Marine Electrician Apprentice

Summary

This is an exceptional opportunity for six highly motivated individuals to undertake a four-year apprenticeship at the All-weather Lifeboat Centre (ALC) in Poole, commencing in September 2025. Our apprentices work alongside experienced Technicians on all classes of Lifeboat and associated plant.

Wage

£15,704 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

with annual pay increases throughout your apprenticeship

Training course

Marine electrician (level 3)

Hours

Full-time - details at interview

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Friday 1 August

Duration

3 years 6 months

Positions available

2

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

We are currently seeking six apprentices across three different trades (marine electrical, boat building and mechanical) but you are only required to complete one application form indicating which trade(s) you would like to be considered for in order of preference.

During the four-year programme, you will work towards completing the new style standards-based apprenticeship. You will attend Bournemouth & Poole College for your off-the-job training. You will ideally hold at least three GCSEs (grade 4 or above, or equivalent) including maths, English, and Science, but not essential.

If you successfully pass the first round of shortlisting, you will be required to attend an interview at the All-weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole during week commencing 21st April 2025 (subject to college eligibility checks).

Please see below for further information on our different trades.

Apprentice - Electrical x2 - During your apprenticeship you will learn about:

Assembling, installing, repairing, modifying, diagnosing, and maintaining all types of electrical equipment and systems

Apprentice - Boat Builder x2 - During your apprenticeship you will gain job specific skills:

Understanding engineering drawings, lofting to build plug and moulds, understanding of composite materials, assembling, installation, repairing, modifying, maintaining

Apprentice - Mechanic x2 - During your apprenticeship you will learn about:

Assembling, installing, repairing, modifying, diagnosing, and maintaining all aspects of mechanical equipment and systems

Come and join us to build your career at this centre of excellence and help save lives at sea.

Where you’ll work

RNLI

West Quay Road

Poole

BH15 1HZ

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE COLLEGE, THE

Your training course

Marine electrician (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Prepare for and contribute to meetings and hold discussions. Use appropriate communication and interpersonal techniques and marine terminology to aid effective interactions with colleagues, customers, contractors, suppliers and others, to achieve required marine electrical and electronic task outcomes.
Make recommendations to customers and other interested parties to ensure optimal compliance and performance of marine electrical and electronic equipment and systems, that meet customer requirements. Apply appropriate customer service principles and techniques. Meet customer needs (internal and external) and deliver required customer service in accordance with organisational policy and processes when undertaking a marine electrical and electronic work role.
Maintain the safety of self along with others by following safe systems of work when conducting marine electrical and electronic work operations. Identify and comply with all relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant information and guidance when planning and performing marine electrical and electronic work operations.
Consider sustainability and environmental impacts and apply environmental best practice when planning and performing marine electrical and electronic work operations.
Follow approved industry guidance and techniques, and operational work methods, practices, processes, principles, and procedures when undertaking the different marine electrical and electronic work operations, within required time frames.
Select, use, maintain, and store appropriate resources safely and correctly (tools, equipment, machinery and consumables).
Design, plan and set up to produce and install marine electrical and electronic systems including assemblies and sub-assemblies from marine electrical engineering drawings, electrical formulae and technical specifications in the correct manner (This will typically include design of electrical panels, power distribution requirements and best use of available space), ensuring the necessary resources are selected.
Follow quality improvement principles, techniques, and methods and identify any areas for improvement.
Use various wiring support mechanisms and systems to route and secure cables in accordance with regulations and best practice and install cables using appropriate segregation and separation methods, in accordance with required specifications in relation to positioning bulkhead penetration.
Conduct required tests and checks when performing work operations on different marine electrical and electronic systems.
Restore work area to a safe and tidy condition in accordance with organisational policy and procedures.
Complete relevant records and documentation relevant to marine electrical and electronic systems, in accordance with organisational documentation and any other relevant information and guidance.
Install, position and secure marine electrical and electronic equipment and components (propulsion, navigational, safety, domestic, operational, generation, communication, audio visual and IT, protection and ancillary systems) in accordance with design specification and following all required steps and checks for the approved work operation process and operational standards.
Support commission and system tests in accordance with the manufacturer's design specification, company best practice and processes and perform basic crew roles.
Check, test, and diagnose marine electrical and electronic equipment and components in boats to company and marine standards, using appropriate company and marine standards and other relevant documentation.
Power down, remove, repair and reuse or replace electrical and electronic equipment, circuits and cables. Lockout and tagout electrical and electronic equipment, circuits and cables.
Dispose of waste materials, in accordance with safe working and environmental practices and approved procedures.
Carry out required modifications and rewiring using approved materials and techniques, adhering to required specifications and instructions.
Fit required new marine electrical and electronic equipment adhering to best practice.
Perform routine servicing in the specified sequence using appropriate techniques and procedures.
Deal with any problems that may present themselves within their own area of responsibility.
Check, test, and diagnose battery condition and alternating current (ac) power systems and record results.
Prepare for and contribute to meetings and hold discussions. Use appropriate communication and interpersonal techniques and marine terminology to aid effective interactions with colleagues, customers, contractors, suppliers and others, to achieve required marine electrical and electronic task outcomes.
Make recommendations to customers and other interested parties to ensure optimal compliance and performance of marine electrical and electronic equipment and systems, that meet customer requirements. Apply appropriate customer service principles and techniques. Meet customer needs (internal and external) and deliver required customer service in accordance with organisational policy and processes when undertaking a marine electrical and electronic work role.
Maintain the safety of self along with others by following safe systems of work when conducting marine electrical and electronic work operations. Identify and comply with all relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant information and guidance when planning and performing marine electrical and electronic work operations.
Consider sustainability and environmental impacts and apply environmental best practice when planning and performing marine electrical and electronic work operations.
Follow approved industry guidance and techniques, and operational work methods, practices, processes, principles, and procedures when undertaking the different marine electrical and electronic work operations, within required time frames.
Select, use, maintain, and store appropriate resources safely and correctly (tools, equipment, machinery and consumables).
Design, plan and set up to produce and install marine electrical and electronic systems including assemblies and sub-assemblies from marine electrical engineering drawings, electrical formulae and technical specifications in the correct manner (This will typically include design of electrical panels, power distribution requirements and best use of available space), ensuring the necessary resources are selected.
Follow quality improvement principles, techniques, and methods and identify any areas for improvement.
Use various wiring support mechanisms and systems to route and secure cables in accordance with regulations and best practice and install cables using appropriate segregation and separation methods, in accordance with required specifications in relation to positioning bulkhead penetration.
Conduct required tests and checks when performing work operations on different marine electrical and electronic systems.
Restore work area to a safe and tidy condition in accordance with organisational policy and procedures.
Complete relevant records and documentation relevant to marine electrical and electronic systems, in accordance with organisational documentation and any other relevant information and guidance.
Install, position and secure marine electrical and electronic equipment and components (propulsion, navigational, safety, domestic, operational, generation, communication, audio visual and IT, protection and ancillary systems) in accordance with design specification and following all required steps and checks for the approved work operation process and operational standards.
Support commission and system tests in accordance with the manufacturer's design specification, company best practice and processes and perform basic crew roles.
Check, test, and diagnose marine electrical and electronic equipment and components in boats to company and marine standards, using appropriate company and marine standards and other relevant documentation.
Power down, remove, repair and reuse or replace electrical and electronic equipment, circuits and cables. Lockout and tagout electrical and electronic equipment, circuits and cables.
Dispose of waste materials, in accordance with safe working and environmental practices and approved procedures.
Carry out required modifications and rewiring using approved materials and techniques, adhering to required specifications and instructions.
Fit required new marine electrical and electronic equipment adhering to best practice.
Perform routine servicing in the specified sequence using appropriate techniques and procedures.
Deal with any problems that may present themselves within their own area of responsibility.
Check, test, and diagnose battery condition and alternating current (ac) power systems and record results.

Your training plan

Level 3 Marine Electrician Apprenticeship Standard https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/marine-electrician-v1-2

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

5 GCSEs including English and Maths (grade 4 or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Practical skills
Self management
Team working

About this company

Our lifeboat crews and lifeguards need a dedicated, professional, and talented team behind them to give them lifesaving equipment that will stand up to the most ferocious weather around the UK and Ireland. In 2015 we completed the build of the All-weather Lifeboat Centre (ALC) in Poole so that we can manufacture and maintain lifeboats to the highest of standards. We have now brought our entire All-weather lifeboat refit activity in house after the success of transferring Shannon Class lifeboat production into the ALC. We now have predictable work for years to come.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Progression within the company for the right successful candidate.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE COLLEGE, THE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000301040.

Apply now

Closes in 27 days (Wednesday 5 March)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Apply direct to RNLI. https://jobs.rnli.org/vacancy/apprenticeships-x6---all-weather-lifeboat-centre---temporary-up-to-4-years-578658.html You will also be required to apply direct to the Bournemouth and Poole College to attend an academic interview

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