Maintenance Apprentice

KOMATSU UK LIMITED

County Durham, Washington

Closes in 28 days (Tuesday 31 March 2026)

Posted on 2 March 2026

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Contents

Summary

You will start your apprenticeship at Seta in Washington, completing initial training before moving to Komatsu UK’s Maintenance Department for the rest of the four-year programme. Komatsu is a global leader in construction and mining equipment, offering support, career development, and a strong culture of continuous improvement.

Wage

£17,198 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Pay will be subject to regular increases

Training course
Engineering maintenance technician - dual discipline (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Thursday - 8am - 4pm Friday - 8am - 12:30pm Please note, these hours are during your first year with Seta. They may change once you move into the workplace.

37 hours 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

Initially you will be based at Seta in Washington. Once you have completed your initial training at Seta, you will spend the remainder of the four year apprenticeship working at Komatsu UK in the Maintenance Department.

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

  • Durham Road, Birtley, Chester Le Street, County Durham, DH3 2QX
  • 17 Sedling Road, Wear Industrial Estate, Washington, NE38 9BZ

Training

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

Training provider

SUNDERLAND ENGINEERING TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED

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

Your first year will be spent at Seta in Washington.

Your second year will be spent 4 days in the workplace with Komatsu and 1 day with Seta on day release.

Your final 2 years will be spent full time with the employer, with regular reviews with a Seta apprenticeship manager and your employer.

More training information

What you will learn:

  • How to work safely
  • How to maintain, service and repair production machinery to a high quality standard
  • How to operate machinery such as overhead cranes, air tools and access equipment
  • Fault finding
  • How to follow work procedures and drawings and the importance of completing documentation
  • Team work and continuous improvement

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

4 subjects, including Maths and English (grade 4-9)

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
  • Presentation skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness
  • Enthusiasm
  • Reliable
  • Willingness to work hard

Other requirements

We are looking for individuals with a keen interest in maintenance, who are enthusiastic, reliable and have the willingness to work hard within an engineering environment.

About this employer

Komatsu is an international leader in the field of construction and mining equipment. The company headquarters are in Tokyo and we employ around 65,000 people worldwide. We have a history of over 100 years "creating value together" through quality, technology and manufacturing innovation. Komatsu UK Ltd is based in Birtley, close to Gateshead and employs over 400 people engaged in the design and manufacture of medium-sized hydraulic excavators. 

https://www.komatsu.eu/en/company/komatsu-uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

26 days holiday each year

Company gym

Better health at work programme

Active sports and social club with charity fundraising opportunities

Opportunities for learning and development throughout your career

Disability Confident

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

There will be the opportunity to secure permanent employment on successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SUNDERLAND ENGINEERING TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED

SETA Business Development Team

enquiries@seta.co.uk

0191 416 2860

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000018194.

Apply now

Closes in 28 days (Tuesday 31 March 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.