Engineering Fitter Apprenticeship

This apprenticeship is designed for those looking for a career in constructing, assembling and manufacturing machinery. Engineering Fitters will produce or refurbish the components by interpreting drawings/specifications and plan their work, for example ensuring they have the right tools, equipment and resources to complete the task to the required specification and standards.

In their daily work, an apprentice in this occupation typically interacts with line managers/supervisors; depending on the size of the employer and nature of the work they may work as part of a team of fitters or independently. They may interact with personnel in other functions for example installation and maintenance engineers, health & safety and quality assurance personnel, as well as internal or external customers.

Typical roles include Engineering Fitter, Mechanical Fitter, Electronic Fitter, Pipe Fitter, Controls and Systems Fitter.

As an Engineering Fitter Apprentice, your work will involve and you will learn the following:

• Reading, interpreting and understanding the component/assembly specification, diagrams and drawing
• Planning component/assembly task – materials, tools and equipment
• Carryout relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity and know-how to source resources and interpret drawings, specifications and instructions
• Checking tools during and after task completion; identifying and reporting defects
• Measuring/testing, checking/inspecting component/assembly for example; use of micrometres, verniers, multimeters, voltmeter
• Problem-solving; analysing the issue and fixing the issue where appropriate
• Applying improvement techniques; implementing solutions where appropriate
• Communicating with colleagues and/or customers
• Completing component/assembly documentation for example job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation.
• Operating in line with quality, health & safety and environmental procedures; identifying risks and hazards and identifying control measures where applicable

As an apprentice, you can expect to undertake work-based learning with an employer who will pay you a wage. Throughout the duration of your apprenticeship, you will attend college for one day per week.

The rest of your training will take place in-house at your workplace by your employer and a qualified assessor who will visit you on-site who will complete assessments and progress reviews.

In order to complete the apprenticeship, you will undertake an End Point Assessment. It measures the knowledge, skills and behaviours each apprentice has developed and will include a practical observation and a professional discussion. This part of the apprenticeship is employer-led, so it will be your employer who decides if you are ready to undertake your End Point Assessment.

If you would like to read more about the knowledge, skills and behaviours the standard includes, please click here.

To start an apprenticeship, you will need an employer who is willing to take you on as an apprentice.  If you already have an employer, please contact us.  If not, don't worry, you can see our current apprenticeship vacancies page here, which is regularly updated. 

Candidates will typically require a minimum of GCSE Grades of E/2, which must include English. Maths will need to be at GCSE Grade C/5 or above.  You will need to provide evidence of this prior to starting your apprenticeship.  If you have not already achieved these in English and maths, you will be required to do so before completing your apprenticeship – we can help you with this.

You must be eligible to work in the United Kingdom.

You will be required to attend an interview at the College prior to enrolling onto an apprenticeship.

Information for Employers
Each apprenticeship needs to include 20% off-the-job training. This must amount to 20% of the apprentice’s contracted employment hours across the whole apprenticeship. Off-the-job training is learning undertaken outside of the normal day-to-day working environment and leads towards the achievement of the apprenticeship. Off the job training should also be relevant to the knowledge, skills and behaviours detailed in the standard.

End Point Assessment
Each apprentice will need an End Point Assessment (EPA) at the end of their apprenticeship. It measures the skills, knowledge and behaviours each apprentice has developed. Employers will decide when the apprentice is ready to be assessed.

An apprentice can only take this assessment once all other aspects of the apprenticeship have been completed.  An apprentice needs to be completely ready to take this assessment and the employer and assessor will decide when the time is right.  A declaration will be signed by both the employer, apprentice and assessor.  If the apprentice fails the assessment, then there will be a re-sit charge, which is generally paid by the employer.

The EPA Consists of 3 discrete assessment methods:

1. Knowledge Assessment – 30 multiple choice questions in a 45 minute test.

2. Practical Observation

3. Technical Interview – based upon an evidence portfolio.