Engineering Apprenticeship

ASSOCIATED BRITISH PORTS

Teignmouth (TQ14 8ES)

Closes on Friday 17 April 2026

Posted on 6 March 2026

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Summary

ABP’s Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship will focus on the core principles of mechanical maintenance, teaching essential fundamental skills that will be transferable regardless of the engineering sector.

• Wage:

  £22,913 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Yearly increase will align with completed training.

• Training course: Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline (level 3)
• Hours: Initially working Monday to Friday 7.30am - 4pm, possible shift work required throughout the apprenticeship.

  40 hours a week

• Start date:

  Saturday 22 August 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

• Carry out reactive mechanical maintenance, diagnosing faults and repairing machinery and equipment as issues arise
• Perform planned and preventative maintenance to keep plant and equipment operating efficiently and reduce breakdowns
• Support the safe operation and integrity of plant and machinery, ensuring all work complies with ABP safety procedures and standards
• Maintain and service mechanical components, such as motors, pumps, conveyors, hydraulic systems, gearboxes, valves, bearings, and lifting equipment
• Assist with maintaining the reliability and performance of integrated plant systems across ports and terminals
• Conduct inspections, checks, and testing of equipment to identify wear, deterioration, or potential hazards
• Record and update maintenance documentation, logs, and reports to support compliance and traceability
• Work with engineering teams to support fault‑finding, problem‑solving, and root‑cause analysis
• Follow work instructions and engineering drawings to install, adjust, or replace mechanical parts
• Ensure all tasks meet quality, time, and budget requirements, balancing efficiency with high standards
• Contribute to maintaining efficient plant operation, ensuring assets are running smoothly to minimise downtime
• Take responsibility for the quality and safety of their own work and, where required, support the work of others

Where you'll work

Old Quay
Old Quay Street
Teignmouth
TQ14 8ES

Training

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

Training provider

SOUTH DEVON COLLEGE

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

Engineering Maintenance Technician - Single Discipline Level 3.

You will complete 1- days of in-person learning at a college every week and be based on site the rest of the week working closely with a mentor. 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 5 and above)
• Maths (grade 5 and above)
• Science (grade 5 and above)

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

Skills

• Problem solving skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Physical fitness

Other requirements

Being comfortable with working at height.

About this employer

We continuously invest in the infrastructure, equipment and skills we need to handle a vast array of cargo safely, efficiently and sustainably. Our expert teams work collaboratively to build long-term partnerships and deliver the right supply chain solutions for our customers, including value-added services and brand new facilities tailored to suit their business needs. ABP also offers large areas of development land across a wide range of strategic port locations, capable of attracting investment and delivering transformational benefits for the economy both locally and nationally. As a vital part of the supply chains of businesses throughout the nation, our 21 ports support 200,000 jobs and contribute £15 billion to the economy every year, handling £157 billion of trade. ABP is dedicated to supporting the communities which rely on our ports. We are dedicated to serving our customers. We are dedicated to fulfilling our mission: Keeping Britain Trading.

https://careers.abports.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Access to pension scheme, BUPA medical and dentist. 

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

Engineering technician.  

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ASSOCIATED BRITISH PORTS

Amy Drury

amy.drury@abports.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000019681.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 17 April 2026

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