Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship - Mechatronics

UNIPRES (UK) LIMITED

Sunderland (SR5 3NT)

Closes on Friday 1 May 2026

Posted on 9 February 2026

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Contents

Summary

A 4 year Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship which is specifically tailored the 'Mechatronics' pathway providing the opportunity to work in either our Assembly or Press Maintenance departments.

Wage

£19,961.04 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Yearly pay rises are performance dependant

Training course
Engineering maintenance technician - dual discipline (level 3)
Hours
Year 1: College - 08:30 - 15:30 (Transport provided from Unipres Sunderland throughout year 1 to College) Years 2 - 4: Unipres plant 4 days a week - 06:45 - 15:03 (shifts dependent on age and department) College day release - 09:00 - 16:00

39 hours a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

4 years

Positions available

9

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

Year 1 of the apprenticeship:

5 days off the job training at a specialist Training Provider (College) - learning both practical and theoretical skills in engineering

Year 2 until the completion of the apprenticeship:

4 days on the job training based at the Unipres plant followed by continued studies 1 day a week with a specialist Training Provider (College)

The two available departments for the Mechatronics pathway are as follows:

Assembly Maintenance:

Fixing, maintaining and installing the robot cells used to assemble / weld metal parts to produce a finished product. Maintaining facilities within that area - both electrical/mechanically biased

Press Maintenance:

  • Fixing and maintaining the different types of press machines used to stamp metal components and other machinery in the department - both electrical/mechanically biased
  • Once you are located within your allocated department you are classed as multi-skilled

What can we offer you?

  • Annual holiday entitlement of 26 days and 8 Bank Holiday (company shut down in summer and Christmas)
  • Free onsite car park
  • Free electric car charging points on site
  • Car lease scheme Accident repair technician, Level 3 (A level)
  • Pension (GPP) 4.5% employee and 4.5% employer
  • Life Assurance 4x pensionable pay (after 1 years service for GPP members)
  • Private healthcare
  • On-site occupational health support
  • Company sick pay
  • Enhanced paternity leave
  • Enhanced maternity leave
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Profit share
  • Sports and social club
  • Long service awards
  • Monthly prize draw
  • On - site canteen

Where you'll work

Unipres (UK) Ltd
Cherry Blossom Way
Sunderland
SR5 3NT

Training

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

Training provider

HARTLEPOOL COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION

Training course

Engineering maintenance technician - dual 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 amend 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 and control and instrumentation. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Select, check, and use electrical maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment. Select, check, and use control and instrumentation maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Use electrical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques. Use control and instrumentation diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Inspect and test electrical aspects of plant. For example, visual checks, insulation and continuity checks, thermographic surveys, and voltage levels.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Remove and replace electrical parts.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Prepare and terminate electrical cables.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Set up and adjust electrical aspects of plant.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services isolation and deisolation.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Conduct functional testing.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Inspect and test control and instrumentation systems.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Check calibration and make adjustments.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Check loop function.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Set up and adjust control and instrumentation systems.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Remove and replace instruments and sensors.
  • Electrical and control and instrumentation. Re-connect instrumentation power supply, cables, pipework, and services.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services isolation and deisolation.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Select, check, and use electrical and mechanical maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Use electrical and mechanical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Inspect and test electrical aspects of plant. For example, visual checks, insulation and continuity checks, thermographic surveys, and voltage levels.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Remove and replace electrical parts.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Prepare and terminate electrical cables.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Set up, align, and adjust electrical aspects of plant.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Conduct functional testing.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Check condition and operation of mechanical aspects of plant and equipment. For example, pumps.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Remove and replace mechanical parts.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Examine mechanical parts for defects. For example, pump seals.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Set up, align, and adjust mechanical aspects of plant.
  • Electrical and mechanical. Lubricate mechanical assemblies.
  • Electrical and 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 amend 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

Year 1 of the apprenticeship:

5 days off the job training at a specialist Training Provider - learning both practical and theoretical skills in engineering

Year 2 until the completion of the apprenticeship:

4 days on the job training based at the Unipres plant followed by continued studies 1 day a week with a specialist Training Provider (College)

The successful candidates will gain a full Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technician Standard - pathway Mechatronics Maintenance. You will work alongside other talented technicians within either our Press or Assembly Maintenance Departments gaining the relevant skills.

The qualifications the apprentice will receive are as follows:

  • Level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Foundation Competence)
  • Level 2 Award Foundation Phase Gateway Assessment
  • Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Competence) - Mechatronics
  • Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Technology (QCF)

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4 or C and above)
  • Maths (grade 4 or C and above)

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
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Time Management
  • Work under own initiative
  • Prioritise workload

Other requirements

  • In the first year of your apprenticeship, Unipres will supply a mode of transport from main site to the Training Provider
  • After the first year, for the College release day, it will be up to the apprentice to arrange their own transport

About this employer

For three decades, Unipres has prided itself on delivering excellence in the automotive industry from our plant in Sunderland. We are a global company powered by local people – focused on achieving product excellence, committed to developing our skilled workforce and dedicated to driving forward innovation across the automotive industry. The Sunderland plant, is the focal points of Unipres operations in Europe. As a manufacturer of press-formed automotive components, we apply technical skills, including expertise in safety and environmental performance, to create a range of technology solutions tailored to meet the needs of our customers.

After this apprenticeship

  • Apprentices can progress into full-time work with opportunities to progress through the ranks
  • Option to progress education further by completing a HNC Level of study. (Higher Apprenticeship in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Level 4)

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HARTLEPOOL COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000014061.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 1 May 2026