Apprenticeships in engineering construction

Apprenticeships in engineering offer an ideal path into a career in the engineering construction industry.  For employers, apprenticeships develop committed and talented employees who learn their skills on the job. For learners, apprenticeships in engineering provide an opportunity to earn while you learn.

The ECITB works with employers and training providers to support apprenticeships across a wide range of disciplines.

Become an apprentice

Apprenticeships combine practical training with study. And, as a result, they are increasingly valued by employers. As an apprentice, you will be employed by your company from day one and will combine practical training with study. An apprenticeship in engineering construction pays well and will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to excel and progress in your career.

Apprenticeships are available in a growing number of occupations in the engineering construction industry, spanning craft, technical, business and managerial roles.

These include:

  • Welding
  • Pipefitting
  • Mechanical Fitting
  • Erecting/Rigging
  • Electrical Installation
  • Maintenance and Operations Engineering technician
  • Design and Draughting
  • Project Control
  • Non Destructive Testing (NDT)
  • Project Controls technician
  • Associate Project Manager
  • Postgraduate Engineer
  • Engineering Construction (Scotland and Wales)
  • Advanced Engineering Construction (Wales)
  • Wind Turbine Operation and Maintenance (Scotland)
  • Upstream oil and gas production (Scotland)

Ask an apprentice

ECITB apprentices talk about their experiences of apprenticeships and their ambitions for a career in engineering construction.

Jack Beaty

Meet Jack Beaty –  a Level 3 Welding Apprentice with Fenelon Tanks in Humberside.

Melissa Worrall

Meet Melissa Worrall, a Project Control Technician with Wood Plc. Melissa was the ECITB’s Young Apprentice of the Year Award Winner 2019.

Jamie Key

Meet Jamie Key, Operations Director of Pruce Newman Pipework Ltd. Jamie started his career as an ECITB’s Apprentice back in 1993.

Read our case studies from ECITB apprentices:

Together with Careermap Ltd, the ECITB showcased the apprenticeships in Engineering Construction during the National Apprenticeship Week 2023.

APTUS: shaping energy technicians of the future

Now in its 25th year, OGTAP (Oil and Gas Technical Apprentice Programme) has been rebranded with a new name and identity, APTUS, meaning to adapt, to adjust and to be prepared. This reflects the evolution of both the programme and the entire industry as the energy transition gathers pace.

The programme is managed by the ECITB and OPITO, the skills organisation for oil and gas, and gives apprentices the opportunity to gain a recognised qualification combined with practical work experience.

APTUS enables apprentices to:

  • Study towards a related qualification
  • Work alongside experienced staff and with peers
  • Gain job-specific skills
  • Earn while they learn
  • Gain support from OPITO or the ECITB during the training as well as an appointed mentor

The APTUS programme is now open for applications

OGTAP apprentices at Forth Valley College

APTUS / OGTAP apprentices at Forth Valley College

Find apprenticeships in engineering

Find an apprenticeship in England here

Browse all engineering apprenticeship standards available in England here.

Find Scottish Modern Apprenticeships here or download the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering-Construction

Find an apprenticeship in Wales here

Support for employers to take on an apprentice

Apprenticeships in engineering help make your business more effective. They provide a mixture of off-the-job learning and on-the-job practical experience provide the skilled employees you need. Demand for skilled workers will increase over the coming years and apprenticeships are a critical way of developing new talent.

The ECITB supports apprenticeships in a number of ways. We provide grant funding to employers to support apprenticeships in engineering. And we work with training providers assure the quality of assessment of some apprenticeships in England.

If you are interested in taking on an apprentice and want to know more about the support ECITB offers, please contact your account manager in the first instance.