The posting
Location: Special Melted Products Ltd, Blackmore Street, Sheffield, S4 7TZ
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: 40 hours per week, Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:00pm (8 hours per day, with paid breaks).
- 33 days of annual leave, including bank holidays
- Private healthcare
- Full sick pay after 1 year of service
- Regular training & CPD opportunities
Key Responsibilities
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.
About You
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
To apply for this apprenticeship, you must:
✔️ 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 higher qualification in a closely related subject, or have significant experience in the same field.
If you’re unsure whether you meet the criteria, we’d still love to hear from you - get in touch and we can advise you further.
So how does the apprenticeship work?
Start your career as a materials technician and gain hands-on experience supporting real testing and analysis in a laboratory or technical environment.
As part of this Level 3 Materials Technician apprenticeship, you’ll learn how to carry out tests, analyse data, and contribute to important projects, whether that’s in a laboratory or a more practical, site-based environment.
👉 Learn more about the programme here.
Over 20 months, you’ll combine day-to-day experience in your role with structured training delivered by expert tutors at Tiro. Our blended learning approach includes a mix of online sessions, in-person training, and hands-on support, alongside guidance from a dedicated mentor in the workplace.
You’ll spend at least 6 hours per week on off-the-job training, including virtual learning, practical activities, and applied assignments.
What your training will look like:
You’ll follow a structured programme combining live sessions, online learning, and hands-on workplace training to build your skills step by step.
What could your future look like?
This apprenticeship will help you build the skills and experience needed to start your career as a materials technician and progress within the industry.
Through hands-on training, you’ll develop the competence and confidence to carry out laboratory testing and take on increasing responsibility in your role. This programme can also lead to professional recognition, such as becoming a Registered Science Technician (RSciTech).
You’ll gain experience that’s valued across a wide range of technical and scientific roles, opening up opportunities to grow and specialise in your chosen field.
If you choose to continue your development, you may also have the opportunity to progress onto higher-level qualifications, such as degree apprenticeships in Materials or Chemistry.
