Level 4 Engineering Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship

As an Engineering Manufacturing Technician, you will be equipped to work in a wide range of engineering and manufacturing companies.

This occupation exists in both large and small organisations that provide products and services across various sectors, including Automotive, Aerospace/Airworthiness, Chemical Processing, Land Systems, Marine, Maritime Defence, Materials Manufacturing, and their associated supply chains.

The core purpose of the role is to provide specialist technical support to engineers, enabling organisations to develop, produce, or test new or existing products, processes, or procedures. The goal is to meet customer specifications for quality, cost, and delivery as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Engineering Manufacturing Technicians gather and analyse information and data from a range of sources to support this work.

You will develop the skills to make informed decisions, solve complex problems, and produce or update technical documentation, reports, and specifications. These may cover areas such as quality, reliability, production schedules and targets, costing, or other key technical information. This documentation will inform internal and external stakeholders on actions that need to be taken — such as how a product should be designed, manufactured, tested, modified, maintained, stored, transported, commissioned, or decommissioned.

As part of your role, you will interact regularly with your line manager to confirm departmental work plans and agree on individual responsibilities. These tasks align with wider organisational resource and delivery plans.

Engineering Manufacturing Technicians may be office-based, plant-based, or, more commonly, a combination of both. You will work alongside engineering and manufacturing teams at both operational and management levels, including production team leaders, quality specialists, and design engineers.

Upon completing the on-programme qualifications, you will undertake an End-Point Assessment to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required to meet the apprenticeship standard. Successful completion will also lead to professional recognition within the engineering sector and the achievement of a Level 4 Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Engineering.

As a higher-level apprentice you will learn the skills, knowledge and behaviours required by attending tutored sessions at Warrington & Vale Royal College and gaining valuable industrial experience with your employer.

You will normally work around 30 hours per week, and no more than 40 hours (if you are under 18), which includes any training time at college (off the job) as well as on the job with your employer.

You will be required to attend college one day per week.

After successfully completing the apprenticeship, you can develop your skills further by progressing onto a level 5 programme. This course also supports career development opportunities for those already employed in industry.

You will be allocated a designated tutor to guide you through your apprenticeship. We have a team of staff dedicated to providing learning support if required, as well as a Wellbeing Team that is on hand to offer guidance, support and help when needed.

Click here for learning support: https://wvr.ac.uk/college-life/learning-support

We are one of the top performing further education college for apprenticeships. Many of our apprentices continue in employment or receive a promotion once they have finished their apprenticeship. We also have a dedicated matching service where we match your skills to a suitable employer, and our experienced team will work with you to guide you through your apprenticeship.

You will typically have one of the following:

• A BTEC level 3 or other level 3 qualification in a related subject, minimum MPP or MM
• T Level with overall grade Pass
• A minimum of two A-Levels (A2) with one in a related subject at grade C or above
• Access to HE with relevant options
• Appropriate relevant work experience – mature students who have appropriate work experience in a related sector or role and/or have professional qualifications in a related industry are welcome to apply.

AND

• A* to C grade and/or 9 to 4 in GCSE English (language or literature)
• A* to C grade and/or 9 to 4 in GCSE Maths

Non-native English speakers who have not undertaken their final two years of schooling in English need to demonstrate capability in English at a standard equivalent to the levels identified below. This is necessary before being recruited to the programme, as the programme is both taught and assessed in English:

• Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B2
• IELTS 5.5; reading and writing must be 5.5.

All HNC/HND programmes require the completion of a personal statement prior to an admissions interview being offered. You will also be required to provide a reference from one of the following options:

• A previous course leader/teacher (if progressing from a recently attended further or higher education course)
• A recent or current employer
• An appropriate professional who can provide a character reference (if you have not been in recent education or employment).