engineering degree apprenticeship Archives

Do you have an interest in machinery, safety, and cutting-edge technology? Want to become a skilled specialist who could work at Rolls Royce? If so, consider becoming a Non-Destructive Testing Engineer. This blog post will explore the role of NDT engineers and guide you on how to kickstart your career with a degree apprenticeship.

Jobs, salary and entry requirements

The Non-Destructive Testing Engineer apprenticeship unlocks doors to exciting roles, like Specialist Inspector, Technologist, Project Manager, NDT Expert, and more. In the UK, Non-Destructive Testing Engineer’s salary is on average £41,242 per year or £21.15 per hour. Entry-level positions start at £35,000 yearly, while experienced professionals can make up to £58,500 annually. It’s a fulfilling career with room for advancement, and you’ll be instrumental in ensuring the safety and reliability of machinery and structures globally.

This is a level 6 degree apprenticeship, accredited by the British Institute of NDT. It takes about four years to complete, during which you’ll gain the necessary skills and knowledge. Entry requirements can vary, but typically, candidates need A-levels with grades A-C in mathematics and a science or engineering subject. Alternatively, having three NDT Level 2 qualifications or an advanced NDT qualification like NDT Level 3 certification is acceptable. The goal is to provide opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Upon completion of the apprenticeship, you’ll be eligible to apply for professional registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and gain membership in the professional body, the British Institute of NDT. This recognition could enhance your career prospects and credibility in the field even further.

What is Non-Destructive Testing in Engineering?

NDT Engineers are essential in safety-critical industries such as Nuclear, Aerospace, Motorsport, Manufacturing, and more. Their responsibilities include testing materials in machinery and structures for corrosion and cracks, inspecting components like airframes and engines, overseeing NDT operations, and staying updated with advanced NDT techniques.

In their role, they have expertise in material properties, electronic principles, mathematics, and technical project management. Furthermore, they excel in advanced NDT techniques, condition monitoring, and quality management. They also understand the economic aspects of their industry and adhere to safety and environmental regulations. NDT Engineers employ specific design processes and root cause analysis to troubleshoot issues, collaborating with other industries to adopt best practices and remain updated.

Why Non-Destructive Testing Apprenticeship?

As an NDT Engineer, you’ll develop strong communication skills, reliability, integrity, and an understanding of how your work impacts others. Taking personal responsibility for your development and safety will become your second nature. Moreover, you’ll strive to adhere to the rules and principles ensuring the quality of your work.

The advantages are significant: you not only get a good salary and a fully founded degree course, but also learn from experts in the field. This involves practical work, project planning, and problem-solving, enhancing your technical skills.

The Non-Destructive Testing Engineer apprenticeship offers a pathway to a dynamic career. It is about guaranteeing the safety and reliability of machinery and structures across various industries. These dedicated professionals are at the forefront of safety and quality, making a tangible impact on the world. Join the ranks of NDT Engineers for a career filled with growth, recognition, and the chance to shape the future of safety-critical components.

Conclusion

Unlock a world of opportunities where your expertise will be in high demand in industries crucial to safety and quality. Take the first step towards becoming a lead authority in NDT, gaining professional recognition, and shaping a rewarding career. Don’t miss out on this chance for specialised skills, industry relevance, and personal growth. Start your apprenticeship today and secure your future in a field that truly matters!

If Non-Destructive Testing sounds like something you would see yourself doing but don’t hold the relevant qualifications, why not taking a look at our blog post on NDT Operator Level 2 Apprenticeship?

The engineering industry is a fantastic place to start your career in 2022 and you can do that via an engineering degree apprenticeship. With a wide breadth of career paths available in electrical, civil, mechanical engineering as well as specialist areas like aerospace, there’s plenty of opportunity to kickstart a lucrative career through a risk and safety management apprenticeship.

Engineering apprentices at work talking with their manager

What is an engineering degree apprenticeship?

Completing a degree apprenticeship allows candidates to gain valuable work experience, earn a full-time salary and achieve a degree at the same time via a three year apprenticeship program.

Depending on the industry, candidates would be placed at a relevant company working contracted hours and studying towards their degree alongside.

Why Risk and Safety Management?

A Level 7 degree apprenticeship in Risk and Safety Management could be a fantastic route into the engineering industry due to its versatility. Professionals trained in risk and safety management typically go on to work in fields such as rail, air, technical, product safety or nuclear/ chemical industries.

For candidates keen to start a career in engineering that are yet to decide on a specific engineering specialism, studying in Risk and Safety is a great way to explore a variety of careers in various industries. This is because the course equips professionals with transferable, in-demand skills across multiple engineering sectors.

What skills will I develop on the apprenticeship?

Throughout the 3-year program apprentices will build on a variety of crucial industry skills including:

Risk and Safety Management skills: Identifying safety hazards, evaluating risk and proposing appropriate solutions to treat risks. Applying risk and safety management processes and solutions through a full lifecycle across their area of specialism as well as application of regular safety processes and regulations and emergency procedures.

Leadership skills: Gaining a full understanding of the business, relevant stakeholders and their needs. Collaborating with a variety of team members to communicate risks and suggest solutions. Using relevant techniques to identify, evaluate and apply safety procedures.

Lifecycle view skills: Observing safety procedures, processes of self and others and understanding different levels of authority, urgency and importance.

Effective communication: Learning communication process and implementing them effectively with relevant stakeholders, taking into account various factors like rank, urgency and type of communication

Problem finding and solving: Learning systemic tactics for analysing problems and finding creative solutions to risk and safety issues.

Level 7 engineering apprentice working in electrical engineering

What content will I cover under a Risk and Safety Management degree?

Aside from working and learning on the job, what professionals will actually cover as part of the degree program depends on the industry sector and training provider delivering the course; however it will include the following content at an absolute minimum, delivered at a high level.

Risk Management Principles and Practice: Learning frameworks for implementing risk management systems into overall business systems of operation and applying it in real scenarios.

Risk Assessment Techniques: Tactics and systems for assessing risk, evaluating processes and implementing solutions relevant to the industry and context.

Domain: Building an understanding of the chosen industry, business, relevant stakeholders and processes. Learning how the apprentices role interacts with operating companies, supply chains, other industries and third parties.

Specialisms: Variable based on the industry sector

Will the course equip me to go into the engineering industry full-time?

An apprenticeship is a fantastic way to gain invaluable industry experience needed to pursue a full-time career in the engineering industry as you’re building on knowledge, skills and behaviours under real circumstances and in real-time. The level 7 course is designed to encourage candidates to pick up and build on critical qualities needed to succeed in the industry post apprenticeship. Also known as soft skills, candidates will acquire the following abilities throughout their apprenticeship role:

Reliability – Due to high levels of responsibility in the risk and safety sector, apprentices will have to build on organisational skills in order to keep employees and partners safe as well as to prolong the life cycle of equipment and products etc. Being reliable, organised and prepared for emergencies is a must-have quality in the engineering industry.

Adaptable and self-reflective – Entering into a company with pre-existing processes, procedures and problems will require apprentices to recognise problems and adapt to new changes and challenges. Risk and safety management requires constant re-evaluation of procedures to make sure they are up to date with current industry practice, legislation and equipment as well as internal company plans and processes.

Professionalism and team participation: Working across multiple teams and departments on real-time projects in a professional and respectful manner. Keeping well-informed on company policies as well as industry best practices to meet targets set by managers and internal stakeholders as well as to do a thorough job.

What are employers looking for?

To secure a place on a Level 7 engineering course in Risk and Safety Management, candidates will need to meet a variety of practical requirements as well as soft and hard skills in order to increase chances of success in a highly academic and often competitive industry.

Degree apprenticeship requirements

To apply for a degree apprenticeship in engineering you’ll need to meet some of the following requirements including a grade 4/C in English and Maths (or Level 2 functional skills) and right to work in the UK at an absolute minimum.

Individual employers will specify their own requirements based on a variety of factors like industry; however it’s highly likely employers will expect apprentice candidates to have previously achieved a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant science, technology, engineering or mathematics field.

If you don’t have a degree, you could explore some of the Level 3 apprenticeships available in the UK

Overall, engineering is an exciting and dynamic industry to pursue. By doing an apprenticeship in Risk and Safety Management candidates may find lucrative engineering careers more accessible due to the crucial industry experience gained on an apprenticeship.

With the learning and development structure provided on the Level 7 apprenticeship, apprentice graduates are equipped with all the relevant skills and knowledge to increase their chances of progression to higher level positions.

Explore other engineering apprenticeships here

Non-Destructive Testing Engineer Apprenticeship