Forklift Engineer Apprentice
LOCATORS LTD
WIMBORNE DORSET (BH21 7SE)
Closes in 11 days (Tuesday 25 August 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 12 August 2026
Contents
Summary
Are you practical, curious about how things work, and looking for a career where you can learn, earn and build valuable skills for the future? We're offering an exciting opportunity for an Apprentice Engineer to join our team and develop the skills needed for a career in engineering.
- Wage
-
£22,568 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
£22,568 -£26,437 annual wage depending on age
- Training course
- Lift truck and powered access engineering technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 8 hours shifts between 7.00am -4.30 pm
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 2 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years
- Positions available
-
2
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 isn't just a job – it's the start of a professional career with real opportunities to grow.
What You'll Learn:
Over a three-year apprenticeship programme, you'll gain hands-on experience and specialist training, learning how to maintain, diagnose and repair modern forklifts and material handling equipment.
You'll develop skills across:
- Mechanical engineering
- Electrical systems
- Hydraulics
- Fault finding and diagnostics
- Customer service and communication
- Business operations and teamwork
Throughout your apprenticeship, you'll be supported by experienced engineers who will mentor and guide you every step of the way.
What the Programme Includes:
Residential training blocks at a specialist technical college
Practical workshop experience at our Ferndown facility
Online learning and study support
Field engineering experience alongside qualified engineers
Opportunities to work with different departments across the business
Ongoing mentoring and development
On successful completion, you'll achieve a nationally recognised engineering qualification.
Why Join Locators?
We believe in investing in people and helping them build successful careers.
As your skills and knowledge grow, so will your salary and responsibilities. Many apprentices progress into permanent engineering roles, and our goal is to help you become a fully qualified Field Service Engineer supporting customers across the region.
You'll gain:
✅ A recognised qualification
✅ Hands-on experience with market-leading equipment
✅ Mentoring from experienced professionals
✅ A supportive team environment
✅ Excellent long-term career prospects
✅ The opportunity to earn while you learn
What We're Looking For:
We're looking for someone who is enthusiastic, reliable and eager to learn.
You don't need experience – just a genuine interest in engineering, technology or mechanics and a willingness to work hard and develop new skills.
Could This Be You?
If you enjoy fixing things, solving problems, understanding how machines work, and want to build a career with real opportunities for progression, we'd love to hear from you.
Join Locators and take the first step towards an exciting future in engineering.
Where you'll work
JOHNSON ROAD
FERNSIDE PARK
FERNDOWN IND. ESTATE
WIMBORNE DORSET
BH21 7SE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE
Training course
Lift truck and powered access engineering technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards relevant to lift truck or powered access machines.
- Obtain and interpret lift truck and powered access machine technical data and repair instructions.
- Use tools, workshop equipment, diagnostic and measuring equipment when carrying out maintenance and repairs.
- Perform preventative maintenance activities on lift truck and powered access machines.
- Perform inspections on lift truck and powered access machines in compliance with Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) and Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) regulations.
- Remove and replace mechanical, electrical and hydraulic components.
- Apply diagnostic principles and problem-solving techniques to diagnose faults on lift truck or powered access machine systems.
- Carry out functional testing and quality checks on repaired lift truck or powered access machine components and systems.
- Carry out repairs and make required adjustments.
- Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, work sheets, checklists.
- Check and maintain stock.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Prepare and maintain a clean, tidy and safe working area.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, in compliance with quality, safety, sustainability and environmental standards and guidance.
- Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
- Store and maintain tools, workshop equipment, diagnostic and measuring equipment for maintenance and repairs.
- Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards relevant to lift truck or powered access machines.
- Obtain and interpret lift truck and powered access machine technical data and repair instructions.
- Use tools, workshop equipment, diagnostic and measuring equipment when carrying out maintenance and repairs.
- Perform preventative maintenance activities on lift truck and powered access machines.
- Perform inspections on lift truck and powered access machines in compliance with Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) and Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) regulations.
- Remove and replace mechanical, electrical and hydraulic components.
- Apply diagnostic principles and problem-solving techniques to diagnose faults on lift truck or powered access machine systems.
- Carry out functional testing and quality checks on repaired lift truck or powered access machine components and systems.
- Carry out repairs and make required adjustments.
- Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, work sheets, checklists.
- Check and maintain stock.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Prepare and maintain a clean, tidy and safe working area.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, in compliance with quality, safety, sustainability and environmental standards and guidance.
- Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
- Store and maintain tools, workshop equipment, diagnostic and measuring equipment for maintenance and repairs.
Training schedule
- Block release training at Stephenson College
- on-the-job training
- off-the-job training
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4/C)
- Maths (grade 4/C)
- Science, Engineering or IT (grade 4/C)
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
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
About this employer
Locators is a highly successful, privately owned Material Handling company, supplying market leading equipment from world leading brands including Toyota, Manitou and Combilift.
https://www.locators.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free flu jabs
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
- Work Location: In person
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
After being an apprentice in the Workshop, we would want the candidate to progress to be a Field Service Engineer.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE
Apprenticeship Recruitment Team
apprenticeships@loucoll.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000047753.
Apply now
Closes in 11 days (Tuesday 25 August 2026 at 11:59pm)