FATP · an independent directoryApprenticeship data sourced from DfE, ESFA and IfATEUpdated daily · GB
L6Apprenticeship122 approved providers
The Level 6 Product Design And Development Engineer (Degree), and the 2 providers delivering it.
Using engineering techniques to bring new products to life or redesign existing products.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Apprentices develop the engineering knowledge and practical skills needed to take products from concept through to manufacture. The programme covers product design principles, materials selection, manufacturing processes, prototyping, and testing. Apprentices learn to apply engineering analysis, use CAD and simulation tools, and work within design for manufacture constraints. Quality, cost, and sustainability considerations run through the technical content, giving apprentices a grounded understanding of how design decisions affect the full product lifecycle.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Week to week, an apprentice in this role will work on design tasks using CAD software, support prototype builds, and contribute to testing and validation activities. They are likely to attend design reviews, liaise with suppliers or production teams, and help produce technical drawings and specifications. As their skills develop, they take on more independent design work, troubleshoot engineering problems, and feed findings back into revised designs. Documentation and reporting are a regular part of the role.
Career outlook
Completing this degree-level apprenticeship typically leads to roles such as Product Design Engineer, Development Engineer, or NPD Engineer. Many progression paths lead toward senior engineering, project lead, or technical specialist positions. Employers recruiting for this standard tend to be manufacturers, product development consultancies, and R&D departments across sectors including automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, medical devices, and industrial equipment. The degree outcome supports registration with a professional engineering institution, which opens doors to Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status over time.
2 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
Blackpool and The Fylde College
Employer: 4.0
Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC) offers a wide range of technical and professional education o...
Cheshire College – South & West
Employer: 2.0
Cheshire College – South & West offers apprenticeship and further education opportunities across its...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Graduates of this apprenticeship typically move into roles such as Product Design Engineer, New Product Development Engineer, or Design and Development Technologist. Some move into Manufacturing Engineer positions where product and production design overlap. Others take on roles as CAD Engineer or Prototype Engineer, working within cross-functional development teams. The specific title varies by sector, but the responsibility is consistent: taking a product from concept through to manufacture-ready design.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, most engineers progress to Senior Product Design Engineer or Lead Development Engineer, taking ownership of full product programmes rather than individual components. Beyond that, two tracks open up. The specialist route leads toward Principal Engineer or Fellow-level technical roles, often with responsibility for design standards across a business. The leadership route leads to Engineering Manager or Head of Product Development, managing teams and product portfolios.
Where these roles sit
Manufacturing industries are the primary employers, including automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, medical devices, industrial equipment, and electronics. Employers range from large OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to specialist SMEs that design and build niche products for specific markets. Some roles sit within consultancies that provide design and development services to multiple clients. The public sector hires in defence and healthcare-adjacent manufacturing. Both private and publicly funded employers use this apprenticeship to build degree-level engineering capability in-house.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, the engineer develops knowledge, skills and behaviours on the job, supported by off-the-job learning delivered by a university or training provider working toward a degree qualification. Before final assessment, the apprentice must pass a readiness check (the gateway), at which point the employer and provider confirm that the apprentice has demonstrated sufficient competence to proceed. Final assessment then confirms the apprentice can apply engineering techniques to product design and development in a professional context. Assessment models for many degree-level standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Building a strong body of workplace evidence throughout the programme is essential, rather than trying to gather it close to the gateway. This means keeping records of design projects, development decisions and engineering outputs as they arise. Close communication between the apprentice, employer and training provider helps ensure that gaps in knowledge or skills are addressed well before the readiness check. Apprentices should treat every significant piece of work as a potential contribution to their assessment evidence.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% on their FATP profile; for a degree-level standard of this duration, anything approaching 75% or above suggests the provider is genuinely supporting apprentices through the full programme rather than losing people mid-way. Beyond the numbers, strong providers will have clear links between taught content and real product development cycles: concept generation, prototyping, design for manufacture, materials selection and validation testing. Check that they have access to physical lab and workshop facilities, not just lecture-based delivery. Employer satisfaction scores above 80% are worth prioritising, as they indicate the provider is staying engaged with the workplace element.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers with high apprentice numbers but a falling achievement rate, which can signal poor pastoral support or weak employer coordination. Vague answers about how off-the-job training maps to actual product development activity are a concern. If the provider cannot point to alumni working in product or development engineering roles, or struggles to explain how the end-point assessment is prepared for, treat that as a warning. Also check whether their cohort sizes are realistic for a degree-level programme; very large cohorts with little mention of industry partnership often mean generic delivery.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What physical prototyping, CAD and testing facilities do apprentices have access to during the programme?
- How do you coordinate with employers to make sure the off-the-job learning connects to live product development work?
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it changed over the past two years?
- How do you prepare apprentices for the end-point assessment, and what is your pass rate at distinction level?
- Can you give examples of employers on this standard and the types of products their apprentices have worked on?
- How do you handle an apprentice whose employer cannot provide enough breadth of project experience?
- What is the typical cohort size, and how much individual academic support is available?
Common questions
What entry requirements do employers and learners need to meet for this apprenticeship?
Entry requirements are set by individual training providers, but most expect applicants to hold A-levels or equivalent qualifications in relevant subjects such as maths, physics, or engineering. Some providers accept vocational qualifications or relevant work experience instead. Employers should confirm requirements directly with their chosen provider. Apprentices must be employed throughout and the role needs to involve genuine product design and development engineering duties at degree level.
How long does this apprenticeship take and how is the learning structured?
The typical duration is 42 months. Apprentices remain in paid employment throughout, applying their learning directly to their day-to-day work. Off-the-job training is built in alongside normal duties, usually through a blend of university study and workplace projects. Current Skills England reforms may affect minimum duration and off-the-job training requirements, so check the latest specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website before planning.
How is the apprenticeship assessed and what is the gateway?
Before moving to end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, a checkpoint where the employer, training provider, and apprentice confirm that the required knowledge, skills, and behaviours have been developed. Assessment typically involves a project, a portfolio, and a professional discussion, but assessment models for many standards are being updated. Check the current assessment plan on gov.uk to confirm the exact requirements that apply.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship?
The funding band for this standard is £27,000, which is the maximum that can be drawn from the apprenticeship levy or government co-investment. Levy-paying employers use funds from their digital apprenticeship service account. Non-levy employers contribute 5% of the training cost and the government pays the remaining 95%. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing; the government covers the full cost.
What does a product design and development engineer apprentice actually do at work?
Day-to-day work typically involves contributing to the engineering design process, translating requirements into technical concepts, building and testing prototypes, and refining designs based on performance data and feedback. Apprentices work with CAD tools, apply materials knowledge, consider manufacturing constraints, and collaborate with colleagues across functions such as manufacturing, procurement, and quality. The exact scope depends on the employer, but the role should involve substantive engineering decisions rather than purely support tasks.
What can an apprentice do after completing this apprenticeship?
Completing this apprenticeship leads to a degree-level qualification, which opens routes into senior engineering roles, chartered engineer status with a relevant professional body such as the IMechE or IET, and further postgraduate study. Many completers move into lead engineer or technical specialist positions. Some progress into project management, R&D leadership, or cross-functional roles depending on their sector and employer. Achieving chartered status typically requires additional experience and a professional review after completion.
Not sure which provider fits?
Tell us a bit about your team and we'll send a shortlist.
Need help choosing a provider?
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: 12.
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.
Related standards
Engineering Technician L3Through life engineering services specialist (integrated degree) L7Compressed air and vacuum technician L3Food And Drink Engineer L5Mineral processing weighbridge operator L2Ordnance munitions and explosives specialist (integrated degree) L7Water process operative L2Systems engineer (degree) L7