Are your teams being held back by apprenticeship programmes that duplicate learning employees have already shown on the job?
We’ve updated our Engineering Maintenance Technician (EMT) Level 3 apprenticeship programme so it recognises candidates’ prior learning, workplace experience and existing engineering abilities.
Training fills in your employees’ skills gaps instead of starting from scratch, making this a faster, more focused route to a recognised Level 3 qualification.
This means we can offer a tailored programme that lasts only 24 to 30 months, about half of the traditional four-year apprenticeship.
The first intake will start in September 2026, so show your interest now.
Our tailored apprenticeship programme develops the engineering maintenance skills, technical knowledge and workplace behaviours your employees need.
It includes practical engineering maintenance training, fault-finding and diagnostics, mechanical and electrical maintenance skills, health and safety practices, problem-solving and continuous improvement, and how to apply learning to real tasks.
Unlike traditional entry-level schemes, this apprenticeship is for candidates who already have experience in the workplace or existing engineering knowledge.
Entrants’ existing knowledge and skills will be assessed before relevant modules are selected. They will learn in their own workplace and at specialist centres while being continually assessed.
The programme will be treated as a pilot scheme, with updates expected based on employer feedback and candidate success.
The programme is aimed at experienced employees who are already working in maintenance environments and staff who want formal recognition of their skills.
It’s an option for employees looking for accelerated development and employers who want a faster route than a traditional four-year apprenticeship.
Unlike traditional apprenticeship schemes, it’s not for the school-leavers who have little or no workplace experience.
Your employees get a clear pathway for career development and a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification through an accelerated learning process that recognises their existing skills.
Candidates are assessed on their existing skills and knowledge using multiple-choice tests, practical skills checks and employer-led behaviour assessments.
This helps us identify their existing knowledge and skills, allowing us to determine their suitability for the accelerated programme. It also lets us ensure they meet all funding and audit requirements.
Once we have all the information, we can create an apprenticeship programme tailored to their identified development needs.
Candidates can select up to six tailored modules that will fill gaps in their skills and knowledge.
We can help employers choose the right route for their employees based on the needs of the business and the time available.
This programme can accommodate existing groups, rolling intakes or bespoke cohorts.
Make UK offers three pathways for engineering and manufacturing employers.
Accelerated EMT Level 3 Apprenticeship: Best for employees with existing engineering maintenance skills and knowledge who need a tailored, accelerated route to a recognised Level 3 qualification. Typically completed in 24 to 30 months.
Apprenticeship Units: Best for immediate, targeted skills gaps needing a rapid resolution. They can be completed in weeks, making them ideal for employers who need to address a specific technical shortfall quickly and efficiently.
Full Apprenticeship: Best for employees needing a comprehensive engineering development programme from the ground up. Traditional four-year pathway.
Not sure which route is right for your team? Speak to the Make UK team and we'll help you identify the best fit for your workforce.
Learning is built only around identified gaps, so there is no duplication of training your employees have already received.
That means they spend less time away from the job, cutting disruption to your business and making more efficient use of your apprenticeship levy funding.
The result is a faster, more targeted route to a qualified engineering maintenance workforce.
And because every candidate begins with a full assessment of their existing knowledge and skills, you get a clear picture of your workforce capability that can inform future training plans.
The accelerated EMT apprenticeship typically runs for 24 to 30 months, combining centre-based and workplace learning.
Candidates spend about 12 to 16 weeks in centre-based learning across the two years, with most of that time concentrated in year one.
The rest of the programme is delivered through practical development in the candidate’s existing role.
Residential options are available for candidates based anywhere in the UK.
The accelerated EMT Level 3 apprenticeship is fully funded through the apprenticeship levy.
For levy-paying employers, this is an efficient use of existing funds and delivers a faster, more targeted development option than the traditional apprenticeship route.
Employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy may be eligible to access the programme through co-investment. Contact the Make UK team to discuss the funding options available to your organisation.
Our training is designed and delivered by people who have worked in industry, meaning they’ve done the jobs they’re teaching to your candidates.
And as the national body for UK manufacturing, Make UK hears what employers need their apprentices to do, and we build the programme around that.
We’re offering this new programme because it’s what we’ve heard the industry and our customers asking for.
Our facilities are second to none, and our Technology Hub in Aston is a purpose-built engineering workshop with an industry’s-worth of equipment under one roof.
Register your interest now
The September intake is filling up, so register your interest now.
Every candidate completes a full assessment before the programme begins, covering their knowledge, practical skills and employer-led behaviour assessments.
That process needs to be completed before enrolment opens in August, which means employers need to start conversations now.
To secure a place for your employees in the September intake, get in touch today.