Machinist Apprenticeship Instructor/Mentor

About the College/Department

At the University of Derby, our Institute of Education and Skills is at the heart of shaping the educators, trainers, and leaders of tomorrow. We are dedicated to inspiring, developing, and empowering professionals across education, training, and lifelong learning to transform lives and communities. We deliver high-quality programmes that span teacher training, post-16 education, early years, educational leadership, and workforce development. By combining academic expertise with real-world application, we prepare our students to make an impact in diverse educational settings. 

Our Skills and Apprenticeships teams at the University of Derby play a vital role in supporting learners, employers, and industries to thrive. Apprenticeships embody the University’s commitment to widening access, social mobility, and industry engagement, offering pathways for learners to gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed to succeed in their chosen careers. 

Working in partnership with employers across a wide range of sectors, our programmes are designed to meet workforce needs while supporting individual learners to achieve their potential. From healthcare and engineering to business, digital, and creative industries, apprenticeships at Derby combine academic excellence with practical, hands-on experience.

About the Role

As a Machinist Apprenticeship Instructor/Mentor, you’ll play a vital role in developing the next generation of precision engineers for Rolls-Royce Submarines and its wider supply chain. You will plan, deliver, and assess high-quality teaching and learning in CNC and machining, ensuring apprentices gain the technical knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed to succeed in their careers and pass their End-Point Assessment. Using state-of-the-art facilities at the Nuclear Skills Academy, you will provide practical training in areas such as milling, turning, grinding, and inspection, supported by underpinning theory. Alongside this, you’ll mentor and coach apprentices both individually and in groups, supporting their progress, embedding English, Maths, and professional behaviours, and helping them develop the confidence and competence to thrive. Working collaboratively with colleagues and employers, you’ll contribute to the continued growth and impact of the Nuclear Skills Academy and ensure apprentices are prepared to meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and performance.

Interview Date: 20th October (On-Site)

About You

You will bring strong professional experience in machining and CNC operations, backed by relevant vocational qualifications at Level 3 or 4 (or higher). With a solid understanding of apprenticeship delivery, you will have experience of training, mentoring, and assessing apprentices, and a clear vision of what good teaching, learning, and assessment looks like in practice. You’ll be a team player who enjoys working with colleagues and employers to deliver a seamless apprenticeship experience, while also confident in supporting apprentices individually to meet their potential. Ideally, you will hold a teaching qualification (or be willing to achieve one at Level 5) and have knowledge of internal and external verification processes. Above all, you will place the apprentice at the centre of everything you do, combining your technical expertise and passion for teaching to help shape the future workforce in advanced machining and manufacturing.

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Paul White, NSA Curriculum Leader via p.white3@derby.ac.uk

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