Engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships
Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship
Develop core engineering skills and specialist competence in one of six workplace pathways, with in-person training in Stockport.
Level
Level 2
Duration
Typically 12–18 months (Elevated programme)
Delivery
In person – Stockport
Occupational Summary
Occupational Profile
Engineering Operatives are predominantly involved in engineering operations which are key to the success of the Manufacturing and Engineering sector allowing employers to grow their business while developing a work force with the relevant skills and knowledge to enhance and sustain the sector.
The role covers a wide range of common and job specific skills sets that can be transferred across the manufacturing engineering industry sectors during the course of their careers. Dependent on the sector that they are employed in there may be subtle differences in terms of composition and application of the job role specific skills and knowledge they will require, however the core skills and knowledge will be the same regardless of the sector/area they work in.
Engineering Operatives will have clear reporting lines with anything outside their role and responsibility.
They will work individually or as part of a team to carry out a range of engineering operations which could include ensuring machines and equipment used are maintained and serviceable, dealing with breakdowns, restoring components and systems to serviceable condition by repair and replacement; operating a variety of machines (CNC or Conventional); assembling and repairing machine and press tools, dies, jigs, fixtures and other tools; fabrication/installation of a wide variety of other sheet fabrications and equipment and; fabrication and assembly of metal parts joining techniques; preparing materials and equipment for engineering processes, providing technical support including communications software, test tools, performance, capacity planning, and e-commerce technology as required.
Engineering Operatives must comply with statutory regulations and organisation safety requirements including any environmental compliance procedures and systems; Identify hazards and hazardous situations; Prepare the work area and equipment; Obtain and follow the appropriate job documentation and work instructions; Extract the necessary data and information from specifications and related documentation; Carry out the engineering activities in line with their job role; Carry out quality checks as required; working with minimum supervision either individually or as part of a team and will be responsible for their own actions and for the quality and accuracy and timely delivery of the work they undertake.
Typical job roles include:
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
Foundry / casting operative
Skills England Standard
Engineering operative ST0537 v1.5
Apprenticeship Standard
ST0537
Current Version
Version 1.5
Maximum Funding
£10,000
For the current occupational standard and end-point assessment information, visit Skills England.
Skills England lists a typical duration of 12 months before assessment. Elevated’s advertised course duration is typically 12–18 months; confirm the individual training plan with the provider.
Occupational Duties
Duties
Follow health and safety legislation, environmental procedures and relevant engineering guidance throughout the work.
Recognise risks, hazards and problems in the engineering environment, and act within the limits of the role.
Communicate effectively with colleagues and others, including orally, in writing and electronically.
Complete work records correctly, legibly and using the appropriate engineering terminology.
Use work instructions, specifications and drawings to obtain the information needed and complete engineering tasks on time.
Choose and use suitable tools, equipment and materials for the relevant engineering operation.
Respond appropriately to manufacturing or engineering problems within the apprentice’s responsibilities.
Organise work efficiently, keep the workplace orderly and minimise unnecessary waste.
Core occupational requirements
Core knowledge, skills and behaviours
An Engineering Operative must have the core requirements below and demonstrate the specialist requirements in ONE job specific role.
Core knowledge
- How to obtain the necessary job instructions, engineering drawings and specifications and how to interpret them
- Relevant statutory, quality, environmental compliance procedures/systems, organisational and health and safety regulations relating to engineering operations
- Their individual roles and responsibilities within the organisation and the flexibility required to support the achievement of company targets
- Engineering operational practices, processes and procedures
- Potential problems that can occur within the engineering operations and how they can be avoided
Core skills
- Work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, environmental compliance procedures and systems and other relevant guidelines
- Identify and deal appropriately with any risks, hazards, hazardous situations and problems that may occur within the engineering environment within the limits of their responsibility
- Demonstrate effective communication skills which include oral, written, electronic
- Complete appropriate documentation accurately, efficiently and legibly using the correct terminology where required
- Obtain and follow the correct documentation, specifications and work instructions in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the engineering activities, extracting the necessary data/information from specification and related documentation
- Select and use appropriate tools, equipment and materials to carry out the engineering operation
- Deal appropriately with any problems that may occur within the manufacturing environment within the limits of their responsibility
- Work efficiently and effectively at all times maintaining workplace organisation and minimising waste
Core behaviours requirements
Manufacturing and engineering organisations require their apprentices to have a set of behaviours that will ensure success both in their role and in the overall company objectives. The required behaviours are:
- Personal responsibility and resilience – Comply with the health and safety guidance and procedures, be disciplined and have a responsible approach to risk, work diligently regardless of how much they are being supervised, accept responsibility for managing time and workload and stay motivated and committed when facing challenges.
- Work effectively in teams – Integrate with the team, support other people, consider implications of their own actions on other people and the business whilst working effectively to get the task completed.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills – An open and honest communicator, communicates clearly using appropriate methods, listen well to others and have a positive and respectful attitude.
- Focus on quality and problem solving – Follow instructions and guidance, demonstrate attention to detail, follow a logical approach to problem solving and seek opportunities to improve quality, speed and efficiency.
- Continuous personal development – Reflect on skills, knowledge and behaviours and seek opportunities to develop, adapt to different situations, environments or technologies and have a positive attitude to feedback and advice.
Specialist job roles
Six engineering operative pathways
In addition to the core knowledge and skills, all engineering operatives must complete ONE of the following job role options:
Option 1: Maintenance role
This role can involve mechanical, electrical, electronic or fluid-power work, or a combination of these.
Knowledge of:
- Maintenance planning
- Diagnostic and fault finding techniques
- Specific safe working practices, maintenance procedures and environmental regulations that need to be observed
Skills:
- Carry out fault location on appropriate equipment using suitable maintenance diagnostic techniques
- Carry out maintenance activities in line with work instructions
- Carry out tests on the maintained equipment in accordance with test schedule/defined test procedures
- Follow appropriate completion activities and restore equipment to service by replacing or repairing components
Option 2: Mechanical manufacturing engineering role
Knowledge of:
- Specific equipment operating parameters
- Mechanical manufacturing techniques
- Specific quality specifications for mechanical manufacturing operations
Skills:
- Plan the mechanical manufacturing operation before they start
- Mount and set the required work holding devices
- Produce individual components, sub-assemblies or completed assemblies using mechanical manufacturing techniques
- Carry out quality checks during and after mechanical manufacturing operations
Option 3: Electrical and electronic engineering role
Knowledge of:
- Cable types and where they should be used
- Electrical and electronic assembly and testing techniques
- Specific safe working practices, isolation procedures and safe reinstating of equipment/system that need to be observed
Skills:
- Wire and terminate different types of cabling e.g. single core, multi core, screened, fire resistant, armoured, etc.
- Assemble and test a range of electrical components e.g. component panels, isolator switches, fuses, circuit breakers, contactors, relays, rail mounted terminal blocks, etc.
- Assemble and test a range of electronic components e.g. resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, etc.
- Follow appropriate completion activities and restore equipment/system to service after the assembly and testing has been completed
Option 4: Fabrication role
Knowledge of:
- Specific marking out and preparation techniques
- Different fabrication and joining techniques
- Specific safe working practices, isolation procedures and safe reinstating of equipment/system that need to be observed
Skills:
- Shape the materials using the appropriate methods and techniques
- Join the materials using the appropriate methods and techniques
- Produce components which meet the specification requirements
- Carry out quality checks during and after the fabrication activities
Option 5: Materials, processing or finishing role
Knowledge of:
- Specific machinery, equipment and tooling required for the materials, processing or finishing operation
- Different materials, processing or finishing techniques
- Specific quality specifications for materials, processing or finishing operations
Skills:
- Plan the materials, processing or finishing operation before they start
- Prepare equipment, tooling, materials, etc. and complete set up activities before carrying out the materials, processing or finishing operation
- Carry out the material, processing or finishing operation in line with specific safe working practices and specification requirements
- Carry out quality checks during and after the materials, processing or finishing operation
Option 6: Technical support role
Knowledge of:
- Specific machinery, equipment and tooling required for the technical support operation
- Different technical support techniques
- Specific safe working practices, procedures and quality requirements that need to be observed
Skills:
- Plan the technical support operation before they start
- Prepare equipment, tooling, materials, etc. and complete set up activities before carrying out the technical support
- Carry out the technical support operation in line with specific safe working practices and specification requirements
- Carry out quality checks during and after the technical support operation
Gateway
Gateway & Mandatory Qualifications
Once training is complete, the employer decides whether the apprentice has the necessary occupational competence to proceed to the independent end-point assessment (EPA). The gateway checks below apply to the chosen job-role option.
Entry requirements
Individual employers will set the selection criteria for their apprenticeships.
The employer confirms that the apprentice has met the knowledge, skills and behaviours for the engineering operative standard and their selected specialist option.
The apprentice completes the Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Operations (skills) and a Level 2 Certificate or Diploma in Engineering Operations (knowledge).
The required off-the-job training and reflective portfolio are complete. English and maths requirements are met under the funding rules applying to the apprentice’s start date.
The employer, with input from the training provider and apprentice as appropriate, confirms readiness and arranges assessment with an approved independent EPA organisation.
English and maths requirements
For apprentices aged 16–18 at the start of training, the required English and maths qualifications must be achieved unless they already hold accepted equivalents. For apprentices aged 19 or over at the start, standalone English and maths qualifications are optional where the employer agrees they form part of the training plan. The rules applying to each apprentice’s start date determine the requirements.
Mandatory Qualification Options
Both qualification elements are required:
- Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Operations (skills).
- Level 2 Certificate or Diploma in Engineering Operations (knowledge).
End-Point Assessment
ST0537, Engineering operative Level 2
After the employer confirms gateway readiness, an independent end-point assessment organisation assesses practical competence and the apprentice’s ability to explain their work. Under the assessment plan used with this version, EPA comprises a practical skills observation followed by a professional discussion informed by a reflective portfolio. EPA must commence within three months of gateway confirmation.
- Practical skills observation: pass or fail.
- Professional discussion informed by the reflective portfolio: fail, pass or distinction.
- The overall apprenticeship result is fail, pass or distinction, subject to the assessment plan’s grading rules.
End-Point Assessment
There are two independent end-point assessment methods:
- Practical skills observation in the workplace or another suitable approved practical setting, including questions from the assessor.
- Professional discussion with an independent assessor, supported by the apprentice’s reflective portfolio.
Apprentices who meet the gateway requirements and pass the independent end-point assessment can receive the Engineering Operative apprenticeship certificate.
Portfolio of Evidence Requirement
Portfolio of evidence
A reflective portfolio provides evidence of work completed during the programme and supports the independent professional discussion. It is reviewed by the EPA assessor, but it is not itself a separately graded EPA method.
The portfolio must show two or three activities that demonstrate the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours, including evidence of work completed in the final three months of training. It must be submitted at least two weeks before the professional discussion. The employer must confirm the work is the apprentice’s own.
Evidence may include
- Examples of completed engineering work and associated work records.
- Photographs, diagrams or images of work carried out, where appropriate.
- On-the-job observations and factual witness statements.
- Evidence of handling an unexpected problem while following workplace procedures.
- Work from the final three months of the training period.
What’s Included
What’s Included
Expert instructions from industry served instructors
E-Portfolio for instruction, support and progress management
Easy to follow video resources
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