Academy Apprentice Engineer

Summary

You will gain hands-on experience working alongside skilled engineers. This is an exciting opportunity to start a rewarding career in engineering with full support and mentoring. This will be undertaken in Harwin’s purpose-built training academy with day release to college, and placements rotating through the business to gain an array of skills.

Wage

£17,000 a year

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Training course

Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday – Thursday 8.00am - 4.30pm Friday 8.00am - 3.30pm

39 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

2 years 6 months

Positions available

4

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Duties and Responsibilities:

Learn and apply engineering principles related to mechanical or electrical systems.
Read and interpret technical drawings, plans, and specifications.
Participate in routine inspections, troubleshooting, and repairs of machinery or infrastructure.
Support ongoing engineering projects by preparing reports, documentation, and CAD drawings.
Attend college/training provider as required and maintain up-to-date coursework.
Comply with all health and safety regulations and company policies.

Where you'll work

Fitzherbert Road
Portsmouth
PO6 1RT

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

HAVANT AND SOUTH DOWNS COLLEGE

Your training course

Mechatronics maintenance technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Use information technology, for example to create documentation, communication and information management.
Obtain, read and interpret task related documentation, such as work instructions, quality control documents, drawings, operation manuals, specifications and service manuals.
Record information for example job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
Conduct initial assessment of equipment that requires maintenance.
Formulate plans setting out the methodology of the maintenance activity including timescales and resources.
Select, prepare and use material, consumables, tools and equipment.
Comply with health and safety regulations and organisational requirements applicable in the workplace. For example, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, PPE and applying safe systems of work.
Apply dynamic risk assessment, hazard identification and risk mitigation principles and techniques.
Apply isolation principles and techniques to equipment undergoing maintenance, including dissipation of stored energies as required.
Manufacture, repair and refurbish components using hand and machine tools.
Restore the workplace on completion of the maintenance activity. Handover resources, consumables and equipment to process owner.
Apply the techniques and processes used in reactive maintenance and repair activities on complex engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
Produce, maintain, update, record and store documentation including electronic items such as PLC and robot programmes.
Apply techniques and processes used in planned and preventative maintenance activities on engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
Apply functional testing and checking techniques and processes after maintenance interventions, and handover to the operational team.
Apply techniques and processes used in condition monitoring, non-destructive or sensory testing. Record findings and take necessary actions.
Apply calculation techniques such as, feeds, speeds, tolerances, electrical calculations using Ohms law, power calculations and cable sizing calculations.
Select, use and confirm calibration of electrical and mechanical testing and measuring equipment.
Produce sketches or drawings to support maintenance activities.
Communicate in writing. Prepare communications, documents and reports on technical matters.
Segregate, separate and dispose of waste streams and by-products.
Apply 4S or 5S principles of housekeeping to the work environment.
Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve operational performance.
Apply continuous improvement techniques.
Communicate with others verbally. Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders. For example, to access equipment or arrange access to equipment.
Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
Apply fault finding techniques used in reactive maintenance on complex integrated systems including half split, input output, six point technique, function or performance testing, unit or component substitution and equipment diagnostics.
Use information technology, for example to create documentation, communication and information management.
Obtain, read and interpret task related documentation, such as work instructions, quality control documents, drawings, operation manuals, specifications and service manuals.
Record information for example job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
Conduct initial assessment of equipment that requires maintenance.
Formulate plans setting out the methodology of the maintenance activity including timescales and resources.
Select, prepare and use material, consumables, tools and equipment.
Comply with health and safety regulations and organisational requirements applicable in the workplace. For example, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, PPE and applying safe systems of work.
Apply dynamic risk assessment, hazard identification and risk mitigation principles and techniques.
Apply isolation principles and techniques to equipment undergoing maintenance, including dissipation of stored energies as required.
Manufacture, repair and refurbish components using hand and machine tools.
Restore the workplace on completion of the maintenance activity. Handover resources, consumables and equipment to process owner.
Apply the techniques and processes used in reactive maintenance and repair activities on complex engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
Produce, maintain, update, record and store documentation including electronic items such as PLC and robot programmes.
Apply techniques and processes used in planned and preventative maintenance activities on engineered systems such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems.
Apply functional testing and checking techniques and processes after maintenance interventions, and handover to the operational team.
Apply techniques and processes used in condition monitoring, non-destructive or sensory testing. Record findings and take necessary actions.
Apply calculation techniques such as, feeds, speeds, tolerances, electrical calculations using Ohms law, power calculations and cable sizing calculations.
Select, use and confirm calibration of electrical and mechanical testing and measuring equipment.
Produce sketches or drawings to support maintenance activities.
Communicate in writing. Prepare communications, documents and reports on technical matters.
Segregate, separate and dispose of waste streams and by-products.
Apply 4S or 5S principles of housekeeping to the work environment.
Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve operational performance.
Apply continuous improvement techniques.
Communicate with others verbally. Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders. For example, to access equipment or arrange access to equipment.
Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
Apply fault finding techniques used in reactive maintenance on complex integrated systems including half split, input output, six point technique, function or performance testing, unit or component substitution and equipment diagnostics.

Your training plan

Year one of the apprenticeship will be undertaken in Harwin’s purpose-built training academy with day release to South Downs College Campus.
The once weekly day placements will be rotating throughout the different areas of the business as each apprentice can work on the different technologies and gain an array of engineering skills

More training information

As an Apprentice, you will have the opportunity to study the following through this Apprenticeship: ·

Apprenticeship in Mechatronics.
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering.

This apprenticeship requires a day release at Havant & South Downs Campus during term time. This will be discussed with you upon appointment.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 6)
Maths (grade 6)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Patience
Strong Interest in Engineering
Hands on approach to work
Good hand to eye co-ordination
Punctual, reliable,

Other requirements

Minimum of 5 GCSEs including Maths and English at Grade 6 or above. We will consider professional experience in lieu of the qualifications above, with the exception of Grade 6 or above GCSE Maths and English.

About this company

Harwin plc is a Portsmouth based manufacturing company specialising in the innovative design and production of electrical/electronic components. Our products are distributed worldwide through our network of partners in Europe, Asia and the US. We offer breadth and depth of expertise in such markets as distribution, industrial and instrumentation, medical, military, aerospace, automotive and telecommunications.

https://www.harwin.com (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Long term career with multiple future progression opportunities as the company continues to develop.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: