Design Engineer Apprentice

BRAMLEY ENGINEERING (LIFTING GEAR) LTD

Bedfordshire (LU7 4TZ)

Closes in 12 days (Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 19 August 2026

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Contents

Summary

Bramley Engineering is seeking a motivated and creative CAD Design Apprentice to join its friendly, family-run engineering business. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a genuine interest in design, engineering and problem-solving to develop industry-leading skills while working towards an Engineering Design Technician apprenticeship.

Wage

£18,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Annual Salary

Training course
Engineering design technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm

40 hours a week

Start date

Sunday 20 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

As a CAD Design Apprentice, you will:

  • Assist the CAD team in designing bespoke lifting equipment, including overhead cranes, gantries, monorails, jib cranes and davits
  • Produce engineering drawings and 3D models using CAD software
  • Support the preparation of engineering calculations and simulated test reports
  • Analyse client concept drawings and specifications
  • Complete Bills of Materials (BOMs) for manufacturing projects
  • Assist with shop floor inspections and final quality assessments
  • Participate in site visits and equipment inspections when required
  • Support the redesign and continuous improvement of existing products
  • Develop knowledge of stress analysis and design for manufacture processes
  • Work closely with experienced engineers and the current apprentice while gaining hands-on experience in both office and workshop environments

We're looking for someone who:

  • Has a genuine interest in mechanical engineering and 3D design
  • Is naturally curious and eager to learn new skills
  • Enjoys problem-solving and has an analytical mindset
  • Is comfortable using Microsoft Office packages, particularly Excel
  • Has strong communication skills and can confidently interact with colleagues and customers
  • Confident contributing ideas and speaking up within a team
  • Has a positive attitude and is willing to get involved in a variety of tasks
  • Takes pride in producing high-quality work
  • Enjoys new challenges and varied work
  • Is enthusiastic about personal and professional development

Where you'll work

Unit 22
Pages Park Industrial estate
Leighton Buzzard
Bedfordshire
LU7 4TZ

Training

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

Training provider

MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE

Training course

Engineering design 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.
  • Work in accordance with the design process, company management systems, policies and procedures.
  • Review and interpret technical information and requirements from different sources such as specifications, engineering drawings, concepts, stakeholders.
  • Identify and assess factors that affect designs such as materials, application, location, risk and environment.
  • Select materials and parts.
  • Propose and evaluate ideas for sustainable engineering concepts to solve engineering challenges.
  • Develop solutions that can be manufactured or built, and proven, operated and maintained during their operational life and decommissioned or recycled at the end of their operational life.
  • Provide feedback on engineering designs.
  • Apply quality assurance procedures to engineering drawings or models, including own designs and those of peers.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Produce written documents, schedules and reports.
  • Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
  • Identify inaccuracies or discrepancies in drawings and specifications and propose solutions.
  • Incorporate changes to an existing design as a result of any modifications made during the as-built implementation.
  • Create concepts for system layouts and associated components.
  • Read, interpret and establish design intent.
  • Determine the correct tolerances for components of the design.
  • Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
  • Perform simple calculations to use in design drawings.
  • Use measuring techniques for reverse engineering.
  • Option 1. Produce general arrangements of electrical power.
  • Option 1. Produce detailed drawings of electrical power components such as wires connection, voltage, capacity, main switches.
  • Option 1. Identify cable types and application.
  • Option 1. Use digital tools such as CAD and BIM to produce electrical power project deliverables such as output drawings and electrical designs.
  • Option 2. Produce general arrangements of control and instrumentation designs.
  • Option 2. Produce detailed drawings of control and instrumentation components such as cable numbers, wire colours, junction block numbers and panel identification.
  • Option 2. Identify different cable types and appropriate application.
  • Option 2. Use digital tools such as CAD to produce control and instrumentation project deliverables.
  • Option 3. Produce general arrangements of mechanical designs.
  • Option 3. Produce detailed drawings of mechanical components such as part dimensions, shape and manufacture.
  • Option 3. Use digital tools such as CAD to produce mechanical project deliverables.
  • Option 4. Produce general arrangements of piping design.
  • Option 4. Produce detailed drawings of piping components such as pipework, ducts and fittings and including supports and skids.
  • Option 4. Use digital tools such as CAD or Plant Design Management Systems to produce piping design project deliverables.
  • Option 5. Produce general arrangements of structures showing multiple materials such as steel, concrete, masonry, timber.
  • Option 5. Produce detailed drawings for multiple materials such as steel, concrete, timber or masonry.
  • Option 5. Use digital tools such as CAD and BIM to produce structural project deliverables.
  • Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards.
  • Work in accordance with the design process, company management systems, policies and procedures.
  • Review and interpret technical information and requirements from different sources such as specifications, engineering drawings, concepts, stakeholders.
  • Identify and assess factors that affect designs such as materials, application, location, risk and environment.
  • Select materials and parts.
  • Propose and evaluate ideas for sustainable engineering concepts to solve engineering challenges.
  • Develop solutions that can be manufactured or built, and proven, operated and maintained during their operational life and decommissioned or recycled at the end of their operational life.
  • Provide feedback on engineering designs.
  • Apply quality assurance procedures to engineering drawings or models, including own designs and those of peers.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Produce written documents, schedules and reports.
  • Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
  • Identify inaccuracies or discrepancies in drawings and specifications and propose solutions.
  • Incorporate changes to an existing design as a result of any modifications made during the as-built implementation.
  • Create concepts for system layouts and associated components.
  • Read, interpret and establish design intent.
  • Determine the correct tolerances for components of the design.
  • Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
  • Perform simple calculations to use in design drawings.
  • Use measuring techniques for reverse engineering.

Training schedule

Engineering Design Technician Level 3 apprenticeship with one day a week training at Milton Keynes College.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Maths (grade 9-5)
  • English (grade 9-4)

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

Skills

  • Communication
  • Team Work

Other requirements

Desirable: A full driving licence and access to a vehicle.

About this employer

Bramley Engineering is a family-run specialist engineering company that designs and manufactures bespoke lifting solutions, including overhead cranes, gantries, monorails, jib cranes and davits. Using the latest CAD technology and a collaborative team approach, the company delivers innovative solutions for customers across the water, rail, construction and commercial sectors. The business also supplies and examines a wide range of lifting equipment, providing varied and exciting project work for its employees.

https://www.bramleyengineering.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

Bramley Engineering aims to retain successful apprentices upon completion of the programme. Long-term opportunities may be available within the business, and exposure to the company's extensive customer network could open additional career pathways within the engineering sector.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE

Sonia Harris

Apprenticeships@mkcollege.ac.uk

01908 637056

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000048956.

Apply now

Closes in 12 days (Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 11:59pm)