Small Vessel Chief Engineer Apprenticeship
SERCO GROUP PLC
Plymouth (PL2 2BG)
Closes in 8 days (Friday 21 August 2026)
Posted on 13 August 2026
Contents
Summary
As a Small Vessel Chief Engineer Apprenticeship in our Maritime team, you’ll gain hands-on experience while working towards a recognised engineering qualification, contributing to vital maritime operations that support national infrastructure and defence.
- Wage
-
£20,101.13 a year
- Training course
- Small vessel chief engineer (level 4)
- Hours
-
37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 5 October 2026
- Duration
-
5 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
You’ll be entrusted to:
- Undertake training and sea service to achieve a Small Vessel Chief Engineer Certificate of Competency
- Support vessel crews in port operations and during sea passages, including watchkeeping duties day and night
- Assist with planned and unplanned maintenance on mechanical and electrical systems, including work during dry dockings and refits
- Complete academic study at Fleetwood Nautical Campus alongside practical on-the-job training
- Support inspections and surveys, building knowledge of maritime regulations and compliance requirements
- Develop the skills to respond to onboard emergency situations including fire and sea survival scenarios
Where you'll work
Hms Drake
Plymouth
PL2 2BG
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BLACKPOOL AND THE FYLDE COLLEGE
Training course
Small vessel chief engineer (level 4)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Take personal emergency action onboard a vessel. [MCA]
- Respond to emergencies onboard a vessel. [MCA]
- Take control of survival craft and rescue boats. [MCA]
- Take charge of an engine room watch. [MCA]
- Prepare and operate vessel propulsion machinery and ancillary systems. [MCA]
- Operate vessel ancillaries and service machinery. [MCA]
- Operate and adjust vessel electrical systems. [MCA]
- Carry out maintenance to vessel electrical machinery and systems. [MCA]
- Carry out maintenance to vessel mechanical machinery and systems. [MCA]
- Maintain personal health, safety and environmental standards onboard a vessel. [MCA]
- Maintain safe, legal and effective working practices onboard a vessel. [MCA]
- Maintain and enhance productive working relationships onboard a vessel. [MCA]
- Identify costs and create a draft budget for sign-off.
- Apply project management techniques.
- Identify, organise, and use resources to complete tasks.
- Diagnose problems. Resolve or escalate problems in line with responsibilities.
- Review work to identify improvements.
- Communicate verbally and in writing with others for example, colleagues and contractors onboard or ashore.
- Complete documentation for example, machinery space logbook and oil record book.
- Write technical reports.
- Use information technology for example, word processing, spreadsheets, email, and presentation.
- Take personal emergency action onboard a vessel. [MCA]
- Respond to emergencies onboard a vessel. [MCA]
- Take control of survival craft and rescue boats. [MCA]
- Take charge of an engine room watch. [MCA]
- Prepare and operate vessel propulsion machinery and ancillary systems. [MCA]
- Operate vessel ancillaries and service machinery. [MCA]
- Operate and adjust vessel electrical systems. [MCA]
- Carry out maintenance to vessel electrical machinery and systems. [MCA]
- Carry out maintenance to vessel mechanical machinery and systems. [MCA]
- Maintain personal health, safety and environmental standards onboard a vessel. [MCA]
- Maintain safe, legal and effective working practices onboard a vessel. [MCA]
- Maintain and enhance productive working relationships onboard a vessel. [MCA]
- Identify costs and create a draft budget for sign-off.
- Apply project management techniques.
- Identify, organise, and use resources to complete tasks.
- Diagnose problems. Resolve or escalate problems in line with responsibilities.
- Review work to identify improvements.
- Communicate verbally and in writing with others for example, colleagues and contractors onboard or ashore.
- Complete documentation for example, machinery space logbook and oil record book.
- Write technical reports.
- Use information technology for example, word processing, spreadsheets, email, and presentation.
Training schedule
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade level 4 - 9)
- Maths (grade Level 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
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
About this employer
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.
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
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
L4 Small Vessel Chief Engineer.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BLACKPOOL AND THE FYLDE COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000048222.
Apply now
Closes in 8 days (Friday 21 August 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.