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L2Apprenticeship694 approved providers
The Level 2 Land-Based Service Engineer, and the 4 providers delivering it.
Maintaining a range of machinery, plant and equipment in sectors such as agriculture, forestry and horticulture.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Land-based service engineers maintain and repair machinery, plant, and equipment used in agriculture, forestry, and horticulture. The apprenticeship covers fault diagnosis, routine servicing, and mechanical repair work across a range of equipment types. Apprentices develop practical skills in using hand tools and diagnostic equipment, reading technical documentation, and following safe working procedures. They also learn about the systems and components common to land-based machinery, including engines, hydraulics, and electrical circuits.
Day-to-day responsibilities
A typical week involves carrying out scheduled servicing on tractors, combine harvesters, groundcare machinery, or forestry equipment, depending on the employer. Apprentices work from job cards and technical manuals to diagnose faults, replace worn parts, and check systems are operating within specification. Much of the work takes place in a workshop, though field service visits to farms or estates are common. Apprentices log work completed, order parts, and liaise with supervisors about repair priorities.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship leads to roles such as agricultural engineer, groundcare technician, or forestry machinery technician. Many engineers progress into senior technician or service advisor positions, with some moving into field service roles covering a territory for a dealer or manufacturer. Employers include agricultural machinery dealerships, groundcare equipment suppliers, hire companies, large farming estates, local authorities, and golf courses. The sector has a consistent demand for qualified engineers, particularly those with experience across multiple equipment types or specific manufacturer product lines.
4 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
Askham Bryan College
Employer: 3.0
Askham Bryan College is a specialist land-based college offering apprenticeship training and wider s...
Bishop Burton College
Employer: 4.0
Bishop Burton College is a specialist land-based and technical education provider offering a wide ra...
Craven College
Craven College is a further and higher education college based in Skipton, North Yorkshire, which of...
CLAAS
Employer: 4.0
CLAAS is an international agricultural machinery manufacturer whose UK website highlights a broad of...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to roles such as Land-Based Service Engineer, Agricultural Service Technician, or Groundscare Equipment Technician. Some completers move into Horticultural Machinery Technician positions or join forestry equipment service teams. The role centres on planned maintenance, fault diagnosis, and repair of machinery including tractors, combine harvesters, turf care equipment, and forestry machinery, working either from a fixed workshop or travelling to customers on site.
Progression paths
With a few years of post-qualification experience, engineers commonly progress to Senior Service Technician or Workshop Supervisor. Those who develop strong diagnostic skills and product knowledge may move into specialist roles such as Precision Agriculture Technician or Dealer Product Specialist, working closely with manufacturers on complex machinery. Longer term, experienced engineers can reach Service Manager or Dealer Principal level, or move into technical training and field support roles covering regional dealer networks.
Where these roles sit
The main employers are agricultural machinery dealers, groundscare and turf equipment dealerships, and forestry equipment suppliers. Hire and rental companies, local authorities maintaining parks and greenspaces, and large farming estates with in-house engineering teams also recruit from this route. Most positions are in rural and semi-rural areas across England, Scotland, and Wales. The sector is predominantly private, though public sector bodies such as local councils and estate management organisations do employ land-based engineers directly.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, learning takes place in the workplace alongside structured off-the-job training. The apprentice builds competence in servicing, diagnosing faults, and maintaining machinery across sectors such as agriculture, forestry, or horticulture. Before moving to final assessment, a readiness check (the gateway) confirms that the employer and training provider are satisfied the apprentice is prepared. Final assessment then tests whether the apprentice can genuinely perform the role to the required standard across the knowledge, skills, and behaviours specified. Assessment arrangements for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Keeping records throughout the apprenticeship rather than scrambling to compile evidence at the end makes a significant difference. That means documenting practical tasks, fault-finding activities, and service work in real time, with enough detail to demonstrate genuine competence. Working closely with both the employer and the training provider to understand what the gateway requires, and addressing any gaps well in advance, gives the best chance of progressing smoothly to final assessment. Building a clear picture of workshop practice, health and safety compliance, and technical decision-making over time strengthens that evidence considerably.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% on their FATP profile, and check both employer and apprentice satisfaction scores. For this standard, the practical side matters most: providers should have workshop facilities equipped with current agricultural, forestry or horticultural machinery, and tutors with hands-on industry experience rather than purely classroom backgrounds. Providers delivering this standard alongside related land-based engineering qualifications tend to have stronger industry connections. Check learner reviews for mentions of real diagnostic work, not just theory. Regional coverage matters too, since learners often need to travel to a training centre regularly.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers with a high volume of starts but a falling achievement rate, which can signal poor learner support or weak employer engagement. If a provider cannot tell you what makes and models of machinery apprentices train on, or if workshop equipment looks dated relative to what manufacturers currently deploy, that is a problem. Vague answers about how off-the-job training is structured, or providers who cannot point to past apprentices now working in agricultural or groundscare engineering roles, should give you pause.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What machinery, plant and equipment do apprentices actually work on during training, and how recently has that equipment been updated?
- How do you coordinate off-the-job training around seasonal demands on agricultural or horticultural businesses?
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it changed over the past two years?
- How many apprentices do you typically have on this standard at any one time, and how are they grouped for practical sessions?
- Can you put me in contact with an employer who has used you for this standard?
- How do tutors stay current with developments in precision agriculture technology and modern diagnostics equipment?
- What support is in place if an apprentice struggles with the technical assessments towards end-point assessment?
Common questions
What qualifications or experience do I need to start a Land-Based Service Engineer apprenticeship?
Most employers look for a basic understanding of machinery or a practical interest in engineering, but there are no fixed national entry requirements. Employers set their own criteria. A good standard of English and maths is generally expected, and you may be asked to sit an initial assessment before starting. If you have not yet achieved Level 2 in English and maths, you will need to complete those qualifications during the apprenticeship.
How long does the apprenticeship take and how is the time split between work and learning?
The typical duration is 24 months, though this can vary depending on your prior experience and how quickly you progress. You will be employed throughout and continue doing your job while completing structured learning and training. The exact off-the-job training requirement is subject to current Skills England reforms, so check the latest specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website at gov.uk for up-to-date figures before committing.
How is the apprenticeship assessed and what is the gateway?
Before taking the end-point assessment, you must pass through a gateway, a point at which your employer and training provider confirm you have met all the requirements and can demonstrate the competence the standard demands. The assessment itself tests the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the standard. Assessment models for many standards are being reviewed under current reforms, so check the current specification on gov.uk to confirm the exact methods that apply to this standard.
How does funding work for employers taking on a Land-Based Service Engineer apprentice?
The funding band for this standard is £16,000, which is the maximum the government will contribute toward training and assessment costs. Large employers with an apprenticeship levy account use those funds directly. Smaller employers without a levy account pay just 5 percent of training costs, with the government covering the remaining 95 percent through co-investment. If you are a small employer taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18, the government covers the full training cost.
What does a Land-Based Service Engineer apprentice actually do in the job?
Day-to-day work centres on inspecting, diagnosing faults, servicing and repairing machinery and equipment used in agriculture, forestry, horticulture and related land-based sectors. Tasks include carrying out routine maintenance on tractors and specialist plant, identifying mechanical or electrical problems, replacing components, and completing job records accurately. Apprentices work under supervision at first, gradually taking on more independent work as their competence builds, often moving between a workshop environment and on-site visits to farms or estates.
Where can a Land-Based Service Engineer apprenticeship lead once completed?
Completing this apprenticeship positions you for roles as a qualified technician in agricultural machinery dealerships, horticultural equipment suppliers or forestry contractors. With experience, progression into senior technician or workshop supervisor roles is a common route. Some completers move into parts or aftersales roles, or go on to study a higher-level engineering apprenticeship or qualification. Employers in this sector value practical experience, so a strong track record built during the apprenticeship carries real weight in the job market.
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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: 69.
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.