This Foundation Apprenticeship offers employers a valuable opportunity to develop young talent through a blend of workplace experience and structured training. Designed for 16–21‑year‑olds, it equips apprentices with essential employability behaviours, technical skills and foundational engineering knowledge, combining hands‑on practice with off‑the‑job learning.
Key information
Key information about this apprenticeship programme, with the main details like the level, duration and industry/sector. Full details about this standard can be found on the Skills England website.
-
Level: 2 (Intermediate)
-
Training location: Ruddington
-
Mode of Attendance: Day release
- Industry/sector: Engineering and manufacturing
-
Maximum funding available: £4,500.00
Apprenticeship overview
General engineering and manufacturing operatives are found in environments supporting, for example, production, maintenance, assembly of components and systems, machining operations, fabrication and welding and additive manufacturing functions.
The key skills, knowledge, behaviours and duties that will be carried out by the apprentice as part of this apprenticeship.
Skills developed
- Comply with employee responsibilities under health, safety and welfare regulations.
- Dispose of waste safely and sustainably. Segregate resources for reuse and recycling.
- Use and store PPE.
- Prepare and maintain the work area.
- Interpret engineering and manufacturing information for example, job specifications, engineering and manufacturing drawings, and technical information.*
- Use and store tools, equipment and machinery associated with engineering and manufacturing tasks, including carrying out basic maintenance.
- Assist co-workers in engineering and manufacturing activity when required. For example, holding and positioning work-piece assembly.
- Apply techniques to carry out basic hand-based engineering and manufacturing tasks.*
- Apply techniques to carry out basic machine-based engineering and manufacturing tasks.*
- Carry out simple quality checks of own work.
Further information
- Servicing and maintenance operative
- Machine setter/operative
- Mechanical engineering operative
- Fabricator
- Engineering fitter
- Multi-disciplined engineering operative
- Materials
- Processing and finishing operative
- Technical support operative
- Founding/casting operative
Foundation apprenticeships are employed positions and are for younger people who will benefit from a wide range of experiences. Each foundation occupation provides a mix of employability skills and behaviours, technical knowledge and skills, and associated English and maths. It combines valuable hands-on practice in the workplace with off-the-job learning. The apprentice’s experiences will not only help them to grow their skills but will also help to inform their next career steps. Completion of this foundation apprenticeship will certify competency in all of the technical knowledge and skills, together with all of the employability skills and behaviours described. The typical progression routes will likely include employment or progression onto another skills product such as a level 2 or level 3 apprenticeship.
Foundation apprenticeships benefit employers as they get to see the apprentice in work-based settings while the apprentice receives extra support. Employers also benefit from accessing a broader talent pool of young learners than they might otherwise do.
Under DfE Apprenticeship funding Rules 25/26 the employer qualifies for up to £2,000 per foundation apprentice, subject to retention and progression.
General engineering and manufacturing operatives are found in environments supporting, for example, production, maintenance, assembly of components and systems, machining operations, fabrication and welding and additive manufacturing functions. They may work across many sectors including automotive, aerospace, energy, advanced and general manufacturing. The apprentice will carry out general engineering and manufacturing tasks consistently using safe working practices, planning and organising resources, and completing tasks within timeframes.
This Foundation Apprenticeship requires a minimum 187 hours off-the-job learning. Upon successful completion, the apprentice will be competent in the knowledge, skills and behaviours outlined in this standard. Someone who completes some or all of this content will be part-way through a journey to a more specialist occupation. Taking another apprenticeship after this one is one way of progressing. More information about the main occupations involved can be found via the links below.
Hire an apprentice today!
Are you interested in this apprenticeship for your business or company? Get in touch with our dedicated Business Development Manager for this industry/sector to find out more. Alternatively, you can fill out our employer interest form below and we'll get back to you.
Jenni Walker
Business Development Advisor - Construction & Engineering
Call Jenni Walker on: 0115 884 2678
email hidden; JavaScript is required
The information submitted through this form will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Information provided for this apprenticeship programme is sourced from the Skills England formerly the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE). For the information authored by Skills England, this was last modified on 16th February 2026.
