Bicycle Mechanic Apprenticeship
HERTS DISABILITY SPORTS FOUNDATION (HDSF)
ENGLAND (SG7 6DZ)
Closes in 6 days (Wednesday 29 October 2025)
Posted on 13 October 2025
Contents
Summary
Join HDSF to complete your apprenticeship and you’ll learn alongside our qualified bike mechanics in our dedicated workshops. This unique opportunity will also see you working as an Assistant Instructor; supporting the delivery of a wide range of HDSF physical activity sessions – gaining a wide range of skills to support your future employment.
- Wage
-
£11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Bicycle mechanic (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday during daytime working hours with work patterns agreed in accordance with training and delivery needs .
30 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 1 December 2025
- 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
This dual-role apprenticeship combines hands-on training in bike maintenance with experience delivering inclusive physical activity sessions. HDSF is a registered Charity working across Hertfordshire to support all aspects of physical activity. You’ll work toward a Level 2 Bike Mechanic Apprenticeship while supporting HDSF’s community sport and recreation programmes as an Assistant Instructor.
You will be part of the HDSF delivery team as an Assistant Instructor; supporting the delivery of a wide range of HDSF physical activity sessions, developing a range of personal and professional skills to support your future employment. You will be provided with any formal training necessary and will be supported in your role by fellow team members, and the Senior Instructor in particular.
- As part of the bike workshop team you will carry out bike repairs and safety checks to a high standard with opportunities for you to learn new skills on the job
- Work alongside the bike mechanics to diagnose repairs needed - most of the bikes we work on are donated and require a high level of technical diagnostic skills to ensure they are repaired to the highest standards
- Support the team to ensure the right bikes are repaired in the right timescale to deliver to our beneficiaries
- Comply with all safety standards for the bike workshop; working in tandem with team members to ensure a clean, tidy and safe environment in the bike workshops
- Support the delivery of high quality physical activities for a range of service users - current activities include boxercise, cycling, paddleboarding, bellboating, keep fit and fun rings
- Develop your interpersonal skills to ensure participants have an enjoyable experience and are able to participate to the best of their abilities in the activity on offer
- You may also be asked to support other team members in tasks outside of delivery sessions such as: sorting equipment, representing HDSF at partner events, providing support for marketing, impact assessment and publicity – this list is not exhaustive
Where you'll work
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR SCHOOL
PARK STREET
BALDOCK
ENGLAND
SG7 6DZ
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
- Apprenticeship in bicycle mechanics Level 2
- Remote (but the apprentice will have to attend a training centre to complete Cytech qualifications- Levels 1, 2 and 3)
- Ongoing in the workplace
- 18 months for End Point Assessment
- Functional Skills maths & English if applicable
More training information
Please visit the Activate Learning website for details of the training provided
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
Other 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
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Analytical skills
- Team working
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Punctuality
- Adaptable
Other requirements
The successful candidate will be required to pass an Enhanced DBS check and secure a First Aid certificate. They should also either drive or be able to make reliable transport arrangements for our 2 key working locations; Baldock and Stanborough Lakes. They should have a working understanding of inclusion, equality, anti-discrimination and safeguarding - although training will be provided. Most importantly, they should be able to show evidence of interest in becoming a bike mechanic, including a basic knowledge of bicycles and a passion for cycles.
About this employer
Herts Disability Sports Foundation is a registered charity working with a variety of partners and in a range of venues across Hertfordshire. We are a relatively small charity (CIO with 7 permanent staff) working to support adults and children in Hertfordshire to participate in recreational sporting activities, with a focus on those with physical and/or learning disabilities. We aim to provide and support opportunities in sports and physical activity that can be accessed by everyone, whether it be through participation, volunteering, coaching or education in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. We offer a fully inclusive service across three key programme areas; Community activities, Bikes without Barriers and our hub for outdoor activities at Stanborough Park. Working with a diverse range of partners (including Day Services, special schools and community groups) and individuals, providing cycling opportunities for young people and adults, community fitness sessions in a variety of locations, weekly activity sessions at Stanborough for young people and adults (including watersports), and holidays session for children with physical or learning disabilities and their siblings. Our activities include cycling, boxercise, keep fit, paddleboarding, bell boating and much more – each activity is adapted to the needs of the individual without any assumptions about what they can and cannot do. A key part of our Bikes without Barriers programme involves providing children and young adults with refurbished donated bikes - ensuring everyone has the opportunity to experience the social, economic and health benefits of cycling.
http://hdsf.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
All staff are provided with free working uniform and access to a wellbeing support package. HDSF places a high importance on training - both on the job and sports governing body qualifications, with all relevant training funded by HDSF.
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 role is available for the period of the apprenticeship
- On successful completion, the candidate will be supported into employment using our extensive contacts with a variety of bike workshops across the county
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
HERTS DISABILITY SPORTS FOUNDATION (HDSF)
Sine Bates
Sine@hdsf.co.uk
07774 266248
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000346229.
Apply now
Closes in 6 days (Wednesday 29 October 2025)
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