Page 2 | Level 3 Engineering apprenticeships

Anon751117000 · 2026-05-10T07:48:50+00:00

My son is 18. He left school part way through his A levels last year as he decided he did not want to continue and was really keen to do an engineering apprenticeship instead. He got really good GCSE grades. Last year he applied for several and registered with the main training providers. He got through to the final stage of one but just missed out sadly. He then reapplied this year but was keen to be quite selective. He got through to the final 12 of an apprenticeship from over 2000 applicants but sadly did not get chosen (we have a lot of work to do on his interview prep but thats another story). Looking for other's experiences or any hints/tips? He has found the training providers to be not particularly great - after having tests and interviews he just never hears from them again. They just never got back to him last year about any of their apprenticeships they kept advertising. If he emailed them he would just get the same stock answer back. What have other's experiences been? Has it taken lots and lots of applications/knock backs? I know its highly competitive and he is keen to just keep trying. Does it really get much harder the older they get? He's now worried that he could potentially be 19 when the next round of applications open again. Luckily he currently has a full time job in a bar to cover him while he continues to apply.

Original poster

Anon751117000 · 20/05/2026 21:28

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 20/05/2026 18:03

They are different but a technician is a technician and limited in what they can do. A Chartered Engineer is like a doctor. They are the top of the profession and obviously a technician is not. They are third rung. As long as he understands this and career options won’t be the same at IEng or CEng. Doesn’t matter what discipline really. Engineer sadly can refer to someone mending your dishwasher or designing a high rise skyscraper. One has high level qualifications and one doesn’t. The status comes with the higher qualification. The people signing off complex designs must be CEng in many organisations.

What on earth does this have to do with my son looking for a level 3 apprenticeship??
He doesn’t want to be a chartered engineer. You seem upset that I used the word engineer for some reason. Stop belittling the technician role. If you’re not here to offer advice about Level 3 apprenticeships please don’t comment. We’re not interested in chartered engineer roles, he’s not interest in sitting at a desk, he wants to use his hands.
I work in one of the largest engineering consultancy’s in the world and the chartered engineers are definitely not comparable to doctors 😂

OP posts:

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 20/05/2026 18:03

They are different but a technician is a technician and limited in what they can do. A Chartered Engineer is like a doctor. They are the top of the profession and obviously a technician is not. They are third rung. As long as he understands this and career options won’t be the same at IEng or CEng. Doesn’t matter what discipline really. Engineer sadly can refer to someone mending your dishwasher or designing a high rise skyscraper. One has high level qualifications and one doesn’t. The status comes with the higher qualification. The people signing off complex designs must be CEng in many organisations.

Original poster

Anon751117000 · 20/05/2026 15:08

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 20/05/2026 13:54

@Anon751117000 That’s not really engineering then. It’s working for a contractor with minimal qualifications. To get a degree and IEng or CEng status he needs a degree and be able to design - or he’s not a qualified engineer at all. Why has this not been explained? It’s a very narrow apprenticeship if it’s just rail maintenance. My DHs company does civil engineering design for Network Rail as consultant engineers. To be a qualified engineer you do need the degree and design skills.

They are still called Engineering apprenticeships. 'Engineer' can mean many things. We completely understand exactly what he's applying for and I myself work for an engineering consultancy firm (who also design for Network rail). I literally said above he doesn't want to be a design engineer, he wants to do mechanical engineering at technician level which is Level 3. He does not want a degree level apprenticeship. Not sure what you mean?
An Engineering technician puts things together, your husband designs them. Totally different/.

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MeetMeOnTheCorner · 20/05/2026 13:54

@Anon751117000 That’s not really engineering then. It’s working for a contractor with minimal qualifications. To get a degree and IEng or CEng status he needs a degree and be able to design - or he’s not a qualified engineer at all. Why has this not been explained? It’s a very narrow apprenticeship if it’s just rail maintenance. My DHs company does civil engineering design for Network Rail as consultant engineers. To be a qualified engineer you do need the degree and design skills.

Original poster

Anon751117000 · 19/05/2026 20:22

persisted · 19/05/2026 15:23

He should have another go at the rail one, and have a look at and think about aviation.
It often takes a few goes before someone is successful. It is not a disadvantage to be a bit older. He needs to keep going though, I know people who are recruiting now in related areas.

Thank you!! I think he’ll have a much better chance at the rail one next year. He’s definitely widening his search too.

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Original poster

Anon751117000 · 19/05/2026 20:21

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 19/05/2026 15:00

He could look at civil engineering if he’s interested in the railways. He might have got much further forward much more quickly with doing A levels and a degree. By 21 he would have at least a BEng. Dc do need better advice!

I actually work with civil engineers and he’s not interested in the design side. He wants to be more hands on. He was adamant he didn’t want to go to uni although I would have preferred he get his A levels!

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persisted · 19/05/2026 15:23

He should have another go at the rail one, and have a look at and think about aviation.
It often takes a few goes before someone is successful. It is not a disadvantage to be a bit older. He needs to keep going though, I know people who are recruiting now in related areas.

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 19/05/2026 15:00

He could look at civil engineering if he’s interested in the railways. He might have got much further forward much more quickly with doing A levels and a degree. By 21 he would have at least a BEng. Dc do need better advice!

Original poster

Anon751117000 · 10/05/2026 17:00

@TiredShadows this is so helpful! He has branched out a little bit with the type of engineering. For example he got through to the final round for rail maintenance engineering recently. It is good to hear that its normal to take quite a few attempts. I'm actually hoping that he will just reapply for the rail one next year as he now has all the insight into the assessment day and interview on his side.
Thankfully he has a full driving licence.

OP posts:

emark · 10/05/2026 16:52

Food and beverage companies would be a good place to look.

Original poster

Anon751117000 · 10/05/2026 16:39

emark · 10/05/2026 14:26

What type of engineer? Location?

Sorry should have said its Mechanical engineering (manufacturing) mainly and north east england

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emark · 10/05/2026 14:26

What type of engineer? Location?

TiredShadows · 10/05/2026 14:18

IME, Engineering apprenticeships do tend to be highly competitive. I think my DS applied for 60 or so. He found being older (he was 19 when he finally got one, days from turning 20 when he started) more of a help than a hinderance.

I've found training providers know that these are popular and while there are good ones, most of them seem to struggle with the admin and communication side.

The tips that my DS and some of those he's known have found helpful is:
-- expanding to look at Level 2 as well - some companies start at lower levels and build up if successful
-- expand which types of engineering if not yet - marine engineering is less popular as it requires weeks off-shore.
-- it's not uncommon for these apprenticeships to require a driver's license if not at the start, then within the first year. I've heard additional driving training can be looked well on.