Level 3 Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship - Lockerley/Bristol/Exeter

NATIONAL GAS TRANSMISSION PLC

Bristol, Romsey

Closes in 22 days (Sunday 8 March 2026)

Posted on 13 February 2026

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Summary

This is a four year Mechanical Apprenticeship, where you’ll train at one of the sites in our West region, depending on your location. Throughout the programme, you’ll learn how to support the safe and reliable operation of our gas network.

• Wage:

  £24,242 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Starting annual salary of £24,242, with annual performance-based increases

• Training course: Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline (level 3)
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.

  36 hours 30 minutes a week

• Start date:

  Monday 7 September 2026

• Duration:

  4 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 kick start your Mechanical Engineering apprenticeship with National Gas, you’ll begin your journey at college, developing the core mechanical principles and engineering fundamentals that will set you up for success.
• One day you might be inspecting machinery, the next you might be replacing worn-out parts or helping with upgrade work. You’ll be working with real equipment in real environments, and no two days will feel the same.
• You’ll build skills in:
  • Maintaining pumps, valves, compressors and other mechanical equipment.
  • Fitting, assembling and taking apart mechanical components.
  • Using precision tools to measure, check and test machinery.
  • Finding mechanical faults using tools and data.
  • Understanding and following essential safety processes.

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

• York House, Bristol Parkway North, Newbrick Road, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8YU
• Lockerley Compressor Station, Romsey Road, Lockerley, Romsey, SO51 0JA

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

SOUTHAMPTON ENGINEERING TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED (THE)

Training course

Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Review and use information. For example, work instructions, drawings, design specifications, and plant configurations.
• Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan tasks.
• Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, consumables.
• Respond and adapt to work demands. For example, adapt working methods to reflect changes in working environment, re-prioritise workloads to react to breakdowns and fault scenarios.
• Identify equipment to work on. Check plant configuration is as defined.
• Prepare the work area for maintenance tasks.
• Identify environmental and health and safety hazards and risks and apply control measures.
• Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, signage and barriers, working at height, confined spaces, and COSHH.
• Follow security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
• Follow emergency incident and response procedures.
• Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimising waste.
• Segregate items for reuse, recycling, and waste.
• Use mathematical principles and formulae to support engineering maintenance.
• Apply engineering maintenance standards and procedures.
• Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
• Follow maintenance tools and equipment control procedures. For example, handling and storage.
• Reinstate the work area.
• Apply team working principles.
• Communicate with others to give and receive information. For example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
• Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
• Record information.
• Produce or update documents. For example, handover notes and reports.
• Identify and highlight issues (red pen) with technical drawings.
• Use digital and information technology. For example, databases, data sharing platforms, email, management information systems, and word processing. Follow cyber security and GDPR requirements.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions.
• Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
• Electrical. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
• Electrical. Select, check, and use electrical maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
• Electrical. Use electrical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
• Electrical. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
• Electrical. Inspect and test electrical aspects of plant. For example, visual checks, insulation and continuity checks, thermographic surveys, and voltage levels.
• Electrical. Remove and replace electrical parts.
• Electrical. Prepare and terminate electrical cables.
• Electrical. Set up, align and adjust electrical aspects of plant.
• Electrical. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
• Electrical. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services deisolation.
• Electrical. Conduct functional testing.
• Control and instrumentation. Conduct and confirm safe isolation of connected services
• Control and instrumentation. Confirm safe electrical isolation lockout tagout method has been applied and test for dead.
• Control and instrumentation. Select, check, and use control and instrumentation maintenance tools, measurement, and test equipment.
• Control and instrumentation. Use control and instrumentation diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
• Control and instrumentation. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
• Control and instrumentation. Inspect and test control and instrumentation systems.
• Control and instrumentation. Check calibration and make adjustments.
• Control and instrumentation. Check loop function.
• Control and instrumentation. Set up and adjust control and instrumentation systems.
• Control and instrumentation. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
• Control and instrumentation. Remove and replace instruments and sensors.
• Control and instrumentation. Re-connect instrumentation power supply, cables, pipework, and services.
• Control and instrumentation. Conduct and confirm electrical and connected services deisolation.
• Control and instrumentation. Conduct functional testing.
• Mechanical. Check and confirm safe isolation of connected services.
• Mechanical. Select, check, and use mechanical maintenance tools and equipment.
• Mechanical. Use mechanical diagnostic equipment and apply fault finding and rectification techniques.
• Mechanical. Apply problem solving and critical reasoning techniques.
• Mechanical. Check condition and operation of mechanical aspects of plant and equipment. For example, pumps.
• Mechanical. Remove and replace mechanical parts.
• Mechanical. Examine mechanical parts for defects. For example, pump seals.
• Mechanical. Set up, align, and adjust mechanical aspects of plant.
• Mechanical. Clean parts. For example, removal of dust and debris.
• Mechanical. Lubricate mechanical assemblies.
• Mechanical. Confirm electrical and connected services deisolation.
• Mechanical. Conduct functional testing.
• Mechanical. Apply bench fitting techniques.
• Review and use information. For example, work instructions, drawings, design specifications, and plant configurations.
• Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan tasks.
• Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, consumables.
• Respond and adapt to work demands. For example, adapt working methods to reflect changes in working environment, re-prioritise workloads to react to breakdowns and fault scenarios.
• Identify equipment to work on. Check plant configuration is as defined.
• Prepare the work area for maintenance tasks.
• Identify environmental and health and safety hazards and risks and apply control measures.
• Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, signage and barriers, working at height, confined spaces, and COSHH.
• Follow security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
• Follow emergency incident and response procedures.
• Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimising waste.
• Segregate items for reuse, recycling, and waste.
• Use mathematical principles and formulae to support engineering maintenance.
• Apply engineering maintenance standards and procedures.
• Apply foreign material exclusion procedures.
• Follow maintenance tools and equipment control procedures. For example, handling and storage.
• Reinstate the work area.
• Apply team working principles.
• Communicate with others to give and receive information. For example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
• Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
• Record information.
• Produce or update documents. For example, handover notes and reports.
• Identify and highlight issues (red pen) with technical drawings.
• Use digital and information technology. For example, databases, data sharing platforms, email, management information systems, and word processing. Follow cyber security and GDPR requirements.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions.
• Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.

Training schedule

During the first six months of your apprenticeship, you’ll be based full‑time at SETA College in Southampton, living Monday to Friday alongside other apprentices from across the country. This weekday residential setup gives you focused time during the working week to grow your technical skills, build your confidence and learn as part of a supportive cohort - while still returning home at weekends. 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English Language (grade 5 or above)
• Maths (grade 5 or above)
• Science (grade 5 or above)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Problem solving skills
• Team working
• Curious
• Motivated
• Proactive
• Willing to learn

Other requirements

• You’ll need to be comfortable with travel and overnight stays.
• You'll need to have permanent right to work in the UK for the entirety of this programme, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
• As you’ll be working on Critical National Infrastructure, you’ll also need to pass enhanced National Security Vetting, meaning you’ll need to be able to provide a 5-year UK address history.
• Your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held.

About this employer

National Gas Transmission is the backbone of Britain’s energy system today and will play a leading role in the transition to a clean energy future that works for every home and business. We own and operate the national gas network, delivering energy to where it is needed in every part of the country.

Company benefits

• Generous holiday allowance of 26 days plus statutory bank holidays
• Pension scheme with a double-match contribution
•  Professional development and career progression
• Employee assistance programme

After this apprenticeship

By the end of the programme, you’ll know how to inspect, repair and service the mechanical systems that keep our gas network running smoothly, from valves and pumps to rotating machinery and pipework. You’ll learn how to spot problems, fix faults and ensure equipment is operating safely and efficiently. You’ll build a solid understanding of how our compressors, pipelines and other assets work to ensure the whole network can run at its best, all while learning to work safely in specialist environments. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SOUTHAMPTON ENGINEERING TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED (THE)

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000015462.

Apply now

Closes in 22 days (Sunday 8 March 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.