Apprentice Small Vessel Engineer - Marine Portsmouth
SERCO LIMITED
Portsmouth (PO1 3LT)
Closes tomorrow (Saturday 4 October 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 3 October 2025
Contents
Summary
This is a unique apprenticeship where you will undertake the required training and sea service to eventually obtain the qualification required to serve as a Chief Engineer on board one of our smaller vessels.
- Wage
-
Competitive
Competitive wage offered
- Training course
- Small vessel chief engineer (level 4)
- Hours
-
37 hours per week, Monday - Friday, working hours TBC
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 13 October 2025
- 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
- To attain and demonstrate competence as a member of the engineering department on-board assigned vessels
- To undertake academic training in a maritime college (requiring significant periods away from home) to gain MCA Small Vessel Engineer Certificate of Competency and associated courses
- To learn and perform watchkeeping duties during day or night shifts, both at sea and in port. These duties may include watchkeeping on sea passages as required by the master and chief engineer
- To complete assigned mechanical and electrical workshop training, demonstrating safe and responsible attitudes
- To become competent in maintenance duties including planned and unplanned maintenance duties on all items of main and auxiliary machinery on assigned vessels. This may include heavy maintenance in dry dockings and refits
- To assist in vessel statutory inspections and classification surveys of assigned vessels, attaining knowledge of relevant rules and regulations
- To undertake training and demonstrate competence to deal with emergency situations afloat, including fire, sea survival and other courses
- To attain and demonstrate a good working knowledge of company procedures relating to the engineering department including record keeping, ordering spares and safety procedures
- To obtain the required sea service in the time period allocated by the Maritime Training Officer
- To comply with Serco values and behaviours throughout duration of the apprenticeship
- To always comply with the UK Merchant Navy Code of Conduct
- To undertake other duties and training commensurate with the level of the post as may be reasonably required from time to time
Where you'll work
Semaphore Tower
H M Naval Base
Portsmouth
PO1 3LT
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
Small Vessel Chief Engineer Level 4.
The course will include gaining on the job experience by serving on board Serco operated vessels and periods of study at the Fleetwood Nautical Campus of Blackpool & The Fylde College. Periods at colleges will vary but will normally be between 2-6 weeks. This will allow you to gain the knowledge skills and behaviours required to complete the assessments you will undergo throughout the apprenticeship including the end point assessment undertaken with IAMI, which will enable you to gain a Small Vessel Chief Engineer COC.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- Maths (grade B)
- Science (grade B)
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
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
Other requirements
• Eligible for UK passport • Capable of obtaining an ENG1 Unrestricted Medical Certificate including eyesight examination. An offer of apprenticeship will be made subsequent to obtaining ENG1 certificate. • Academic Qualifications – preferred GCSE Mathematics and Science at grade B or above. Minimum 4 GCSEs at grade C or above including Mathematics, English and Science or equivalent qualifications from Scotland or Northern Ireland.
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.
Company benefits
• Competitive salaries with annual reviews • Up to 6% contributory pension scheme. • 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
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
This is a unique apprenticeship where you will undertake the required training and sea service to eventually obtain the qualification required to serve as a Chief Engineer on board one of our smaller vessels.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BLACKPOOL AND THE FYLDE COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000344781.
Apply now
Closes tomorrow (Saturday 4 October 2025 at 11:59pm)
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