Bicycle Mechanic apprenticeship
NORTHSIDE BIKES
LEICESTER (LE1 2BA)
Closes in 18 days (Wednesday 30 September 2026)
Posted on 11 September 2026
Contents
Summary
Love bikes and working with your hands? Then this apprenticeship is for you. Get paid to learn how to look after and fix bikes while working in a busy local bike shop.
- Wage
-
£13,936 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Wage will increase in the second year to £10/hour.
- Training course
- Bicycle mechanic (level 2)
- Hours
-
33.5- 40 hours a week, Tuesday - Saturday between 9:30am and 5:30pm.
33 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 5 October 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 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
- Open and close the shop
- Deal with customer enquiries in person, on the phone and online
- Book in bikes for servicing and repair
- Clean and tidy the shop
- Carry out repairs to bicycles
- Learn new types of repairs
- Carry out bike services
- Build bikes
- Search for parts needed from suppliers
Where you'll work
2 BROUGHAM STREET
LEICESTER
LE1 2BA
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
ACTIVATE LEARNING
Training course
Bicycle mechanic (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Use specialist bicycle diagnostic equipment to identify fault and formulate a plan to solve the problems; identifying when it is uneconomical to proceed.
- Use cycle workstand correctly to safely and securely hold a bicycle on the appropriate part of the frame.
- Service a cup and cone type hub, identifying worn parts and correct replacements.
- Remove and replace sealed cartridge bearings using appropriate tools.
- Service cable operated brake systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using the correct spare parts and torque settings.
- Bleed hydraulic brake systems.
- Service derailleur gear systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using correct spare parts and torque settings; straighten a derailleur hanger.
- Tap the crank arm threads.
- Identify the different standards of cranks and bottom brackets; remove and replace crank arms, bottom brackets and tap and face the bottom bracket shell.
- Identify chain wear; assess compatibility issues, taking account of chain line and correctly split and install a quick link based chain.
- Tape road handlebars.
- Remove and replace a set of forks, taking account of the correct way to cut a fork steering column to size. Hydraulic fork servicing, disassemble and clean stations and cartridges and re-grease properly.
- Remove, replace and service a headset, taking account of sizing standards.
- Perform alignment checks to a bicycle frame.
- Hand-build a wheel of differing complexities (for example, from simple 3-cross to manufacturer specific wheel systems) in the patterns required for non-disc, front disc and rear disc to the required tolerance and correctly dished and tensioned.
- Set up and adjustment of internal gears.
- Conduct quality assurance check of build or repair work completed.
- Complete handover once completed build or repair is finished, including advising on further and future work required, changes to operation, required on-going maintenance and complete paperwork as appropriate.
- Serve customers or clients on any required area of the store; refer them on to a more senior colleague or to ask for help; seek after market sales.
- Communicate via suitable means with customers (telephone, text, email, social media) in order to ensure good service is maintained.
- Use catalogues (hard copy and online) to identify parts and order to fulfil customers needs.
- Use manual system and workshop diary and complete any associated paperwork.
- Deal with complaints, following employer and manufacturers policies.
- Identify when something has failed or is not fit for purpose.
- Maintain proper tool maintenance and general workshop cleanliness and tidiness.
- Use specialist bicycle diagnostic equipment to identify fault and formulate a plan to solve the problems; identifying when it is uneconomical to proceed.
- Use cycle workstand correctly to safely and securely hold a bicycle on the appropriate part of the frame.
- Service a cup and cone type hub, identifying worn parts and correct replacements.
- Remove and replace sealed cartridge bearings using appropriate tools.
- Service cable operated brake systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using the correct spare parts and torque settings.
- Bleed hydraulic brake systems.
- Service derailleur gear systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using correct spare parts and torque settings; straighten a derailleur hanger.
- Tap the crank arm threads.
- Identify the different standards of cranks and bottom brackets; remove and replace crank arms, bottom brackets and tap and face the bottom bracket shell.
- Identify chain wear; assess compatibility issues, taking account of chain line and correctly split and install a quick link based chain.
- Tape road handlebars.
- Remove and replace a set of forks, taking account of the correct way to cut a fork steering column to size. Hydraulic fork servicing, disassemble and clean stations and cartridges and re-grease properly.
- Remove, replace and service a headset, taking account of sizing standards.
- Perform alignment checks to a bicycle frame.
- Hand-build a wheel of differing complexities (for example, from simple 3-cross to manufacturer specific wheel systems) in the patterns required for non-disc, front disc and rear disc to the required tolerance and correctly dished and tensioned.
- Set up and adjustment of internal gears.
- Conduct quality assurance check of build or repair work completed.
- Complete handover once completed build or repair is finished, including advising on further and future work required, changes to operation, required on-going maintenance and complete paperwork as appropriate.
- Serve customers or clients on any required area of the store; refer them on to a more senior colleague or to ask for help; seek after market sales.
- Communicate via suitable means with customers (telephone, text, email, social media) in order to ensure good service is maintained.
- Use catalogues (hard copy and online) to identify parts and order to fulfil customers needs.
- Use manual system and workshop diary and complete any associated paperwork.
- Deal with complaints, following employer and manufacturers policies.
- Identify when something has failed or is not fit for purpose.
- Maintain proper tool maintenance and general workshop cleanliness and tidiness.
Training schedule
Most of the training will take place at work, with a visit or online call with a tutor every 6 weeks to check progress and set learning objectives. Some online learning will be required but most will be hands on in the shop.
More training information
Twice during the apprenticeship you will be required to go to Oxford for week long intensive training weeks. Travel, board and lodging costs will be paid for you.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
Functional Skills entry level 3 in:
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
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Patience
Other requirements
Able to ride a bicycle well and comfortable riding safely on roads.
About this employer
A local, independent, community bike shop in Leicester.
http://www.northsidebikes.org (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
-Staff discount on bikes, parts and accessories
-Free use of tools and workshop to fix your own bike (in your own time)
-Regular team socials
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Post apprenticeship you will have the skills and experience to work as a qualified bicycle mechanic.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
NORTHSIDE BIKES
Chris
chris@northsidebikes.org
07732546828
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000053182.
Apply now
Closes in 18 days (Wednesday 30 September 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.