Laboratory Materials Technician Apprenticeship (Level 3) - Special Melted Products (SMP

Laboratory Materials Technician Apprenticeship (Level
3) - Special Melted Products (SMP)

Department: Science Apprenticeship - Materials L3

Employment Type: Apprentice

Location: Sheffield

Compensation: £8.08 / hour

Location: Commercial Testing Services Laboratory, Blackmore Street, Sheffield, S4 7UU

Working for SMP

At Special Melted Products (SMP), we have a proud metals production heritage dating back to the 1800s. Today, we manufacture premium speciality steels and nickel-based superalloys used in critical applications across the Aerospace, Oil & Gas and Civil Nuclear industries. With world-class capabilities and a highly-skilled team, we provide innovative, high-quality products for some of the most demanding industries.

This is a unique role that will give you hands-on experience across three key areas:
Chemistry, Mechanical Testing and Metallography. As you develop your skills and achieve agreed milestones, you’ll have the opportunity to progress through pay increases and take on greater responsibility. By the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll have gained experience across all three areas, with the opportunity to specialise in an area that aligns with both your interests and the needs of the business, giving you a clear pathway to build a long-term career with SMP.

The Package

• Starting salary: £8.08 per hour, with pay increasing every 5 months.
• Working hours:
  
  37.5 hours per week - day shifts
• 33 days of annual leave, including bank holidays
• Private healthcare
• Full sick pay after 1 year of service
• Regular training & CPD opportunities

As an Apprentice, you’ll work as part of a team preparing metal samples for testing, carrying out heat treatment and performing a range of analytical, mechanical, and metallographic testing to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.

Your day-to-day tasks will include:

• Carry out a range of metallurgical testing including tensile, hardness, impact, creep strain, stress rupture, grain size, OES, XRF, Leco, AA, macrostructure and microstructure evaluations.
• Ensure testing is carried out in accordance with the relevant procedure.
• Evaluate the results against the relevant specification.
• Ensure testing equipment is maintained and calibrated prior to use.
• Carry out heat treatment in accordance with specifications.
• Ensure furnaces are maintained and calibrated prior to use.
• Work in a safe and efficient manner. Participate in company safety initiatives.
• Work to provide results in a timely manner in accordance with planned dates.
• Communicate well with team colleagues and technical supervision.
• Participate in internal, external training and audits as required.
• Assist with improvements to procedures, equipment, operating methods etc. to increase laboratory efficiency.

You’re naturally curious about how materials behave and why they perform the way they do, with a genuine interest in science, engineering or laboratory testing. You take pride in getting things right, have a keen eye for detail and are motivated to build your knowledge through hands‑on experience and develop a long-term career in materials testing.

You thrive in a structured and practical environment, where accuracy and consistency matter. You’re patient, focused and comfortable following standardised test methods, preparing samples, using laboratory equipment and accurately recording and analysing data. You’ll also be confident learning new systems and software as your skills develop.

You take Health & Safety, quality standards and laboratory procedures seriously, approaching your work in a responsible and methodical way. You’re comfortable working independently while also collaborating with colleagues, supervisors and engineers, and you’re keen to ask questions, take ownership of your development and become a trusted member of the team.

Please note:
You must be 18+ due to the nature of the working environment

Apprenticeship Eligibility

• Be 18 or over
• Not be in full-time education
• Have lived in the UK for at least 3 years
• Have the right to work in the UK

Apprenticeships are designed to provide new knowledge, skills and behaviours, so applicants should not already hold a Level 3, degree or…