Learner

Welding with sparksWhat are the ECITB Apprenticeship options?

There are two different types of Apprenticeships: Craft and Technican.

Craft Apprentices will perform be trained in one of the following disciplines:

The term Craftsperson is used to describe someone who is highly skilled in practical ways. They will be able to transfer information from the most complex of drawings and diagrams and manipulate hand tools and machinery in order to form and assemble components, install wiring, erect structures, all to the most exacting of standards and tolerances.

A Craft Apprentice will still be required to attain a level of underpinning knowledge to rest alongside these skills. The achievement of a further education qualification is a must. The qualification is likely to have a significant degree of hands-on, practical work to support the theory.

Technician Apprentices are trained for operations that will be carried out in one or more of the following environments; onsite (on a petro-chemical plant, oil refinery, processing plant, etc.), offshore (e.g. North Sea oil platform) or at the company’s head office. Apprentices will follow one of the following pathways:

  • Non-destructive Testing (NDT) – Onsite and at the company’s premises
  • Design and Draughting Technician – Head Office with visits on-site
  • Electrical Maintenance Technician – Onsite and Offshore
  • Mechanical Maintenance Technician – Onsite and Offshore
  • Instrument & Control Maintenance Technician Onsite and Offshore

 

Technician Apprentices will have a greater degree of input than Craft Apprentices in the design and development of systems, diagnosing faults and inconsistencies, identifying remedial actions to be taken and will generally be responsible for the smooth-running of systems and equipment. The recording of results on completion of test conducted will play an important role and communication with other team members is pivotal.

A Technician Apprentice’s educational training will be much more theory based and the Apprentice will be required to achieve at a higher level than a Craft Apprentice as a minimum. Clearly, a higher level of prior attainment at school or college is therefore a distinct advantage.

Technician Apprentices are far more likely to pursue a career in an offshore environment. A career offshore is rich with reward, not least of which, financial, but to earn these rewards an offshore technician will work unsociable work patterns and be away from home for 2 weeks at a time, working long hours in extreme conditions.

How does an ECITB Apprenticeship work?

Apprenticeships last for three years.  The first year (or 18 months for Technician Apprentices) is spent in a Training Centre, getting to grips with the basic skills in your chosen area. You will learn about your role, and the industry with plenty of practical hands-on work.

Your second and third years are spent with your sponsor company (who is registered with the ECITB). You will be getting involved in real life projects, putting your skills into action and already making a start on your career. You will be following an ECITB Apprenticeship Programme, and your training will be supervised by your personal mentor throughout.

What Qualifications do I get?

Once you have successfully completed the training and assessment you will be awarded an Apprenticeship Completion Certificate, a Safety Passport, and National or Scottish Vocational Qualifications (NVQ/SVQ).

 

» Next - What are the benefits of choosing an Apprenticeship?

Contacts

  • Jim Kinnell
  • Head of Apprenticeships Programmes
  • Theresa Bisgrove
  • Apprenticeships Administrator
 
 
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