The Level 3 Mechatronics Maintenance Technician, and the 42 providers delivering it.
Mechatronics maintenance technicians carry out a broad range of activities which may include installation, testing, fault finding, rectification, modifications and the on-going planned maintenance of complex automated equipment. This requires the application of a blend of skills, knowledge and occupational behaviours across the electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems disciplines.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Mechatronics maintenance technicians work across electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power, and control systems. The apprenticeship covers installation and commissioning of automated equipment, planned preventive maintenance, fault diagnosis, and rectification. Apprentices develop practical skills in reading technical diagrams, applying safe working practices, and using test equipment across multiple engineering disciplines. The blend of disciplines is a core feature: competence in one area alone is not enough; technicians need to work confidently across all of them.
Day-to-day responsibilities
On a typical shift, an apprentice might carry out scheduled maintenance checks on automated production machinery, respond to breakdowns, run electrical and mechanical tests to locate faults, and complete maintenance records. They will work from engineering drawings and equipment manuals, use diagnostic tools such as multimeters and PLCs, and liaise with production teams to minimise downtime. Some tasks involve modifying existing equipment or supporting engineers on more complex system changes.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship opens roles such as maintenance technician, multi-skilled engineer, or automation technician. With experience, progression typically leads to senior technician, maintenance team leader, or reliability engineer positions. Employers across food and drink manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceutical production, logistics, and utilities regularly recruit at this level. The multi-disciplinary nature of the qualification also provides a strong basis for moving into engineering or maintenance management, or continuing to a higher-level apprenticeship or HNC in engineering.
42 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
The University of Sheffield is a research-intensive Russell Group university that also acts as an ap...
MTC Training is the training arm of the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), focused on developing...
Sunderland Engineering Training Association (Seta) is a not-for-profit Group Training Association pr...
Abingdon & Witney College is a further and higher education college in Oxfordshire offering a wide r...
Middlesbrough College Group provides a broad range of education and training routes for school leave...
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Group Training Association (HWGTA) is an employer‑led, not‑for‑profit...
In-Comm Training is an employer-led training provider specialising in engineering and manufacturing ...
Truro & Penwith College is a further and higher education college offering a broad apprenticeship an...
SIGTA is a not‑for‑profit training organisation with charitable status that specialises in apprentic...
Yeovil College is a further and higher education provider in Somerset offering a broad apprenticeshi...
Macclesfield College is a further education provider offering apprenticeships, college courses for 1...
Vision West Nottinghamshire College, often referred to as West Notts College, provides education and...
Loughborough College Group is a further and higher education college offering a broad portfolio of t...
Skillnet is a UK-based apprenticeship and training provider specialising in the automotive and relat...
South Thames Colleges Group (STCG) delivers apprenticeship training and wider further education acro...
Newbury College provides high-quality learning opportunities for individuals and employers in West B...
Hartlepool College of Further Education is a specialist apprenticeship and vocational training provi...
South Staffordshire College is a further education provider offering apprenticeships alongside full-...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads into roles such as Mechatronics Maintenance Technician, Automation Maintenance Technician, or Electrical and Mechanical Maintenance Engineer. Some completers move directly into Planned Maintenance Engineer positions, taking ownership of scheduled servicing on automated production lines. Others step into Fault Diagnosis Technician roles, focusing on identifying and resolving breakdowns across integrated control and mechanical systems.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, technicians commonly progress to Senior Maintenance Technician or Multi-Skilled Maintenance Engineer, taking on more complex fault-finding and sometimes mentoring junior staff. Two tracks tend to open up from there. The leadership route moves toward Maintenance Team Leader, Shift Maintenance Supervisor, or Engineering Manager. The specialist route goes deeper into automation systems, leading to roles such as Controls Engineer, PLC Systems Technician, or Reliability Engineer, often requiring further qualifications or vendor-specific training.
Where these roles sit
Manufacturing is the primary employer base, particularly food and beverage production, automotive and component manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, and packaging. Utilities and water treatment also hire for this skill set, as do logistics operators running large automated warehousing and distribution centres. Employers range from large multinational manufacturers with dedicated maintenance departments to mid-sized UK production sites where technicians cover a broad remit. Both private sector and some public sector facilities, including NHS Estates teams managing building services, recruit from this background.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, learning takes place alongside employment, with the apprentice building competence across electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems in a real working environment. Before final assessment, the apprentice and employer must confirm readiness through a gateway process, which checks that the required knowledge, skills and behaviours have been met. Final assessment then confirms the apprentice can carry out the full range of maintenance technician duties to the expected standard. Assessment models for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Because the role spans several technical disciplines, gathering workplace evidence steadily throughout the programme matters more than trying to collate it near the end. Apprentices should keep records of the maintenance tasks, fault-finding activities and planned maintenance work they carry out as they go. Talking regularly with the employer and training provider about progress against the standard helps avoid gaps in evidence at gateway. Working on varied equipment and fault scenarios during the apprenticeship builds the breadth of competence the assessment requires.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with achievement rates above 65% on their FATP profile; above 75% is a strong signal for a standard this technically demanding. Because this apprenticeship spans electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems, the best providers run or partner with facilities where apprentices can work on real automated equipment, not just simulations. High employer satisfaction scores matter here: employers should be closely involved in setting fault-finding scenarios and signing off workplace competence. Apprentice satisfaction reviews that mention hands-on time with PLCs, pneumatics or hydraulic systems are a useful indicator of genuine practical depth.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious if a provider cannot explain how they cover all five discipline areas, or if they lean heavily on classroom theory without documented access to relevant workshop equipment. A high learner volume combined with a declining achievement rate suggests the provider has overreached its delivery capacity. Vague answers about how off-the-job training is structured, or an inability to show where recent completers are working, are worth pressing on. For a standard funded at £27,000, thin employer engagement in assessment design is a poor sign.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What automated equipment or test rigs do apprentices work on during off-the-job training, and who owns that equipment?
- How do you cover fluid power systems specifically, given how often that discipline is under-delivered?
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it changed over the last two cohorts?
- How do you structure fault-finding practice across electrical, mechanical and control systems?
- Can we speak to an employer who has put apprentices through this standard with you?
- How many apprentices are currently on this standard with you, and what is the typical cohort size per intake?
- How do you keep delivery aligned with the control systems and automation technologies our engineers actually use on site?
Common questions
What entry requirements do employers and learners need to meet for this apprenticeship?
Employers set their own entry criteria, but most expect applicants to have GCSEs in maths and English at grade 4 or above, or equivalent qualifications. Some employers also look for a background in a relevant technical subject. Apprentices who do not already hold maths and English at the required level will need to achieve that standard before they can complete the apprenticeship. Check with individual training providers, as entry expectations vary.
How long does the apprenticeship take, and how does learning fit around work?
The typical duration is 42 months. Throughout that time the apprentice remains employed, applying skills directly on the job while also completing structured off-the-job learning. The exact split of on-the-job and off-the-job time is subject to change under current Skills England reforms, so check the latest specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education pages on gov.uk before planning a programme.
How is the apprenticeship assessed at the end?
Before moving to end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer, training provider and apprentice confirm that the required knowledge, skills and behaviours have been demonstrated. The assessment model for this standard may be updated as reforms progress, so always refer to the current assessment plan on gov.uk for the definitive approach. The apprentice must show genuine competence across electrical, mechanical, fluid power and control systems disciplines.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship?
Large employers who pay the apprenticeship levy use levy funds to cover training costs. Smaller employers co-invest with the government, typically contributing a small percentage of the training cost while the government funds the rest. The funding band for this standard is £27,000, which sets the maximum that can be drawn from the levy or the government contribution. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing, with costs covered in full by the government.
What does a mechatronics maintenance technician actually do day to day?
Day-to-day work centres on keeping complex automated equipment running. That means carrying out planned preventive maintenance, diagnosing faults across electrical, electronic, mechanical and fluid power systems, and then repairing or rectifying those faults. Apprentices also assist with installation and testing of equipment and may support modifications to existing systems. The role requires switching between different technical disciplines depending on what the equipment demands, so no two shifts are identical.
What can an apprentice do after completing this qualification?
Completing this standard opens routes into senior technician roles, team leadership or specialist positions focusing on specific systems such as programmable logic controllers or hydraulics. Some technicians progress to higher apprenticeships or degree-level study in engineering disciplines. Others move into roles in process improvement or maintenance planning. The cross-discipline nature of the training means the qualification is recognised across a wide range of manufacturing and automated production environments, giving reasonable flexibility when considering next steps.
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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: 775.
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.