Engineering maintenance technician - dual discipline
Level 3 · AdvancedEngineering and manufacturing 4 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
Engineering maintenance technicians with dual discipline training maintain complex plant and equipment by combining skills in two engineering disciplines - most commonly mechanical and electrical, or instrumentation and electrical. You will diagnose and repair faults, carry out planned preventive maintenance, and restore equipment to operation safely and efficiently. This dual-skilled qualification is particularly valued in process industries such as oil and gas, chemicals, power generation, and food manufacturing.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Planned preventive maintenance routines across two engineering disciplines
Fault diagnosis and root cause analysis for mechanical and electrical systems
Safe isolation procedures for both mechanical and electrical equipment
Control and instrumentation principles (if relevant to your discipline pairing)
Hydraulic and pneumatic system maintenance
Relevant engineering standards, permit-to-work, and COSHH requirements
Reliability-centred maintenance principles and continuous improvement
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Carry out planned maintenance tasks on mechanical plant such as pumps and gearboxes
Diagnose and repair electrical faults on motors, drives, and control panels
Safely isolate and reinstate both mechanical and electrical systems
Use diagnostic instruments including multimeters, vibration analysers, and thermal cameras
Complete maintenance records and update the computerised maintenance management system
Identify root causes of recurring faults and recommend engineering improvements
Work to permit-to-work procedures in hazardous process environments
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.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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