Engineering Technician (Technical Support Technician) - Advanced Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship Summary
The Engineering Technician (Technical Support Technician) Advanced Apprenticeship is designed to develop skilled professionals capable of contributing to a wide range of technical functions within the Aerospace, Aviation, Automotive, Maritime Defence, and broader Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering sectors. Apprentices gain hands-on experience in complex and highly skilled work, supporting areas such as product development, quality assurance, process improvement, and technical support.
A key benefit for employers is the opportunity to cultivate a technically proficient workforce that aligns with business goals and long-term strategic needs. Apprentices are trained to apply safe working practices, use proven engineering techniques, and take responsibility for delivering high-quality, accurate work with minimal supervision. Their training includes communication of both technical and non-technical information, teamwork, and problem-solving, which enhances overall productivity and innovation within the organisation.
For apprentices, the programme offers a structured pathway to build a robust foundation in engineering and manufacturing. They gain technical expertise across a variety of areas including software, testing, analysis tools, process control, scheduling, technical sales, and quality control. The apprenticeship promotes continuous professional development, enabling apprentices to progress in their careers with the confidence and competence to tackle increasingly complex responsibilities.
By embedding core behaviours such as initiative, commitment, and continuous improvement, the apprenticeship ensures that learners not only meet current technical demands but are also equipped to support future business growth. This dual benefit of addressing immediate technical needs and fostering long-term talent development makes the Engineering Technician Advanced Apprenticeship a valuable investment for both employers and aspiring technicians.
Apprenticeship standard dates
| Start date | Location | Duration | |
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Anytime
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Bispham Campus
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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 Engineering Technician (Technical Support), 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
Entry Requirements
Employers will set the recruitment and selection criteria for their Apprenticeships. In order to optimise success, candidates will typically have 4 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or equivalent, including Mathematics, English and a Science.
If you do not hold the relevant Mathematics and English qualifications, you will be expected to undertake functional skills at level 2 in both subjects.
Please note: Where wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is a mandatory requirement of the course, it is the responsibility of the learner to ensure that they are able to wear such equipment. Further information can be obtained at the IAG session which all applicants are invited to or by calling Course Enquiries on 01253 504343.
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
- Understand and comply with statutory, organisational, quality, and health and safety regulations and procedures.
- Apply engineering and manufacturing mathematical, scientific, and technical principles including symbols, formulae, and calculations.
- Understand material properties, characteristics, and their relevance to engineering applications.
- Interpret and use engineering/manufacturing documentation, data, and technical information accurately, ensuring it is current and approved.
- Recognise and apply appropriate diagnostic techniques to identify and resolve typical engineering or manufacturing problems.
- Understand roles, functions, and interactions within the organisation and how continuous process improvement supports business performance.
- Know how to source technical expertise, evaluate and amend documentation, and meet customer (internal/external) requirements effectively.
Skills
- Safely plan and carry out work using correct documentation, equipment, and processes, ensuring compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards.
- Obtain and manage resources efficiently, complete tasks to quality and time requirements, and restore the work area upon completion.
- Accurately perform quality, compliance, or performance checks using defined procedures and approved techniques.
- Identify and solve engineering/manufacturing problems within authority limits and escalate appropriately when necessary.
- Produce, format, store, and amend technical documentation following organisational/customer standards and international conventions.
- Communicate technical advice clearly, contribute to process improvements, and support business and customer relationships through effective collaboration.
Behaviours
- Work diligently, manage time effectively, follow health and safety procedures, and adhere to ethical standards.
- Support colleagues, work cooperatively, and consider the impact of actions on others and the business.
- Communicate clearly, listen actively, and demonstrate respect and openness in all interactions.
- Follow instructions with attention to detail, apply logical thinking, and look for opportunities to enhance processes.
- Reflect on performance, accept feedback, adapt to change, and actively seek learning opportunities.
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. The apprentice's time will typically be split 80:20 throughout the apprenticeship programme 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.
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
Mandatory Qualifications
Prior to the EPA, but after a period of foundation skills and technical knowledge development all apprentices will be required to achieve the following qualifications:
- Level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Foundation Competence)
After a further period of skills and technical knowledge development all apprentices will be required to achieve the following qualifications:
- Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Competence) – Technical Support
- Level 3 Diploma or Extended Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Knowledge)
When the apprentice passes the EPA, they will be awarded their apprenticeship certificate as well as these qualifications.
Assessment methods
Practical competence assessment with questions
The apprentice will be observed by an independent assessor carrying out a series of activities During the assessment, the assessor will ask a series of questions designed to test the apprentice's understanding of the tasks being performed.
Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
During their apprenticeship, the apprentice will compile a portfolio evidencing all the work they have undertaken during their apprenticeship. This will be submitted to an independent assessor and form the basis of the professional discussion which will last at least 60 minutes during which time the assessor will ask a series of questions to determine the apprentice's competencies and ensure they meet the occupational standard.