JourneyApprenticeshipsEngineering fitter

Engineering fitter

Level 3 · AdvancedEngineering and manufacturing 3.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship

What it involves

Engineering fitters assemble, install, and maintain mechanical components and systems in engineering environments such as manufacturing plants, maintenance workshops, and engineering construction sites. You will work with precision parts, using hand and machine tools to fit components to tight tolerances, aligning and adjusting equipment to ensure it works correctly. The role covers a wide range of industries and is a highly regarded practical trade with progression into senior craft, supervisory, or engineering technician roles.

On the job

What you’ll learn

Mechanical principles: tolerances, fits, and surface finish requirements
Use of precision measuring instruments: micrometers, verniers, and gauges
Fitting techniques: filing, drilling, reaming, scraping, and grinding
Assembly of mechanical components including bearings, seals, and gearboxes
Reading engineering drawings and working to dimensional specifications
Health and safety for workshop and site-based fitting operations
Planned and preventive maintenance routines for mechanical plant
On the job

What you’ll do day to day

Read engineering drawings and select appropriate materials and components
Use machine tools, hand tools, and measuring equipment to produce fitted parts
Assemble mechanical subassemblies and complete systems to specification
Align and adjust fitted components to achieve correct operation
Carry out maintenance tasks including bearing changes, seal replacement, and alignment
Record work completed on maintenance job sheets and asset management systems
Identify and report engineering defects or opportunities for improvement
The deal

How this apprenticeship works

You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there

What you need to start

Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.

Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.

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What it’s really like

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