Engineering Technician Trades Apprenticeship in Plymouth

Location: Devonport, Plymouth, GB, PL1 4SG

Onsite or Hybrid: OnSite

Programme title: Engineering Technician Trades Apprenticeship

Level: 3

Salary: Post apprenticeship: c.£35,000

Application closing date: 12th March 2026

Ready to learn a skilled trade? On our 3.5-year Engineering Technician Trades Apprenticeship, you’ll develop specialist engineering trade skills and gain hands-on experience maintaining the Royal Navy's fleet.

About the programme:

This is no ordinary apprenticeship. Our engineering technicians are at the forefront of maintaining the Royal Navy’s fleet. As an Engineering Technician, you'll contribute to the design, manufacture, installation, operation or maintenance of systems on ships, submarines and infrastructure. This varied and exciting programme covers trades including Mechanical, Electrical, Fabrication, CNC Machining, Pipefitting and Welding.

You’ll be assigned one of these trade routes to specialise in:

• Mechanical Fitting: You’ll be trained to use a variety of hand and machine tools whilst learning how to identify faults and return equipment to working condition.
• Electrical Fitting: You’ll learn how to use electrical engineering drawings and specifications to strip, rebuild, test and maintain a wide range of electrical equipment and machinery.
• Fabricating: You will manufacture a wide range of components and construct minor and major ship structures using a range of metals.
• Welding: You'll be trained in various welding processes, progressing to Class 1 certification, which qualifies you to work on structural components of submarines and warships.
• CNC Machining: You will learn the various processes involved in producing precision components, from raw material state through to testing the integrity of the finished item.

Wherever you find yourself, you'll gain knowledge and skills in:

• Health and safety
• Planning and documentation
• Engineering mathematical and scientific principles
• Methods and techniques
• Structure, properties and characteristics of materials
• Diagnostic methods to overcome problems
• Interpreting engineering drawings and data
• Adhering to and refining processes and procedures

Your education/training:

This 3.5-year programme combines classroom learning with hands-on, on-the-job training. You’ll study core engineering principles while developing specialist skills in one of the following areas: mechanical, electrical, fabrication, CNC machining, welding, or pipefitting.

In your first year, you’ll be based full-time at City College Plymouth, where you’ll learn the fundamentals of engineering. In years 2 and 3, you’ll attend college one day a week and spend the remaining four days working in the dockyard at HM Naval Base Devonport.

The programme concludes with the End Point Assessment. Successfully passing this assessment earns you a nationally recognised Level 3 apprenticeship certificate in your chosen trade.

What you’ll need:

• A minimum of 3 GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade C/4 or above, including English, Maths and a Science or Technology based subject.
• Logical thinking and problem-solving aptitude.
• Responsible approach to safety and quality assurance.
• Due to ID requirements for entry to the Devonport Dockyard, you will need to provide either a valid passport or a provisional/full UK driving licence.
• Many of our apprenticeship programmes are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions.

What you’ll get:

• Fully funded qualification
• Personal development training and opportunities
• Minimum 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays
• Employee share scheme
• Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme and employee shopping savings portal

You’ll also have the chance to get involved in our STEM outreach activities and volunteering opportunities.

Application process and closing dates:

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the programme may close early if we receive a high volume of interest. To give yourself the best chance of being considered, we strongly recommend submitting your application and completing any required online assessments as soon as possible.