Maintenance & Operations Engineering Technician Advanced Apprenticeship Standard

Maintenance & Operations Engineering Technicians covers seven roles: 

• Electrical Technicians
• Mechanical Technicians
• Control & Instrumentation Technicians
• Wind Turbine Technicians
• Electrical System and Process Control Technicians
• Electromechanical Technicians 
• Plant Operations Technicians.

They will maintain the safety, integrity and effective operation of plant and equipment in one or more of the following Industries that are part of or have activities that are part of the broader national infrastructure Engineering Sector: the electricity generating environment, which may use a range of different fuels including coal, gas, nuclear, wind and other renewable sources; telecommunications power plants; oil and gas refining; nuclear waste reprocessing; processing and production of chemicals; pharmaceuticals; human and animal food; cosmetics; petrochemicals; sewerage and the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas.

Electrical/Mechanical/Control and Instrumentation/Wind Turbine Technicians will work on various types of plant and equipment commonly found throughout the Engineering Industry sectors and the Technicians can be expected to migrate through these sectors during the course of their careers. Dependent upon the sector that they are employed in there may be subtle differences in terms of the composition and application of the plant and equipment. However, the fundamental principles of operation will be the same regardless of the engineering sector.

To support the business and operational requirements of modern integrated engineered production plant and services, Electrical Systems and Process Control Technicians and Electromechanical Technicians will need to apply a range of conventional skills and knowledge to undertake engineering activities on a selection of electromechanical and process control plant, systems and equipment.

These Technicians will undertake installation, testing, servicing, removal, replacement, maintenance and repair of a range of equipment, sometimes complex, as part of planned preventative and reactive maintenance programmes. They may also undertake decommissioning activities when plant is being removed from service.

Plant Operation Technicians will undertake the safe and efficient operation of complex integrated energy conversion and production plant and systems. These activities could include plant commissioning, isolation and testing, plant preparation, plant start-up and shut down, monitoring and controlling plant and dealing with critical operational problems.

They will be responsible for the quality of their own work, possibly others’ and ensuring the work is completed safely, meets stakeholder quality, time and budget requirements, whilst maintaining the efficient running of plant and equipment.

The topics you will cover whilst training include:

• BTEC - Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Knowledge)
• EAL Level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Foundation Competence)

Individual employers will set the recruitment and selection criteria for their Apprenticeships. In order to optimise success, candidates will typically have GCSEs at Grade C/4 or equivalent, including Mathematics, English and a Science.

Your progress is continually monitored throughout the course. Assessments are arranged when necessary and these take place on-the-job.

Assessments will include:observation of your performance; responses to written and/or spoken questions to show your knowledge and understanding; e-portfolio of supporting evidence containing testimonies, reflective accounts, assignments, work products such as activity planning sheets, completed risk assessments, continual professional development evidence. Apprenticeship duration 36 - 42 months.

Once you have completed your programme, met all of the pre-requisites for the EPA, including English and maths requirements, and your employer is satisfied that you are consistently working at or above the level set out in the occupational standard, you will be put through for your End Point Assessment which will take place within a 6 month period.

The EPA consists of 3 assessment methods:

• Knowledge test
• Practical observation
• Technical interview underpinned by an evidence portfolio

While you are on an apprenticeship your employer pays you a salary and supports you whilst you undertake your training.