Offer engineering support, technical leadership and expertise.
This occupation is found in the engineering and manufacturing sector. Sectors typically include maritime, maritime defence, automotive, energy, engineering construction and general engineering maintenance industries. Lead maintenance engineering technicians typically perform a multi-disciplinary role, managing or leading other technicians. They may specialise in areas such as mechanical, electronic, or electrical engineering. Employers range from small to large businesses who deliver or require maintenance support. They include major asset owners and operators, the supply chain, contractors and sub-contractors. Typical workplaces include private and public sector manufacturing factories. They can also include dockyards and shipyards, vehicle maintenance facilities, onboard operational vehicles and vessels.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to offer engineering support, technical leadership and expertise. Examples can include support for installation, refit, overhaul, alteration, upgrading, design and maintenance. They can also provide support for testing of significant assets, systems or machinery. They assist in the delivery of complex and critical asset management programmes. These asset management programmes are often to unique specifications involving complex maintenance and planning. They analyse technical information, plan schedules, co-ordinate, lead and deliver work on time. They ensure work is completed to the required quality, following product and personnel safety processes. They provide customer liaison, leadership, support and expertise to maintenance teams on technical issues. They deal with problems that occur using a structured and controlled approach. They carry out inspections on systems, equipment and components. They may lead on the commissioning back into operation after maintenance and overhaul. They can work in office environments while conducting research or maintenance design and scheduling activities. They can be in a workshop environment or outdoors conducting maintenance and commissioning activities. Depending on the organisation, they might be expected to work flexibly, including shift work. They may also be ‘on-call’, to meet customer requirements.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with operators and maintenance teams. They also interact with shift leaders, senior engineers, senior test engineers, design engineers, quality engineers. They may work with procedure writers, procurement managers and resource allocation colleagues. Externally they liaise with customers and suppliers at operational and senior levels. Depending on the industry, they may also interact with regulators.
An employee in this occupation is responsible for the quality, safety and delivery of service. They ensure that work is delivered to the customer on time at the agreed cost. They must ensure their own work and the work of others is completed to specification. They must meet set deadlines. They must meet quality requirements and ensure that all relevant records are completed. They must work to health and safety and environmental regulations. They work alone and as part of a larger team on complex technical issues. These include supervisory duties and oversight of work completed. Depending on organisation size, they will support or lead a maintenance team. They are responsible for complying with regulatory and organisation requirements, civil or military as appropriate. For example, Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR), Department of Environment, Maritime Pollution regulations (MARPOL). Health and Safety at Work Act, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and the National Measurement Accreditation Service (NAMAS).
This is a summary of the key things that you – the apprentice and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should read the EPA plan for the full details. It has information on assessment method requirements, roles and responsibilities, and re-sits and re-takes.
An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.
Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA.
The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 36 months. The EPA period is typically 6 months.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
When you pass the EPA, you will be awarded your apprenticeship certificate.
The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you have met any requirements required before you start the EPA. You will only enter the gateway when your employer says you are ready.
The gateway requirements for your EPA are:
Project with report
You will complete a project and write a report. The title and scope must be agreed with the EPAO at the gateway. The report should be a maximum of 5000 words (with a 10% tolerance).
You will have 13 weeks to complete the project and submit the business case to the EPAO.
You need to prepare and give a presentation to an independent assessor. Your presentation slides and any supporting materials should be submitted at the same time as the project output. The presentation with questions will last at least 45 minutes. The independent assessor will ask at least 4 questions about the project and presentation. The EPAO will confirm where and when each assessment method will take place.
Professional discussion
You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 60 minutes. They will ask you at least 7 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You need to compile a portfolio of evidence before the EPA gateway. You can use it to help answer the questions.
The EPAO will confirm where and when each assessment method will take place.
You should speak to your employer if you have a query that relates to your job.
You should speak to your training provider if you have any questions about your training or EPA before it starts.
You should receive detailed information and support from the EPAO before the EPA starts. You should speak to them if you have any questions about your EPA once it has started.
If you have a disability, a physical or mental health condition or other special considerations, you may be able to have a reasonable adjustment that takes this into account. You should speak to your employer, training provider and EPAO and ask them what support you can get. The EPAO will decide if an adjustment is appropriate.
This apprenticeship aligns with The Institution of Engineering and Technology for Engineering Technician (EngTech)
Please contact the professional body for more details.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | Occupational standard and end-point assessment plan revised. | 07/06/2024 | Not set |
| 1.1 | Occupational standard and end-point assessment plan revised. | 23/04/2024 | 06/06/2024 |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 20/10/2022 | 22/04/2024 |
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