surface finishing work operations, in accordance with requirements such as legislative or regulatory.
* Check and identify surface defects and contamination issues to company and industry standards, using appropriate and relevant documentation.
* Dispose of waste materials, in accordance with safe working and environmental practices and approved procedures.
* Carry out required rework using approved materials and techniques.
* Perform routine maintenance and servicing on relevant equipment.
* Deal with any problems that may present themselves within their own area of responsibility.
Your training plan
* Practical and theoretical training designed to expand the knowledge and skills regarding manual and semi-automated finishing processes and equipment.
* Training will be one day per week - day release at TDR Training.
* Regular in-house training and development opportunities are designed to ensure efficient and effective operation of the finishing equipment.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
* English (grade 4-9)
* Mathematics (grade 4-9)
* Science (grade 4-9)
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
* IT skills
* Attention to detail
* Organisation skills
* Problem solving skills
* Number skills
* Analytical skills
* Logical
* Team working
* Initiative
* Patience
Other requirements
Working environment is within a 33,000m3 dedicated production facility located on the banks of the River Tyne. Role will be in a mixture of production and office areas relating to Robot Welding and automation. Engineering team mentor will be assigned to support you with the learning journey. Exciting role within a pivotal team.