Foundation Apprenticeship

Level 2 Engineering & Manufacturing Foundation Apprenticeship

At Elevated Knowledge, we’ve launched our Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering & Manufacturing – an 8-month programme delivered nationally, either hybrid online and in-company, or with practical hands-on training at our Stockport centre.

It covers roles in electrical and electronic, fabrication, mechanical manufacturing, and maintenance.

Eligible employers may receive up to £2,000 in foundation apprenticeship incentive payments, subject to the funding rules and retention and progression milestones. An additional £1,000 payment may apply for eligible apprentices aged 16–18. Employers may also qualify for National Insurance relief for apprentices under 25.

Apprentices bring fresh skills into your business, and having them on your team can also strengthen tender applications.

Learner Enquiries

Employer Enquiries

Level

Level 2

Duration

Typically 8 months to gateway

Delivery

National hybrid online and in-company delivery, or practical training at our Stockport centre

Occupational Profile Learning Content Entry & Qualifications Assessment What’s Included

Occupational Summary

Occupational Profile

Who Is This Course For?

The Engineering & Manufacturing Foundation Apprenticeship is an employed position designed for people looking to gain a solid start in their career. It offers a blend of workplace experience, technical learning, and personal development, helping apprentices build the skills, knowledge, and behaviours needed to succeed in the industry.

The apprentice must normally be age 16 to 21 at the start of their apprenticeship. Exceptions to this are set out in the Department for Education Apprenticeship funding rules.

Details of standard

This apprenticeship combines hands-on experience in the workplace with structured off-the-job training, covering key technical skills alongside employability skills, behaviours, and essential English and maths. It not only develops practical ability but also helps apprentices explore their future career paths.

By the end of the programme, apprentices will be fully competent in all the technical and employability skills set out in the standard. From here, they can progress into employment or continue their training through a Level 2 or Level 3 apprenticeship.

For employers, foundation apprenticeships are a great way to nurture fresh talent. They allow you to see a young person develop in a real work environment, with the reassurance that they are receiving additional support and training. This route also opens doors to a wider talent pool of motivated young learners.

Overview of the Role

General engineering and manufacturing operatives work in a variety of settings, including:

Production
Maintenance
Component and system assembly
Machining operations
Fabrication and welding
Additive manufacturing

These roles exist across a range of industries such as automotive, aerospace, energy, and advanced manufacturing.

Possible Career Paths

This Foundation Apprenticeship can lead into a variety of roles, including:

Engineering Operative – Electrical & Electronic Engineering

Engineering Operative – Fabrication

Engineering Operative – Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering

Engineering Operative – Maintenance

Many learners go on to complete higher-level apprenticeships or secure employment in specialist technical roles.

Specialist roles

Servicing and maintenance operative
Machine setter/operative
Mechanical engineering operative
Fabricator
Engineering fitter
Multi-disciplined engineering operative
Materials processing and finishing operative
Technical Support operative
Founding/casting operative

Skills England Standard

Engineering and manufacturing foundation apprenticeship FA0006 v1.0

Apprenticeship Standard

FA0006

Current Version

Version 1.0

Maximum Funding

£4,500

For the current occupational standard and end-point assessment information, visit Skills England.

View Skills England Standard

Occupational Learning

What foundation apprentices will learn to do

Foundation apprentices will learn how to:

Work safely and consistently

Plan and organise resources effectively

Complete tasks to quality standards and within timeframes

The programme includes a minimum of 187 hours off-the-job learning. On completion, apprentices will have the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed for the role and will be ready to progress into more specialist occupations or further apprenticeships.

Core Knowledge

Technical knowledge

K1: Employee responsibilities under relevant health, safety and welfare regulations.
K2: Sustainability principles and practices relevant to the role, including waste disposal and the impact of engineering and manufacturing on the environment.
K3: Types, use and storage of personal protective equipment (PPE).
K4: The engineering and manufacturing function and role and responsibilities of the operative.
K5: Workplace safety and operating procedures. What they are and why they are important.
K6: Work area preparation and maintenance techniques.
K7: Use and characteristics of job specifications, engineering and manufacturing drawings, and technical information.*
K8: Use, basic maintenance and storage techniques of tools, equipment and machinery associated with engineering and manufacturing tasks.
K9: Types and use of common components, connections and fastenings associated with engineering and manufacturing tasks.*
K10: Techniques to carry out basic hand-based engineering and manufacturing tasks, including measuring and marking out, bench fitting and hand tool tasks.*
K11: Techniques to carry out basic machine-based engineering and manufacturing tasks: drilling, milling, turning, grinding, basic Computer Numerical Control (CNC) operations, and additive manufacturing.*
K12: Methods of assisting in tasks, for example preparatory work, pre-assembly, monitoring equipment, lifting, holding and positioning materials and components.
K13: Techniques to carry out simple quality checks: visual inspections and basic operational testing.

Core Skills

Technical skills

S1: Comply with employee responsibilities under health, safety and welfare regulations.
S2: Dispose of waste safely and sustainably. Segregate resources for reuse and recycling.
S3: Use and store PPE.
S4: Prepare and maintain the work area.
S5: Interpret engineering and manufacturing information for example, job specifications, engineering and manufacturing drawings, and technical information.*
S6: Use and store tools, equipment and machinery associated with engineering and manufacturing tasks, including carrying out basic maintenance.
S7: Assist co-workers in engineering and manufacturing activity when required. For example, holding and positioning work-piece assembly.
S8: Apply techniques to carry out basic hand-based engineering and manufacturing tasks.*
S9: Apply techniques to carry out basic machine-based engineering and manufacturing tasks.*
S10: Carry out simple quality checks of own work.

Core Behaviours

Employability skills and behaviours

EB1: Communicate and share information using verbal, non-verbal, written and digital methods.
EB2: Act in a professional manner including good time keeping and conduct.
EB3: Apply new learning and feedback to everyday practice.
EB4: Complete own work tasks and ask for help when needed.
EB5: Work with colleagues to contribute to team outcomes.
EB6: Seek ways to manage own financial, health and wellbeing needs using available resources.
EB7: Overcome challenges and adapt to changes at work.
EB8: Work in line with health, safety and environmental requirements.

Knowledge and skills statements marked with an asterisk (*) provide opportunities to practise English and maths in the workplace.

Entry and Qualifications

Entry Requirements & Qualifications

The apprentice must normally be age 16 to 21 at the start of their apprenticeship. Exceptions to this are set out in the Department for Education Apprenticeship funding rules.

This is an employed foundation apprenticeship with practical workplace experience and structured off-the-job learning.

Apprentices must follow the English and maths formal qualification requirements set out in the Department for Education apprenticeship funding rules.

There are no mandatory technical qualifications or licences to practise within FA0006.

The typical programme duration to gateway is eight months, with at least 187 off-the-job learning hours.

English and maths qualifications

Apprentices must follow the English and maths formal qualification requirements as set out in the Department for Education Apprenticeship funding rules.

Foundation Apprenticeship Assessment

FA0006, Engineering and Manufacturing Foundation Apprenticeship Assessment

Assessment can take place at suitable points during the foundation apprenticeship. The assessment organisation sets the assessments and must cover all three assessment outcomes. Unlike a conventional end-point assessment, a separately timed EPA period is not prescribed.

Knowledge test: required by the assessment plan.
Practical assessment: required by the assessment plan.
Overall assessment outcome: Pass when the required performance is demonstrated.

Foundation Apprenticeship Assessment

The assessment plan requires two types of assessment:

Knowledge test, with safety and workplace knowledge assessed as required by the assessment organisation.
Practical assessment demonstrating engineering and manufacturing knowledge and skills through a method selected by the assessment organisation.

The employer must also confirm that the employability skills and behaviours have been suitably demonstrated during the programme, except EB6, which is developed through off-the-job training.

What’s Included