Engineering apprenticeship

Level 3 Lift and Escalator Engineering Apprenticeship

The Level 3 Lift and Escalator Engineering apprenticeship teaches apprentices to carry out the installation, maintenance, repair and modernisation of lifts and escalators.

Learner Enquiries

Employer Enquiries

Level

Level 3

Duration

36–42 months to gateway (Elevated programme)

Delivery

In Person – Stockport

Occupational Profile Duties Gateway & Qualifications End-Point Assessment Portfolio Evidence What’s Included

Occupational Summary

Occupational Profile

Lifts are large mechanical and hydraulic devices used for moving people and goods (from palleted foodstuffs to large vehicles) vertically from one level to another in a building and similar situations. Escalators are mechanical, inclined moving stairways to transport people from one level to another, using moving steps. Moving walks are similar to escalators but instead of steps they use pallets that run horizontal or on an incline.

Lift, escalator and moving walk engineers work in varying environments including domestic, retail and industrial buildings above and below ground. They carry out the installation or maintenance, repair and modernisation of lifts and escalators dependent upon the chosen specialism. They ensure that the lift or escalator performs within established parameters in line with the applicable codes and standards required by the UK Lift Regulations or the UK Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations.

They ensure the lift or escalator is safe for use and free from defects. The skills employed when conducting the work are of a complex nature and draw upon knowledge and experience of a wide range of equipment, mainly comprising mechanical traction or hydraulic systems of varying complexity operating at low, medium and high speeds, controlled by a microprocessor or analogue control technology.

Lift, escalator and moving walk engineers install new, high-technology equipment, maintain and repair older equipment of varied age and technology, as well as undertaking modernisation of lifts and escalators, replacing the majority of mechanical, hydraulic, electric and electronic parts to leave an up to date, modern machine in place.

Other duties include; assembling, adjusting, aligning, calibrating and setting out electrical, electronic and mechanical components, interpreting wiring and layout diagrams specific to lifts and escalators and following safe systems of work.

Typical job roles include:

Lift installation engineer

Lift maintenance engineer

Escalator installation engineer

Escalator maintenance engineer

Occupations

The occupations covered by this Standard are associated with the installation, servicing, repair and refurbishment of lifts and escalators as follows:

Lift Installation Electromechanic: Installing passenger/ goods carrying lift systems in new or existing buildings to industry specific quality standards for lifts.
Lift Service and Repair Electromechanic: Maintenance, service and repair of existing passenger/ goods carrying lifts, ensuring that they function in line with manufacturer requirements. Each unit is safe to use without defects and meets the client’s performance expectations with the minimum of downtime ensuring that emergent issues are identified and rectified efficiently.
Escalator and Moving Walk Installation Electromechanic: Installing escalators in commercial and domestic buildings in open and enclosed areas. Once completed, testing and inspecting each escalator/ moving walk product to ensure that it is certified for safe client use.
Escalator and Moving Walk Service and Repair Electromechanic: Maintenance, service and repair of existing escalators and moving walks, ensuring that they function in line with manufacturer requirements and meet or exceed the industry specific quality standards for escalators and moving walks.

For ST0252 Version 1.2, apprentices undertake the common occupational requirements and one of four options: lift installation; escalator or moving walk installation; lift maintenance and repair; or escalator or moving walk maintenance and repair.

Entry requirements

Whilst any entry requirements will be a matter for individual employers, typically an apprentice might be expected to have already achieved three GCSEs or Level 2 equivalent including Maths, English and a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

English and maths

English and maths requirements at entry and before end-point assessment are determined by the apprenticeship funding rules that apply to the individual apprentice. Elevated will confirm any applicable learning or qualification requirements before enrolment.

Professional membership

The Level 3 Lift and Escalator Engineering apprenticeship aligns with the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) for Engineering Technician. Registration is subject to the relevant professional body’s requirements and application process.

Skills England Standard

Lift and escalator engineering ST0252 v1.2

Apprenticeship Standard

ST0252

Current Version

Version 1.2

Maximum Funding

£25,000

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

View Skills England Standard

Occupational Duties

Duties

Plan and coordinate engineering work to meet the requirements of customers and other stakeholders.

Check that newly installed or maintained equipment operates correctly and diagnose faults where it does not.

Identify components needed to complete the allocated work.

Ensure the required materials, tools and equipment are available and fit for purpose.

Update stakeholders on work progress, provide an appropriate handover and escalate issues when needed.

Work with other trades and stakeholders, including on fire and building safety matters.

Identify improvements and efficiencies and undertake relevant professional development.

Complete accurate paper or electronic records at each required stage of engineering work.

Maintain working relationships that support customer and business requirements.

Follow safe working systems and relevant statutory and organisational requirements; isolate equipment securely and report accidents or near misses.

Maintain and restore work areas and return tools, equipment and unused materials in a safe condition, managing waste appropriately.

The common duties above apply to all apprentices. The additional duties below apply to the chosen occupational option only.

Lift installation: additional duties

Follow the applicable British Standards and industry rules for safe lift installation.
Measure and set out a lift installation.
Install lift well equipment.
Install lift machines, overspeed protection devices and control systems.
Install lift suspension systems.
Install lift doors, entrances and associated equipment.
Confirm the correct operation of the installed lift and associated equipment.

Escalator or moving walk installation: additional duties

Apply relevant British Standards and industry safe-working practices.
Measure and set out escalator or moving walk installations.
Install escalator or moving walk equipment.
Confirm correct operation of installed equipment and the escalator or moving walk.

Lift maintenance and repair: additional duties

Follow the relevant British Standards and safe-working codes for lift work.
Inspect and maintain lift equipment.
Check lift functions.
Diagnose and rectify faults affecting lifts.
Repair or replace lift components.
Complete maintenance schedules.
Confirm the correct operation of lifts and associated installed equipment.

Escalator or moving walk maintenance and repair: additional duties

Apply the relevant safe-working standards for escalators and moving walks.
Inspect and maintain escalator or moving walk equipment.
Check escalator or moving walk functions.
Diagnose and rectify faults.
Repair or replace escalator or moving walk components.
Complete maintenance schedules.
Confirm correct operation of equipment and the escalator or moving walk.

Gateway

Gateway & Qualifications

The employer, after consulting Elevated where appropriate, confirms that the apprentice is occupationally competent and ready for independent end-point assessment. The apprentice must complete the training programme and meet the following requirements before entering gateway.

The employer confirms occupational competence; the apprentice confirms they are ready to take the EPA.

English and maths requirements are met in line with the apprenticeship funding rules applicable to the individual apprentice.

The apprentice submits a portfolio of evidence mapped to the skills and behaviours assessed in the interview, typically containing 12 discrete pieces of evidence.

All required gateway evidence, together with any EPAO-requested organisational policies and procedures, is submitted to the independent end-point assessment organisation.

End-Point Assessment

ST0252, Lift and escalator engineering Level 3

Under ST0252 Version 1.2, apprentices normally spend 36 months on-programme, followed by an independent end-point assessment period lasting typically four months after gateway. Elevated’s published 36–42 month duration refers to its own programme to gateway.

Multiple-choice test: Fail, Pass or Distinction.
Practical assessment with questioning: Fail or Pass.
Interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence: Fail, Pass or Distinction.

End-Point Assessment

The independent assessment organisation conducts three assessment methods:

Multiple-choice test covering core and selected-option knowledge.
Practical assessment with questioning, using tasks appropriate to the selected option.
Interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence collected during the programme.

The results of the three methods are combined to award an overall Fail, Pass or Distinction. The EPA is independent of Elevated’s programme-based teaching, support and progress assessment.

Portfolio of Evidence Requirement

Portfolio of evidence

During the training programme, the apprentice must compile a portfolio containing evidence of the knowledge, skills and behaviours assessed in the independent interview. The ST0252 Version 1.2 EPA plan states that it will typically contain 12 discrete pieces of evidence mapped to the relevant KSBs.

At least one piece of option-specific skills evidence must demonstrate work completed within six months before gateway, as specified by the EPA plan and confirmed by the employer. The portfolio supports the interview and is not graded directly. Elevated also provides an e-portfolio for instruction, support and progress management; this provider platform is separate from the EPAO’s assessment responsibilities.

Evidence may include

Workplace policies, procedures and records.
Lift or escalator testing or commissioning results.
Maintenance records and handover documents.
Workplace witness statements and annotated photographs.
Video clips of the apprentice at work, subject to the EPA plan’s recording limits.

What’s Included