Manufacturing Engineer - Degree Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship Summary

This apprenticeship is ideal for those looking to build a rewarding career in manufacturing across a wide range of sectors, including automotive, aerospace, maritime, food and drink, and many others. Manufacturing engineers play a vital role in transforming raw materials and components into finished products, often working within assembly or production flow lines.

Apprentices undertaking this programme will gain the skills to select and optimise manufacturing technologies and processes. They will be involved in designing efficient production systems, planning facilities and workflows, and managing the installation and commissioning of new equipment. Whether working on new projects or improving existing operations, manufacturing engineers drive productivity by resolving production challenges, ensuring equipment performs optimally and implementing improvements that enhance efficiency and sustainability. They will also study for a highly-sought-after BEng (Hons) degree in engineering manufacturing from Lancaster Univeristy as part of the apprenticeship programme.

In this role, apprentices will collaborate closely with engineers, managers, and supply chain teams, often splitting their time between office and manufacturing environments. They will develop autonomy in managing projects, ensuring delivery on time and to quality standards, while handling essential data related to production, quality, safety, and costs.

Employers benefit by developing skilled professionals who understand the importance of safety, environmental impact, and compliance within manufacturing. Apprentices gain a hands-on, practical education aligned with industry needs, opening doors to exciting opportunities in a dynamic, evolving sector.

Choosing this apprenticeship means investing in a future where technology, innovation, and efficiency come together to shape the products and industries of tomorrow.

Apprenticeship standard dates

Start date	Location	Duration
14 Sep 2026	Lancashire Energy HQ		Enquire now

Next steps

As an Employer

If you would like to offer this as an apprenticeship vacancy within your organisation, enrol one of your existing employees on this apprenticeship or simply find out more about supporting an apprenticeship within your organisation, please complete the Enquire Now form above and a member of our Business Development Team will be in touch within 2 working days to advise you on next steps.

As an Apprentice

If you are interested in securing an apprenticeship as a Manufacturing Engineer, please visit our Vacancies page to check for any suitable roles.

If there are currently no roles available, please submit an enquiry form using the Enquire Now button above to register your interest. We will use this information to let you know when a suitable vacancy becomes available and also to advise you of any courses we offer that might advance your career goals in the meantime.

Key information

How will the Apprenticeship be funded?

As the employer

How your apprenticeship is funded will depend on whether or not you pay the Apprenticeship Levy. If you do pay the Levy, your apprenticeship will be funded out of this, provided you have sufficient monies available. If you do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy, 95% of the apprenticeship will be funded by the Government, with the remaining 5% being funded by you. There may also be some further incentives offered by the Government which we will be able to advise you of when setting up your apprenticeship. Either way, B&FC's Business Development Team will be on hand to help you navigate the funding arrangements and support you through this process.

As the apprentice

One of the benefits of an apprenticeship is that, as the apprentice, you are not required to fund your training. You will also receive a wage for the work that you do with minimum hourly rates set by the Government. Your employer can choose to pay you more than the minimum wage, but they cannot pay you less. For details of current minimum wage rates for apprentices, please visit the Government website.

What will my Apprentice learn?

Knowledge

Apprentices will develop a sound understanding of:

Health, safety and sustainability in a manufacturing environment, including statutory regulations, environmental legislation, and standards relating to safe systems of work, cyber security, and sustainability practices.
Engineering principles, including mechanics, mathematics, electrical and electronic systems, data analysis, control systems, and scientific methods used to support manufacturing functions.
Manufacturing processes and technologies, such as batch, flow, and automated production, and the selection of materials, equipment, and resources based on quality, performance, and sustainability.
Project and change management, including risk, cost, scheduling, stakeholder engagement, documentation control, and the use of simulation and CAD software to support product or process changes.
Quality assurance and continuous improvement, including the use of Lean, Six Sigma, FMEA, and other methods to monitor, maintain, and enhance product performance, reliability and compliance.
Communication and collaboration, encompassing verbal and written techniques, presenting technical data, report writing, and managing team or stakeholder engagement.
Digital and emerging technologies including AI, robotics, IoT, digital manufacturing systems, and awareness of cybersecurity and data management within engineering systems.
Equity, diversity and inclusion, unconscious bias, and their importance in fostering respectful and ethical workplace environments.

Skills

Apprentices will learn to:

Translate concepts into manufacturing outcomes, including specifications, technical documentation, and 3D models using CAD and simulation tools.
Manage manufacturing projects, balancing cost, quality, risk, sustainability, and timelines while applying appropriate escalation and audit procedures.
Optimise processes and resolve problems, using root cause analysis, Lean tools, and continuous improvement techniques to drive performance and productivity.
Collect, analyse and present data, drawing accurate conclusions and ensuring data is used effectively to support decisions and reporting.
Apply safety, quality and environmental compliance, through inspections, equipment checks, risk mitigation and adherence to internal and external standards.
Use and maintain engineering equipment and systems, ensuring efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in operations and outputs.
Communicate and collaborate effectively, both verbally and in writing, to manage stakeholder relationships, influence change, and support equity and inclusion.
Engage in ongoing professional development, keeping up to date with emerging technologies and contributing to knowledge sharing within teams.

Behaviours

Apprentices will demonstrate:

Commitment to safety, sustainability and quality, promoting a positive health and safety culture and leading by example in sustainable practices.
Professionalism and responsibility, acting ethically, taking ownership of their work, and ensuring compliance with standards.
Adaptability and resilience, remaining agile in response to new technologies, challenges, or changing project demands.
Inclusivity and supportiveness, fostering an environment that values diversity and respects the contributions of all team members.
Dedication to continual improvement, engaging in CPD activities and supporting others to grow professionally.
Effective leadership and collaboration, building trust and delivering results through teamwork and clear communication.

Expert Tutors

All tutors involved in the delivery of courses and apprenticeships within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.

Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. This is especially important for apprenticeships where off-the-job training needs to align with apprentices' on-the-job experience.

How will the Apprenticeship be delivered?

The apprenticeship will typically be delivered over a 42-month period with additional time required to prepare for the End Point Assessment. Apprentices' time will be split 80:20 throughout the apprenticeship programme typically with four days a week spent at the employer premises learning on the job and one day a week spent off-site, undertaking classroom-based and workshop-based training at B&FC. This delivery model and the method of delivery can be varied to suit the needs of individual employers, including accommodating remote modes of study.

What support will I get from B&FC?

As the employer

Each employer is supported by an experienced member of our Business Development Team to set up their apprenticeship. For those employers who are completely new to the apprenticeship process, the Team will support them with all the necessary paperwork and administration to get their apprenticeship programme up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible. For existing employers, their dedicated Client Services Manager will be an ongoing point of contact for all their apprenticeship queries, however big or small.

We can also help employers who are looking to recruit new apprentices by advertising their vacancy, finding suitable applicants and supporting them with the interview and selection process. Once an apprentice is onboard, our Curriculum Tutors and Apprenticeship Trainers and Skills Coaches also step in to support the employer-apprentice relationship and ensure the apprentice is on track to succeed.

As the apprentice

In the first instance, we aim to give potential apprentices all the support they need to find a suitable apprenticeship. That can mean working with them prior to an application to improve their CV, hone their interview skills and advise them of any additional training that may help them secure an apprenticeship vacancy.

Once they start their apprenticeship, we continue to support them with their off-site training and with regular meetings with our Apprenticeship Trainers and Skills Coaches to ensure they are progressing and acquiring all the knowledge, skills and behaviours that will ensure they complete their apprenticeship successfully.

How will the Apprenticeship be assessed?

What is an end-point assessment and why it happens

An EPA is an assessment at the end of the apprenticeship. The EPA is the apprentice's opportunity to show an independent assessor how well they can carry out the occupation they have been trained for.

The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:

fail
pass
distinction

When the apprentice passes the EPA, they will be awarded their apprenticeship certificate. To move forward to the end point assessment, the apprentice must have completed and submitted their portfolio of evidence and been awarded their BEng (Hons) degree .

Assessment methods

Project with report

The apprentice will be asked to complete a project and write a supporting report, the title and scope of which must be agreed with the external assessor at the gateway. The report should be a maximum of 9000 words (with a 10% tolerance).

The apprentice will have 12 weeks to complete the project and submit the report to the assessor.

The apprentice will also need to prepare and give a presentation to an independent assessor. The presentation slides and any supporting materials should be submitted at the same time as the report. The presentation with questions will last at least 60 minutes. The independent assessor will ask at least 5 questions about the project and presentation.

Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence

The apprentice will also have a separate professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 60 minutes. They will ask at least 10 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of the occupation, based on the portfolio of evidence the apprentice has compiled and which should demonstrate their competency in the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the occupational standard.