Materials Handling Engineer Apprentice
MALCOLM WEST FORK LIFTS LTD
Hull (HU3 4DL)
Closes in 30 days (Sunday 19 July 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 19 June 2026
Contents
Summary
As a Land-Based Service Engineering Technician Apprentice, you will learn to inspect, service, maintain and repair forklift trucks and materials handling equipment. Working alongside experienced engineers, you'll develop mechanical, electrical and diagnostic skills while completing a nationally recognised apprenticeship qualification.
- Wage
-
£16,640 to £26,436.80, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Land-based service engineer (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 4.30pm. 30 minutes for lunch.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
2 years
- 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
As a Land-Based Service Engineering Technician Apprentice, you will work alongside experienced engineers to develop the skills and knowledge required to maintain and repair forklift trucks and materials handling equipment.
Duties will include:
- Carrying out routine servicing, maintenance and repairs on forklift trucks and plant equipment.
- Assisting with fault finding, diagnostics and troubleshooting of mechanical, hydraulic and electrical systems.
- Using diagnostic software and laptop-based systems to identify faults and record work completed.
- Shadowing and working alongside a senior engineer to develop practical engineering skills.
- Completing job sheets, service records and other engineering administration accurately.
- Supporting inspections and pre-delivery checks to ensure equipment is safe and operational.
- Learning about electric-powered equipment, batteries and associated diagnostic systems.
- Maintaining a clean, organised and safe working environment.
- Following all health and safety procedures, company policies and industry regulations at all times.
- Developing knowledge of engineering principles, tools, equipment and customer service as part of the apprenticeship programme.
This role offers hands-on experience across a wide range of forklift trucks and materials handling equipment while working towards a nationally recognised level 2 qualification.
Where you'll work
Bridge House
Goulton Street
Hull
HU3 4DL
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BISHOP BURTON COLLEGE
Training course
Land-based service engineer (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Prepare and reinstate the work area for land-based engineering activities.
- Clean land-based machinery and equipment.
- Select and use PPE, tools and equipment required to undertake land-based engineering activities.
- Prepare land-based prime-movers, machinery and equipment for service, maintenance and repair activities.
- Prepare parts, components and sub-assemblies prior to reassembly, including inspecting, cleaning, refurbishing, sharpening, resealing, straightening, and balancing.
- Refit and re-assemble parts, components and sub-assemblies, ensuring their compatibility and relationship including timing and alignment.
- Select the appropriate lifting, supporting and securing equipment.
- Apply thermal bonding and separation methods to join, fabricate and repair materials and components.
- Complete organisational documentation and reports.
- Carry out work in compliance with legislative and organisational requirements.
- Lift, support and secure loads, land-based machinery, equipment and assemblies.
- Setup land-based prime movers, machinery and equipment to meet customer requirements.
- Connect, attach and fit land-based machinery equipment to prime movers.
- Service and maintain land-based prime-movers, machinery and equipment to manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Adopt safe working practices that ensure personal safety and the safety of others and the environment.
- Conduct static and basic operational inspections and check compliance with legislative safety requirements and system tests to establish actions to be taken.
- Interrogate control systems to view error codes, reset indicators and verify software updates.
- Carry out checks and tests to ensure prime-movers, machinery and equipment meet manufacturers specifications before and after repair.
- Identify and follow technical documentation and perform hydraulic or electrical repair activities on land-based machinery.
- Perform transmission or engine repair activities on land-based machinery.
- Record and interpret technical information relating to land-based service, maintenance and repair operations.
- Apply the principles of customer care when dealing with internal and external customers relevant to own role.
- Maintain service and warranty records, record data and report findings to stakeholders.
- Carry out pre delivery inspections and conduct assembly as required on land-based equipment and prime movers.
- Check settings and make adjustments on land-based equipment to meet customer requirements.
- Carry out land-based machinery inspections.
- Prepare and reinstate the work area for land-based engineering activities.
- Clean land-based machinery and equipment.
- Select and use PPE, tools and equipment required to undertake land-based engineering activities.
- Prepare land-based prime-movers, machinery and equipment for service, maintenance and repair activities.
- Prepare parts, components and sub-assemblies prior to reassembly, including inspecting, cleaning, refurbishing, sharpening, resealing, straightening, and balancing.
- Refit and re-assemble parts, components and sub-assemblies, ensuring their compatibility and relationship including timing and alignment.
- Select the appropriate lifting, supporting and securing equipment.
- Apply thermal bonding and separation methods to join, fabricate and repair materials and components.
- Complete organisational documentation and reports.
- Carry out work in compliance with legislative and organisational requirements.
- Lift, support and secure loads, land-based machinery, equipment and assemblies.
- Setup land-based prime movers, machinery and equipment to meet customer requirements.
- Connect, attach and fit land-based machinery equipment to prime movers.
- Service and maintain land-based prime-movers, machinery and equipment to manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Adopt safe working practices that ensure personal safety and the safety of others and the environment.
- Conduct static and basic operational inspections and check compliance with legislative safety requirements and system tests to establish actions to be taken.
- Interrogate control systems to view error codes, reset indicators and verify software updates.
- Carry out checks and tests to ensure prime-movers, machinery and equipment meet manufacturers specifications before and after repair.
- Identify and follow technical documentation and perform hydraulic or electrical repair activities on land-based machinery.
- Perform transmission or engine repair activities on land-based machinery.
- Record and interpret technical information relating to land-based service, maintenance and repair operations.
- Apply the principles of customer care when dealing with internal and external customers relevant to own role.
- Maintain service and warranty records, record data and report findings to stakeholders.
- Carry out pre delivery inspections and conduct assembly as required on land-based equipment and prime movers.
- Check settings and make adjustments on land-based equipment to meet customer requirements.
- Carry out land-based machinery inspections.
Training schedule
Typical delivery will consist of 4 days per week in the workplace and 1 day per week attending college or completing off-the-job training as part of the apprenticeship programme.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 3/D)
- Maths (grade 3/D)
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
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
Other requirements
This is a practical, hands-on engineering role involving manual labour both in the workshop and on customer sites. Apprentices should be prepared to work in all weather conditions and environments exposed to the elements throughout the year.
Although PPE, specialist tools and lifting equipment are provided, the role will still involve manual handling, physical work, being on your feet for extended periods, and working in dirty or confined environments.
An interest in engineering, computers and electrical systems would be advantageous, as modern forklift trucks and plant equipment rely heavily on electronic controls, diagnostics and laptop-based fault finding.
Apprentices must be willing to learn, follow health and safety procedures, solve problems, and work as part of a team while developing both mechanical and electrical skills.
About this employer
Malcolm West Forklifts is a proud fourth-generation family-owned business with over 60 years of experience in the materials handling industry. As a family business, we place great importance on creating a supportive, friendly and inclusive working environment, which is reflected in our low staff turnover and long-serving team members.
This apprenticeship offers the opportunity to build a long-term career within a stable and well-respected company. You will learn from experienced industry professionals, gaining hands-on experience both in the workshop and out on customer sites. Working on a wide range of forklift trucks and plant equipment, you will develop skills across both traditional mechanical systems and the latest electrical and diagnostic technologies, providing a varied and rewarding engineering career.
https://malcolmwest.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
20 days holiday plus Bank Holidays, statutory sick pay, PPE and workwear provided.
Ongoing training and development, including Mitsubishi training courses.
Gain hands-on experience with expert engineers and build a long-term engineering career.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, there may be the opportunity to secure a permanent full-time position. Apprentices can also progress onto the Level 3 Land-Based Service Engineering Technician apprenticeship, developing further skills and advancing their engineering career within the company.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BISHOP BURTON COLLEGE
Jade Bishop
apprenticeshipenquiries@bishopburton.ac.uk
01964553056
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000038137.
Apply now
Closes in 30 days (Sunday 19 July 2026 at 11:59pm)