Engineering apprentice

REIDsteel

Dorset (BH23 2BT)

Closes on Sunday 12 April 2026

Posted on 13 February 2026


Summary

An excellent opportunity to begin a career in engineering. Join our drawing office to detail structural steelwork and cladding using 2D and 3D modelling. Produce detailed designs for aircraft hangars, bridges, warehouses, sports stadia in the UK and worldwide. We're a brilliant team offering a supportive learning environment and a great future.

Wage

£16,120 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

This is the starting rate. You'll have regular reviews in accordance with our progression band structure. Annual discretionary bonus.

Training course
Engineering design technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday 8:15am to 5pm with 1 hour for lunch.

38 hours 45 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

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

  • Work closely with your mentor to learn all aspects of steel and cladding - a unique opportunity to do both in one place!
  • Use the calculations produced by our design office to detail structural steel work.
  • Draw roof, wall and decking layouts and design associated trims and gutters.
  • Produce drawings used in manufacture and construction.
  • Be part of the project team delivering fantastic structures for our clients.

 

Where you'll work

3 Reid Street
Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 2BT

Training

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

Training provider

T3 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT LTD

Training course

Engineering design technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards.
  • Work in accordance with the design process, company management systems, policies and procedures.
  • Review and interpret technical information and requirements from different sources such as specifications, engineering drawings, concepts, stakeholders.
  • Identify and assess factors that affect designs such as materials, application, location, risk and environment.
  • Select materials and parts.
  • Propose and evaluate ideas for sustainable engineering concepts to solve engineering challenges.
  • Develop solutions that can be manufactured or built, and proven, operated and maintained during their operational life and decommissioned or recycled at the end of their operational life.
  • Provide feedback on engineering designs.
  • Apply quality assurance procedures to engineering drawings or models, including own designs and those of peers.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Produce written documents, schedules and reports.
  • Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
  • Identify inaccuracies or discrepancies in drawings and specifications and propose solutions.
  • Incorporate changes to an existing design as a result of any modifications made during the as-built implementation.
  • Create concepts for system layouts and associated components.
  • Read, interpret and establish design intent.
  • Determine the correct tolerances for components of the design.
  • Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
  • Perform simple calculations to use in design drawings.
  • Use measuring techniques for reverse engineering.
  • Option 1. Produce general arrangements of electrical power.
  • Option 1. Produce detailed drawings of electrical power components such as wires connection, voltage, capacity, main switches.
  • Option 1. Identify cable types and application.
  • Option 1. Use digital tools such as CAD and BIM to produce electrical power project deliverables such as output drawings and electrical designs.
  • Option 2. Produce general arrangements of control and instrumentation designs.
  • Option 2. Produce detailed drawings of control and instrumentation components such as cable numbers, wire colours, junction block numbers and panel identification.
  • Option 2. Identify different cable types and appropriate application.
  • Option 2. Use digital tools such as CAD to produce control and instrumentation project deliverables.
  • Option 3. Produce general arrangements of mechanical designs.
  • Option 3. Produce detailed drawings of mechanical components such as part dimensions, shape and manufacture.
  • Option 3. Use digital tools such as CAD to produce mechanical project deliverables.
  • Option 4. Produce general arrangements of piping design.
  • Option 4. Produce detailed drawings of piping components such as pipework, ducts and fittings and including supports and skids.
  • Option 4. Use digital tools such as CAD or Plant Design Management Systems to produce piping design project deliverables.
  • Option 5. Produce general arrangements of structures showing multiple materials such as steel, concrete, masonry, timber.
  • Option 5. Produce detailed drawings for multiple materials such as steel, concrete, timber or masonry.
  • Option 5. Use digital tools such as CAD and BIM to produce structural project deliverables.
  • Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards.
  • Work in accordance with the design process, company management systems, policies and procedures.
  • Review and interpret technical information and requirements from different sources such as specifications, engineering drawings, concepts, stakeholders.
  • Identify and assess factors that affect designs such as materials, application, location, risk and environment.
  • Select materials and parts.
  • Propose and evaluate ideas for sustainable engineering concepts to solve engineering challenges.
  • Develop solutions that can be manufactured or built, and proven, operated and maintained during their operational life and decommissioned or recycled at the end of their operational life.
  • Provide feedback on engineering designs.
  • Apply quality assurance procedures to engineering drawings or models, including own designs and those of peers.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Produce written documents, schedules and reports.
  • Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
  • Identify inaccuracies or discrepancies in drawings and specifications and propose solutions.
  • Incorporate changes to an existing design as a result of any modifications made during the as-built implementation.
  • Create concepts for system layouts and associated components.
  • Read, interpret and establish design intent.
  • Determine the correct tolerances for components of the design.
  • Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
  • Perform simple calculations to use in design drawings.
  • Use measuring techniques for reverse engineering.

Training schedule

Based at our premises in Christchurch, Dorset.

L3 Engineering Design and Draughting apprenticeship: theory delivered via remote learning one day per week, practical on-the-job training four days per week.

BTEC in Construction and the Built Environment, specialist blocks delivered by remote learning periodically.

Functional Skills in English and maths if required.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Mathematics (grade 6)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Keen to learn

About this employer

We are a market leading engineering company which designs, manufactures and constructs a broad range of steel buildings, bridges and their associated cladding and glazing. We've been in operation for over 100 years and have exported to over 140 countries. We take a safety first approach to everything we do. We offer a great work environment where we prioritise our employees and provide opportunities for their continuing growth and development. We'd be delighted to discuss this apprenticeship with you in more detail. Please don't hesitate to call us on 01202 483333.

http://www.reidsteel.com (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Gaining knowledge and experience to become a senior or principal detailer.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

T3 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT LTD

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000015445.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 12 April 2026