Apprentice mechanical engineer

WASH-N-VAC SYSTEMS LTD

Sussex (RH12 4QD)

Closes in 18 days (Thursday 11 December 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 20 November 2025

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Summary

Based out of our factory unit in Horsham this role covers production, installation, service and repair of our vehicle wash equipment. Mainly from Horsham but also on our customers site around the country.

Wage

£17,667 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Paid over time & overnight expenses when required

Training course
Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday 45 hours a week, with paid overtime. Occasional overnight stays when required.

45 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 18 December 2025

Duration

3 years 6 months

Positions available

1

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

  • Production of our wash equipment
  • Diagnosis and repair of wash equipment
  • Service and maintenance of wash equipment

Where you'll work

Unit 9 Graylands industrial estate
Langhurst wood road
Horsahm
Sussex
RH12 4QD

Training

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

Training provider

EAST SUSSEX COLLEGE GROUP

Training course

Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Review and use information. For example, work instructions, drawings, design specifications, and plant configurations.
  • Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan tasks.
  • Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, consumables.
  • Respond and adapt to work demands. For example, adapt working methods to reflect changes in working environment, re-prioritise workloads to react to breakdowns and fault scenarios.
  • Identify equipment to work on. Check plant configuration is as defined.
  • Prepare the work area for maintenance tasks.
  • Identify environmental and health and safety hazards and risks and apply control measures.
  • Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, signage and barriers, working at height, confined spaces, and COSHH.
  • Follow security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
  • Follow emergency incident and response procedures.
  • Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimising waste.
  • Segregate items for reuse, recycling, and waste.
  • Use mathematical principles and formulae to support engineering maintenance.
  • Apply engineering maintenance standards and procedures.
  • Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
  • Follow maintenance tools and equipment control procedures. For example, handling and storage.
  • Reinstate the work area.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Communicate with others to give and receive information. For example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
  • Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
  • Record information.
  • Produce or update documents. For example, handover notes and reports.
  • Identify and highlight issues (red pen) with technical drawings.
  • Use digital and information technology. For example, databases, data sharing platforms, email, management information systems, and word processing. Follow cyber security and GDPR requirements.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions.
  • Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
  • Electrical. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
  • Electrical. Select, check, and use electrical maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
  • Electrical. Use electrical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
  • Electrical. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
  • Electrical. Inspect and test electrical aspects of plant. For example, visual checks, insulation and continuity checks, thermographic surveys, and voltage levels.
  • Electrical. Remove and replace electrical parts.
  • Electrical. Prepare and terminate electrical cables.
  • Electrical. Set up, align and adjust electrical aspects of plant.
  • Electrical. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
  • Electrical. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services deisolation.
  • Electrical. Conduct functional testing.
  • Control and instrumentation. Conduct and confirm safe isolation of connected services
  • Control and instrumentation. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
  • Control and instrumentation. Select, check, and use control and instrumentation maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
  • Control and instrumentation. Use control and instrumentation diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
  • Control and instrumentation. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
  • Control and instrumentation. Inspect and test control and instrumentation systems.
  • Control and instrumentation. Check calibration and make adjustments.
  • Control and instrumentation. Check loop function.
  • Control and instrumentation. Set up and adjust control and instrumentation systems.
  • Control and instrumentation. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
  • Control and instrumentation. Remove and replace instruments and sensors.
  • Control and instrumentation. Re-connect instrumentation power supply, cables, pipework, and services.
  • Control and instrumentation. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services deisolation.
  • Control and instrumentation. Conduct functional testing.
  • Mechanical. Check and confirm safe isolation of connected services.
  • Mechanical. Select, check, and use mechanical maintenance tools and equipment.
  • Mechanical. Use mechanical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
  • Mechanical. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
  • Mechanical. Check condition and operation of mechanical aspects of plant and equipment. For example, pumps.
  • Mechanical. Remove and replace mechanical parts.
  • Mechanical. Examine mechanical parts for defects. For example, pump seals.
  • Mechanical. Set up, align, and adjust mechanical aspects of plant.
  • Mechanical. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
  • Mechanical. Lubricate mechanical assemblies.
  • Mechanical. Confirm electrical and connected services deisolation.
  • Mechanical. Conduct functional testing.
  • Mechanical. Apply bench fitting techniques.
  • Review and use information. For example, work instructions, drawings, design specifications, and plant configurations.
  • Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan tasks.
  • Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, consumables.
  • Respond and adapt to work demands. For example, adapt working methods to reflect changes in working environment, re-prioritise workloads to react to breakdowns and fault scenarios.
  • Identify equipment to work on. Check plant configuration is as defined.
  • Prepare the work area for maintenance tasks.
  • Identify environmental and health and safety hazards and risks and apply control measures.
  • Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, signage and barriers, working at height, confined spaces, and COSHH.
  • Follow security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
  • Follow emergency incident and response procedures.
  • Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimising waste.
  • Segregate items for reuse, recycling, and waste.
  • Use mathematical principles and formulae to support engineering maintenance.
  • Apply engineering maintenance standards and procedures.
  • Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
  • Follow maintenance tools and equipment control procedures. For example, handling and storage.
  • Reinstate the work area.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Communicate with others to give and receive information. For example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
  • Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
  • Record information.
  • Produce or update documents. For example, handover notes and reports.
  • Identify and highlight issues (red pen) with technical drawings.
  • Use digital and information technology. For example, databases, data sharing platforms, email, management information systems, and word processing. Follow cyber security and GDPR requirements.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions.
  • Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.

Training schedule

East Sussex College you will be completing the Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship. This apprenticeship will include Knowledge, Skills, Behaviour, Diploma (if included), Functional Skills (if required)

You will have an assessor who will support you alongside your apprenticeship, setting you assignments, completing observations and progress reviews every 10 – 12 weeks. You will also be required to come into the Ore Valley campus one day per week for your lessons.

At East Sussex College, you will study further topics including Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity and professional development.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade C/4 or above (or equivalent))

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Learn engineering skills

Other requirements

Comfortable on occasional nights staying away from home when required. This role will involve working out doors on occasion, heavy lifting, hot works. It will also involve driving and any applicant must have a full driving licence.

About this employer

Since 1994 WNV-Systems have designed, delivered, and installed specialist commercial vehicle wash systems for commercial Road Vehicles, Trams, Trains and even helicopters. We have developed wash systems for Local Authorities, Bus Operators, Haulage Companies, The M.O.D, Commercial & Industrial Vehicle Manufacturers, and even Logistics & Distribution Organisations. We have a team of dedicated Engineers offering unmatched after sales service, support, and maintenance options, with a network of designated agents base overseas this extends our services worldwide. This gives comfort to all our partners in knowing we are always here to support them and their vehicle washing needs.

After this apprenticeship

Potential permanent full-time employment on successful completion of the apprenticeship, career progression through the company structure.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

EAST SUSSEX COLLEGE GROUP

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000001593.

Apply now

Closes in 18 days (Thursday 11 December 2025 at 11:59pm)

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