Key information

  1. Status: Approved for delivery (available for starts)
  2. Reference: ST0242
  3. Version: 1.1
  4. Level: 2
  5. Typical duration to gateway: 24 months
  6. Typical EPA period: 6 months
  7. Maximum funding: £16000
  8. Route: Agriculture, environmental and animal care
  9. Integration: None
  10. Date updated: 02/12/2024
  11. Approved for delivery: 23 December 2015
  12. Lars code: 69
  13. EQA provider: Ofqual
  14. Example progression routes:
  15. Review: this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.
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Apprenticeship summary

Overview of the role

Maintaining a range of machinery, plant and equipment in sectors such as agriculture, forestry and horticulture.

Occupation summary

This occupation is typically found in the agricultural, horticultural, landscape contracts, forestry, professional sports turf, garden machinery, and amenities sectors.

The land-based engineering sector provides the after sales support of a diverse range of machinery and equipment.

The machinery and equipment supported includes mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, electronic and robotic systems.  

Land-based service engineers typically work within their employers’ workshops. They also assist skilled technicians with repair work on customer sites. Work may be undertaken outdoors requiring flexible working hours dictated by seasonal demands. 

Employers range from small to large.  They offer technical support to their customers and businesses to maintain their equipment. These include golf courses, amenity providers, contractors, farming estates, hire companies and dealership networks.

Land-based service engineers maintain and service a diverse range of machinery and equipment.

They assemble and carry out pre-delivery inspection of new machinery and equipment.

They prepare used machinery and equipment for resale or hire and fit aftermarket accessories.

A land-based service engineer will clean and decontaminate machinery and equipment.

They complete routine maintenance, service, repairs and diagnostics. They will remove and refit components and sub-assemblies.

The individual will also operate land-based machinery and equipment to perform function tests where qualified to do so.

They have an appreciation of how the land-based machinery operations impact upon, the environment, sustainability, contamination, machinery set-up, customer and maintenance requirements.  

Land-based service engineers interact with internal and external customers. This comprises of colleagues, suppliers, manufacturers, business to business customers and the general public.

They will typically report to a land-based service engineering technician.

Employees in this occupation will complete work to specification on schedule whilst meeting quality requirements.

They are required to comply with relevant policies and procedures including environmental and health and safety.

Land-based service engineers work under supervision or where appropriate on their own initiative following set procedures or verbal instruction.

Typical job titles include:

Agricultural service engineer Field service engineer Fixed plant and equipment service engineer Forestry equipment service engineer Horticultural service engineer Land-based engineer Outdoor power equipment service engineer Workshop fitter Workshop mechanic Workshop-based engineer

Duties

  • Duty 1 Undertake service maintenance and repair activities often in rural environments following workplace procedures and defined risk assessments and considering livestock, chemical, mechanical, high voltage, and environmental conditions.
  • Duty 2 Clean land-based prime-movers, machinery and equipment to remove organic, mineral and chemical residues in accordance with DEFRA phytosanitary certification standards.
  • Duty 3 Select, prepare and reinstate work sites for service maintenance and repair activities to take place.
  • Duty 4 Conduct pre-delivery inspections of machinery in accordance with manufacturer and employer procedures, considering preparation, settings and adjustments required for land-based customers use.
  • Duty 5 Perform planned and structured service and maintenance operations on land-based machinery and equipment in accordance with manufacturer schedules, customers' operational requirements, work application and the environment.
  • Duty 6 Install or transfer aftermarket accessories to land-based prime movers, machinery and equipment and validate their operation to meet current legislation and customer requirements.
  • Duty 7 Prepare land-based machinery and equipment and handover to internal or external customers following service, preparation and maintenance activities.
  • Duty 8 Remove, support, secure and isolate land-based prime-mover, machinery and equipment, components, subassemblies and test equipment in preparation for maintenance, repair and diagnostic activities.
  • Duty 9 Identify, repair and replace failed components, assemblies and sub-assemblies and carry out adjustments to reflect the land-based operating environment.
  • Duty 10 Fabricate or repair parts using chemical and thermal bonding methods.
  • Duty 11 Determine and apply preventative and remedial actions to address the deterioration of land-based machinery and equipment, considering the operating environment, seasonal and extended storage, rodent damage, corrosion, oxidisation and water ingress.
  • Duty 12 Operate land-based prime movers, machinery and equipment, perform functional tests and apply manufacturers recommended settings.
  • Duty 13 Couple and connect land-based machinery and equipment to prime-movers, paying attention to alignment, ballast, stability, contact areas, maximum laden weights, widths, turning circle.
  • Duty 14 Conduct land-based prime mover, machinery and equipment health checks to establish maintenance requirements.
  • Duty 15 Carry out initial diagnostic activities to identify mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic performance characteristics.
  • Duty 16 Identify the inventory requirements for given service and maintenance tasks.
  • Duty 17 Maintain service records, record data and report findings to stakeholders. Record warranty details in line with company procedures.

End-point assessment summary

ST0242, land-based service engineer level 2

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.

What is an end-point assessment and why it happens

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 24 months. The EPA period is typically 6 months.

The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:

  • fail
  • pass
  • merit
  • distinction

When you pass the EPA, you will be awarded your apprenticeship certificate.


EPA gateway

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:

  • achieved English and mathematics qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules
  • for the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence, you must submit a portfolio of evidence

Assessment methods

Multiple-choice test

You will complete a multiple-choice test. It will be closed book, meaning you will not have access to any books or reference materials.
In the test you can have:

  • calculator

The test will have 40 multiple-choice questions. You will have 60 minutes to complete it.



Practical assessment with questions

You will be observed by an independent assessor completing a set of tasks. It will last 4.5 hours. They will ask you at least 12 questions.


Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence

You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 60 minutes. They will ask you at least 11 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.


Who to contact for help or more information

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.Reasonable adjustments

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.

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Employers involved in creating the standard: AGCO Ltd, Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA), B & B Tractors Ltd, British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association (BAGMA), Case New Holland, CLAAS UK Ltd, Ernest Doe & Sons Ltd, Grimme UK Ltd, Institute of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE), John Deere, Makita UK Ltd, Russell's Agriculture, T H White Ltd. Other organisations involved: IMI, LANTRA, Myerscough College, ProVQ Ltd, Reaseheath College.

Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date
1.1 Occupational standard, end-point assessment plan and funding band revised 01/12/2024 Not set
1.0 Approved for delivery. The funding band for this standard has been reviewed and remains at £18000 (Jan-2018). 23/12/2015 30/11/2024

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