Repair, maintain, modify, inspect, test, install and assemble lifting equipment to ensure its suitability and safety for a continued period of service.
Apprentices learn to inspect, test, repair, maintain, modify, install and assemble a wide range of lifting equipment, from chain slings and hoists to more complex lifting systems. The training covers interpreting service contracts, applying health and safety legislation, meeting statutory and regulatory requirements, and providing technical documentation and advice to clients. Apprentices also develop skills in quality control, safe decommissioning of equipment deemed unfit for service, and identifying practical solutions to equipment problems across diverse working environments.
Most of the work happens on client sites rather than in a fixed workshop, so travel is a regular part of the job. A typical week might include carrying out scheduled inspections and writing up findings, diagnosing faults and completing repairs, testing equipment after installation or service, and advising site managers or health and safety teams on compliance. Apprentices also maintain their own tools and keep accurate service records. Interactions with equipment suppliers and, in some cases, the HSE are part of the role.
After completing this apprenticeship, typical job titles include Lifting Equipment Inspector, Lifting Technician, and LEEA-accredited Engineer. Progression routes include specialising in a particular sector, moving into supervisory or team-leader roles, or working towards chartered engineering status. Employers span a broad range of industries: construction, offshore and marine, aerospace, automotive manufacturing, food production, warehousing, entertainment, and the military. Technicians can work for specialist inspection and service companies, equipment hirers, or directly for large end-user organisations with in-house lifting operations.
Sorted by achievement rate.
No training providers currently listed for this standard.
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads into roles such as Lifting Equipment Technician, Lifting Gear Inspector, or Lifting Equipment Engineer. Some move directly into field service roles, carrying out planned maintenance and inspection visits across client sites. Others enter workshop-based positions focused on repair, testing, and certification. The specific title varies by employer, but the work involves hands-on responsibility for the safety and compliance of equipment from day one.
With three to five years of post-qualification experience, technicians commonly progress to Senior Lifting Equipment Technician, Lead Inspector, or Field Service Supervisor. Those who move into a specialist track may pursue LEEA (Lifting Equipment Engineers Association) qualifications and become recognised as authorised examiners or technical consultants. A leadership track can lead to Workshop Manager, Contract Manager, or Health and Safety Coordinator roles. Longer term, experienced professionals sometimes move into training, auditing, or standards advisory work within the sector.
Employers hiring for this occupation span a wide range of sectors, including construction, manufacturing, marine, aerospace, renewable energy, warehousing, and entertainment. Roles exist in both the public and private sectors, covering the armed forces, NHS facilities, and large industrial operators. Technicians may be employed directly by equipment users or by specialist lifting service companies that supply inspection and maintenance services to clients across multiple industries.
Learning takes place in a real workplace setting throughout the programme, with the apprentice building competence in inspecting, repairing, maintaining, testing, and installing lifting equipment across a range of environments. Before moving to final assessment, the apprentice must pass a readiness check, often called a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm that the required knowledge, skills and behaviours have been developed to a sufficient standard. Final assessment then confirms the apprentice can perform the full role competently and safely. Assessment models for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
Collecting workplace evidence from early in the programme makes the assessment process considerably more manageable. Apprentices should keep records of the equipment they have worked on, the tasks they have carried out, and any situations where they have applied health and safety or regulatory requirements. Working closely with both the employer and the training provider to track progress against the standard's knowledge, skills and behaviours means there are no surprises at gateway. Leaving evidence gathering until the final months creates unnecessary pressure and risks gaps that are hard to fill retrospectively.
Strong providers for this standard will have demonstrable links to industries that rely heavily on lifting equipment, whether that's construction, marine, manufacturing or logistics. Look for an achievement rate above 65% on the FATP profile, and check employer satisfaction scores alongside learner reviews for any mention of real on-site experience, not just workshop-only delivery. Because technicians need to work across client sites, good providers will incorporate inspection and compliance training grounded in current statutory requirements, including LOLER 1998. Providers with assessors who hold relevant industry qualifications (such as LEEA-accredited experience) are a meaningful signal.
Be cautious of providers with high learner volumes but falling achievement rates, which may indicate overstretched delivery capacity. If a provider cannot clearly explain how apprentices gain hands-on experience with a range of equipment types across different environments, that is a concern. Vague answers about how they cover statutory compliance and documentation requirements suggest surface-level delivery. For a role that requires site-based working and client interaction, providers delivering entirely in a classroom or single workshop setting should be questioned carefully on how they replicate real working conditions.
There are no nationally set entry requirements, so employers set their own. Most look for a reasonable standard of maths and English, often GCSE grade 4 or equivalent, since the role involves reading technical documentation and recording inspection data. Apprentices must be employed throughout and be new to the occupation or significantly upskilling. Candidates who already hold a full licence to drive are at an advantage, given the frequent travel to client sites.
The typical duration is around 24 months, though this can vary depending on the apprentice's prior experience and the employer's programme design. Apprentices remain employed and work alongside their training, with a portion of their contracted hours set aside for off-the-job learning. The exact percentage is subject to current government reforms, so check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education page on gov.uk for the up-to-date requirement.
Before assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has met all knowledge, skills and behaviour requirements set out in the standard. The end-point assessment then tests occupational competence independently. Assessment models for many standards are being updated under current reforms, so the precise methods, such as practical observations or professional discussions, should be confirmed against the current specification on gov.uk.
The funding band for this standard is £12,000, which is the maximum government contribution toward training and assessment costs. Employers who pay the apprenticeship levy draw from their digital account. Smaller employers who do not pay the levy typically contribute 5 per cent of costs, with government covering the rest. If you are a non-levy employer taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18, training costs are met in full by the government. Wages are always paid by the employer.
Day-to-day tasks include inspecting, testing, maintaining and repairing lifting equipment such as hoists, chain slings, shackles and lifting beams across a range of industry settings. Apprentices visit client sites, carry out statutory inspections, produce written reports, and advise customers on compliance with regulatory requirements. They also work in workshops on equipment assembly and modification, manage their own tools, and interact with site managers, health and safety teams, and equipment suppliers.
Completion can lead to roles with greater responsibility, such as senior technician, inspection manager or technical specialist positions within lifting equipment service companies, manufacturers, hirers or large end-user organisations. The occupation is globally recognised, which opens opportunities across sectors including offshore, aerospace, construction and entertainment. Some technicians go on to pursue further professional qualifications in health and safety or engineering inspection, or move into supervisory and management roles within their organisation.
Tell us a bit about your team and we'll send a shortlist.
Tell us your requirements and we'll match you with the right training providers.
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: 667.
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.