Apprentice employment

A Standard Apprenticeship Technician level is based on skills, knowledge and behaviours an apprentice will need to have learned by the end of their apprenticeship.

Standards are occupation-focused; they are not qualification-led. The learning happens throughout the apprenticeship with progress being monitored. The apprentice will complete the required qualification prior to undertaking the end point assessment for knowledge, skills and behaviours. It was developed to raise the quality of apprenticeships by responding to the needs of employers, who know what they want from their employees. They can best describe what skills, knowledge and behaviours an apprentice will need at the end of their apprenticeship.

Engineering Technicians in the Aerospace, Aviation, Automotive, Maritime Defence and wider Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Sector are predominantly involved in highly skilled, complex work and must, as a minimum be able to:

  • Apply safe systems of working
  • Make a technical contribution to either the design, development, quality assurance, manufacture, installation, commissioning, decommissioning, operation or maintenance of products, equipment, systems, processes or services
  • Apply proven techniques and procedures to solve engineering/manufacturing problems
  • Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills in communicating both technical and non-technical information
  • Have a commitment to continued professional development

Engineering Technicians take responsibility for the quality and accuracy of the work they undertake within the limits of their personal authority. They also need to be able to demonstrate a core set of behaviours to be competent in their job role, complement wider business strategy and development. This will enable them to support their long-term career development.


Qualifications and Training

  • Level 2 Foundation Competence Training and Advanced Manufacturing Course
  • Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Competence) - Machining
  • Level 3 Extended Diploma in Machining (Development Knowledge)

Behaviour Requirements

Manufacturing and Engineering organisations require their apprentices to have a set of behaviours

  • Personal responsibility and resilience.
  • Work effectively in teams
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills
  • Focus on quality and problem solving
  • Continuous personal development