Employers get
a technician who can support your engineers in their work, as well as use computer aided design software, inspect and test equipment and audit services.
Learners get
a Level 3 qualification that opens doors across aerospace, automotive, defence, maritime and nuclear engineering.
Key information
LEVEL - Level 3
DURATION - Typically 48 months
QUALIFICATION - Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship - Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technician (ST1395)
FUNDING BAND - £27,000
Engineering and manufacturing support technicians help engineers by building and testing equipment, creating designs and making sure parts meet quality rules.
Apprentices complete a mandatory BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technologies during their training, then sit an independent end-point assessment to confirm they're working at the required standard.
Make UK is the national body for UK manufacturing, and our Tech Hub in Aston trains engineering apprentices for employers of all sizes.
Training happens in a purpose-built facility with industry-experienced tutors, rated 4.8 on Trustpilot and Ofsted Grade 2, working with employers of every size and sector.
And if you'd like to see the equipment and facilities behind this training for yourself, take a look at the Tech Hub.
FAQs
A support technician trained through Make UK can read and interpret engineering drawings, and use technical software including computer-aided design (CAD) to design equipment and processes.
They can carry out quality control inspections and tests, and produce clear technical reports and documentation from the results.
Support technicians apply root cause analysis and problem-solving techniques to identify issues and help fix them, and they support continuous improvement using techniques such as Lean and 5S.
They can organise engineering workflow and resources, and communicate clearly with engineers, colleagues, customers, suppliers and quality auditors.
They work to relevant British and international engineering standards, follow standard operating procedures and manufacturers' instructions and comply with health, safety and environmental regulations.
Support technicians trained to this standard work across manufacturing sectors including aerospace, automotive, maritime, defence and nuclear. They can work in businesses of any size, reporting to an engineering or manufacturing team leader with minimum supervision.
Typical job titles: Aerospace inspection technician, nuclear inspection technician, quality compliance officer, quality control technician, technical support technician.
As a support technician apprentice, you'll spend most of your time in the workplace, applying what you're learning to real engineering and manufacturing tasks.
You’ll attend the Make UK Tech Hub in Aston for structured training, developing skills in engineering drawing, CAD, quality control, computer numerical control (CNC), robotics, additive manufacturing and process engineering.
By the time you finish, you'll be able to read and interpret complex engineering data, use industry-standard technical software, carry out quality checks to recognised standards and produce the technical reports that keep engineering projects moving.
You'll build strong problem-solving skills, learn how to plan and prioritise your own workload, and develop the communication skills to work confidently with engineers, colleagues and external stakeholders.
This is a qualification with real breadth. Support technicians move into specialist inspection and quality roles, engineering and manufacturing management, technical sales support, and further engineering study.
The programme typically takes 48 months, with exact timings dependent on prior experience and occupational role.
Training lasts around 42 months, split between your workplace and structured training at the Make UK Tech Hub. The training schedule is confirmed well in advance so your employer can plan around it.
When your employer confirms you’re working at or above the occupational standard, you'll move to the assessment gateway. This requires you to have achieved your English and maths qualifications, passed the underpinning EAL Level 3 Diploma, and submitted a portfolio of workplace evidence.
End-point assessment (EPA) takes around six months and involves a work-based report with presentation and questioning, plus an interview supported by your portfolio of evidence.
Results are graded Fail, Pass, Merit or Distinction.
This qualification is for new entrants starting out in technical, quality or inspection roles across engineering and manufacturing, and no prior experience in the role is expected.
Candidates who are methodical, curious about how things work and comfortable with detail will get a strong grounding across multiple engineering disciplines.
Applicants will need four GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including Maths and English. Anyone still working towards those grades can study towards them during the programme.
The Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technician - Level 3 apprenticeship is government-funded through the apprenticeship levy, with a funding band of £27,000.
If your business pays into the Growth and Skills Levy, training costs are drawn from your levy account.
If your payroll is under £3 million a year, you don’t pay the levy. The government covers 95% of training costs and you contribute 5% of the training fee plus the apprentice's wage, which must be in line with the national apprenticeship wage.
Find out more about how funding works here.
Ready to take the next step?
For employers
If this sounds like the right course for your business, the next step is to talk to us about your specific needs and how taking on an apprentice support technician works.
You can find out more about the full process, and learn how it works for employers like you from your first enquiry to your apprentice starting work.
The best way to answer all your questions is to visit our Tech Hub in Aston, where you can see how the training works for yourself before making a commitment.
If you're still weighing up whether an apprenticeship is right for your business, see why employers take on apprentices.
For learners
If you're keen to pursue a career in technical support, quality or inspection, find out how to apply and what to expect from the process.
Find out what training at the Tech Hub is really like, with stories from apprentices who were once in your position.
Not sure if this is the right route for you? See what other programmes are available to you.
If you're a learner deciding whether this route is for you, read why an apprenticeship could work for you.