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L3Apprenticeship3761 approved provider
The Level 3 Engineering construction erector rigger, and the 1 provider delivering it.
Installing and dismantling capital plant steel infrastructure and lifting, moving and positioning loads during engineering construction projects.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Apprentices train in one of two specialisms: erecting or rigging on engineering construction sites. Erectors learn to install and dismantle steel infrastructure, including the use of static and mobile lifting equipment, powered and non-powered hand tools, metal decking, safety netting, and edge rails. Riggers focus on the planning and execution of lifting operations, selecting appropriate equipment such as cranes, hoists, winches, skids, and rollers to move and position loads safely. Both pathways require strict compliance with health, safety, and environmental procedures, including work at height, over water, and in confined spaces.
Day-to-day responsibilities
On a typical week, an apprentice will read and interpret lifting plans or structural drawings, inspect lifting equipment and accessories before use, and work alongside other trades including pipefitters, platers, and welders. Erectors will bolt and assemble structural steelwork as a project progresses, fitting safety systems as the build advances. Riggers will carry out pre-lift briefings, rig loads to the specified method statement, and communicate with crane operators during lifts. Both roles involve completing inspection records, toolbox talks, and permit-to-work documentation as standard.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship opens routes into senior erector or rigger positions, leading hand roles, and appointed person status for lifting operations. Experienced riggers often progress into lifting supervisor or lifting engineer roles. Employers are typically engineering construction contractors and specialist subcontractors operating across power generation, oil and gas, nuclear, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and steel production. The skills are transferable across infrastructure sectors, and demand for qualified erectors and riggers remains steady on major capital projects and decommissioning programmes across the UK and internationally.
1 approved provider
Sorted by achievement rate.
Altrad
Altrad is a UK-based provider of support services to critical onshore and offshore infrastructure, o...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completers typically move directly into permanent or contract positions as Engineering Construction Erectors or Engineering Construction Riggers on major industrial sites. Specific titles vary by employer but commonly include Steel Erector, Structural Erector, Appointed Rigger, and Crane Rigger. Some move into dual-function roles on smaller project teams. Work at this level involves leading discrete lifting or erection tasks under a site supervisor, with full responsibility for compliance on the operations you lead.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, many move into Senior Rigger or Lead Erector roles, taking on greater responsibility for planning and supervising lifting operations or structural assembly sequences. From there, two distinct tracks tend to open up: a supervisory route toward Site Supervisor, Lifting Supervisor, or Contracts Supervisor, and a technical specialist route toward Appointed Person (lifting operations planning) or a focus on complex dismantling and decommissioning work. Chartership through the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board or relevant professional bodies is achievable with further study.
Where these roles sit
The primary employers are specialist engineering construction contractors and industrial maintenance firms working across heavy industry. Sectors include power generation (conventional and nuclear), oil and gas processing, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, water and sewage infrastructure, and steel production. Projects range from new-build capital construction to planned shutdowns, decommissioning, and refurbishment programmes. Both public sector clients (such as nuclear decommissioning bodies) and large private sector operators commission this work, often through tier-one and tier-two engineering construction contractors.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, learning takes place on the job alongside structured off-the-job training, building the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to work safely and competently as an erector or rigger on engineering construction sites. Before moving to final assessment, the apprentice must pass a readiness check, often called a gateway, at which point the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice is ready. Final assessment then confirms the apprentice can perform the role to the required standard, including in hazardous environments and under strict safety procedures. Assessment models for many standards are currently being updated; check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
From the start, apprentices should keep detailed records of the work they carry out on site, covering tasks such as lifting operations, use of moving and lifting equipment, erection and dismantling activities, and compliance with health and safety procedures. Gathering this evidence as work happens, rather than trying to reconstruct it later, makes the gateway process more straightforward. Regular conversations with both the employer and training provider help identify any gaps in knowledge or practical experience while there is still time to address them.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with direct ties to the engineering construction sector, specifically contractors or training centres operating on or alongside live industrial sites. Achievement rates above 65% matter here, but check whether the cohort is large enough to be meaningful: a 90% rate across five apprentices tells you less than a 72% rate across fifty. Employer satisfaction scores on the FATP profile should reflect genuine industry engagement, not just colleges that have added this standard to a broad portfolio. Practical facilities, including access to lifting equipment, rigging accessories and working-at-height training infrastructure, are non-negotiable for this standard.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers with high learner volumes but a falling achievement rate over successive years, which can indicate high starts driven by funding rather than genuine capacity to support completions. If a provider cannot clearly describe how apprentices gain supervised, hands-on experience with static and mobile lifting equipment, that is a significant gap. Vague answers about safety training currency, particularly around confined spaces and working-at-height competencies, should concern any employer in this sector. A provider unable to show that assessors hold current industry experience is a serious problem for a standard this safety-critical.
Questions to ask before you commit
- Where do apprentices carry out their practical training, and do those facilities include working lifting and rigging equipment rather than classroom-based simulation only?
- How do you keep safety training current, particularly for working at height, confined spaces and over-water environments?
- What is your achievement rate for this standard specifically, and how has it changed over the last two cohorts?
- Can you provide contact details for employers who have taken on apprentices through this programme and can speak to their progress on site?
- How do you handle the split between erector and rigger pathways, and can an employer specify which route they need?
- What industry qualifications or cards, such as CISRS or CPCS, do apprentices typically hold by the end of the programme?
- How many apprentices are currently enrolled on this standard with your organisation, and what does a typical cohort look like?
Common questions
What are the entry requirements for the engineering construction erector rigger apprenticeship?
There are no nationally set entry qualifications, but employers typically expect a good standard of numeracy and literacy. Apprentices must be employed in a relevant role for the duration of the programme. Some employers ask for GCSEs in maths and English, or equivalent. Because the work regularly involves hazardous environments, including working at height and in confined spaces, candidates need to be physically capable of meeting the demands of the job and passing any site-specific medical checks.
How long does the apprenticeship take and what does the time commitment look like?
The typical duration is 36 months, though this can vary depending on prior experience and how quickly an apprentice progresses. Apprentices remain employed throughout, combining on-the-job learning on live engineering construction sites with off-the-job training. The current off-the-job requirement is subject to revision under ongoing Skills England reforms. Check the latest version of the standard on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website for the up-to-date specification before committing.
How is this apprenticeship assessed?
Before completing the apprenticeship, the apprentice must pass through a gateway. This requires sign-off from the employer and training provider confirming the apprentice has met the required knowledge, skills, and behaviours. End-point assessment typically includes practical demonstration of competence and a professional discussion. Assessment models for many standards are being reviewed as part of current reforms, so check the gov.uk apprenticeship standard page for the most current assessment arrangements before enrolment.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship?
The funding band for this standard is £18,000, meaning the government will contribute up to that amount. Large employers who pay the apprenticeship levy use their levy account to fund training costs. SMEs that do not pay the levy enter a co-investment arrangement, contributing 5% of the training cost while the government pays the remaining 95%. Employers taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 who have fewer than 50 employees pay nothing, as the government covers the full cost.
What does an engineering construction erector or rigger actually do day to day?
An erector installs and dismantles the steel infrastructure that makes up large engineering construction projects, using both static and mobile lifting equipment, powered and hand tools, and specialist access equipment. A rigger plans and executes the safe lifting, moving, and positioning of heavy loads using cranes, hoists, winches, skids, and rollers. Both roles operate on major infrastructure sites across sectors including power generation, oil and gas, nuclear, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, following strict health, safety, and environmental procedures throughout.
What can an apprentice progress to after completing this standard?
Completing this apprenticeship leads to occupational competence at Level 3 as either an erector or rigger. From there, experienced workers can move into senior site roles, supervisory positions, or move across into related engineering construction trades. Some progress towards further technical qualifications or supervisory frameworks in construction and engineering. The skills gained are transferable across a wide range of heavy industry sectors, which gives qualified erectors and riggers options to work on diverse project types throughout their career.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 376.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.