Level 3 Engineering Fitter Apprenticeship

Caterpillar (U.K.) Ltd

Wimborne (BH21 7PW)

Closes on Sunday 18 January 2026

Posted on 3 December 2025


Summary

  • An apprenticeship is a paid job where the employee learns and gains valuable, real-life experiences.

Training course
Engineering fitter (level 3)
Hours
06:50 to 16:45 Monday to Thursday and a Non Working Day Friday.

38 hours a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

3 years 11 months

Positions available

2

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

You will be embedded in a highly skilled team and will also get to spend time in other areas of the business to fully understand our manufacturing operations and get to work and collaborate with people across the facility. Our apprenticeship roles will be based in each of the following areas: Engine Assembly, Test & Finishing, Quality Inspection, Product Design Engineering

Where you'll work

22 Cobham Road
Ferndown Ind Est
Wimborne
BH21 7PW

Training

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

Training provider

BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE COLLEGE, THE

Training course

Engineering fitter (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Reading, interpreting and understanding the component or assembly specification, diagrams, drawings and work instructions.
  • Planning component or assembly task – materials, tools and equipment.
  • Preparing work area for component or assembly task; sourcing required resources, tools and equipment.
  • Carry out relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity and know how to source required resources and interpret detailed drawings, specifications and job instructions.
  • Checking tools during and after task completion; identifying and reporting defects.
  • Measuring and testing, checking or inspecting component or assembly for example; use of micrometers, verniers, multimeters, voltmeter.
  • Problem solving; analysing the issue and fixing the issue where appropriate.
  • Applying improvement techniques; recommending or implementing solutions where appropriate.
  • Communicating with colleagues or customers (internal or external).
  • Completing component or assembly documentation for example job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation.
  • Reporting work outcomes or issues.
  • Restoring the work area on completion of the activity; returning any resources and consumables to the appropriate location and house-keeping.
  • Disposing of waste in accordance with waste streams; re-cycling, re-using where appropriate.
  • Operating within limits of responsibility.
  • Operating in line with quality, health and safety and environmental policy and procedures; identifying risks and hazards and identifying control measures where applicable.
  • Reading, interpreting and understanding the component or assembly specification, diagrams, drawings and work instructions.
  • Planning component or assembly task – materials, tools and equipment.
  • Preparing work area for component or assembly task; sourcing required resources, tools and equipment.
  • Carry out relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity and know how to source required resources and interpret detailed drawings, specifications and job instructions.
  • Checking tools during and after task completion; identifying and reporting defects.
  • Measuring and testing, checking or inspecting component or assembly for example; use of micrometers, verniers, multimeters, voltmeter.
  • Problem solving; analysing the issue and fixing the issue where appropriate.
  • Applying improvement techniques; recommending or implementing solutions where appropriate.
  • Communicating with colleagues or customers (internal or external).
  • Completing component or assembly documentation for example job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation.
  • Reporting work outcomes or issues.
  • Restoring the work area on completion of the activity; returning any resources and consumables to the appropriate location and house-keeping.
  • Disposing of waste in accordance with waste streams; re-cycling, re-using where appropriate.
  • Operating within limits of responsibility.
  • Operating in line with quality, health and safety and environmental policy and procedures; identifying risks and hazards and identifying control measures where applicable.

Training schedule

You will attend Bournemouth and Poole college one day per week and work three to four days per week where you will be given the opportunity to experience different aspects of engineering, designed to provide you with an excellent foundation in the function.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Minimum of four GCSEs inlc Math and English (grade grade C or 4 and above or equi)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Team working

About this employer

Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. We do business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries, and Energy & Transportation – and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment.

Company benefits

  • 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and have access to a 5% annual bonus, flexible benefits, a share scheme, a pension scheme, flexible working opportunities and family-friendly policies.

After this apprenticeship

  • On successful completion of this apprenticeship, you are very likely to be offered a position within our world-class team with plenty of opportunity for long-term progression. Many of our former apprentices now occupy senior management roles within our organisation as career development is the foundation to all our apprenticeship schemes.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE COLLEGE, THE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000003760.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 18 January 2026

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