Apprentice Structural Engineer

Etex Group

Cropthorne, Newton Aycliffe

Closes on Thursday 31 July 2025

Posted on 17 April 2025


Summary

An exciting opportunity to join Etex as a Structural Engineer Apprentice, working on innovative light gauge steel frame systems. You'll learn advanced CAD and structural design skills while contributing to real projects that are transforming how buildings are designed and built.

Training course
Engineering design technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday between 8:30am – 5pm.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

2 years 6 months

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

  • Adhere to the Integrated Management System
  • Develop skills in CAD tools under supervision, producing General Arrangement (GA) drawings, sketches, manufacturing, and installation drawings for light gauge steel elements.
  • Perform structural engineering calculations for load-bearing and non-load-bearing light gauge steel frames, associated hot-rolled members, and composite floor slabs.
  • Deliver excellent project work within agreed deadlines and budget
  • Keep management informed of important and relevant design decisions to make sure that the objectives of the company and the client are achieved.
  • Assist the design and detailing team with daily tasks, including updating internal filing systems and maintaining up-to-date design information

Where you’ll work

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

  • Nicholas House, Cropthorne, WR10 3NE
  • Eastfields Farm, Heighington Lane, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 6QG

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

T3 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT LTD

Your training course

Engineering design technician (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents
  • Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards.
  • Work in accordance with the design process, company management systems, policies and procedures.
  • Review and interpret technical information and requirements from different sources such as specifications, engineering drawings, concepts, stakeholders.
  • Identify and assess factors that affect designs such as materials, application, location, risk and environment.
  • Select materials and parts.
  • Propose and evaluate ideas for sustainable engineering concepts to solve engineering challenges.
  • Develop solutions that can be manufactured or built, and proven, operated and maintained during their operational life and decommissioned or recycled at the end of their operational life.
  • Provide feedback on engineering designs.
  • Apply quality assurance procedures to engineering drawings or models, including own designs and those of peers.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Produce written documents, schedules and reports.
  • Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
  • Identify inaccuracies or discrepancies in drawings and specifications and propose solutions.
  • Incorporate changes to an existing design as a result of any modifications made during the as-built implementation.
  • Create concepts for system layouts and associated components.
  • Read, interpret and establish design intent.
  • Determine the correct tolerances for components of the design.
  • Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
  • Perform simple calculations to use in design drawings.
  • Use measuring techniques for reverse engineering.
  • Option 1. Produce general arrangements of electrical power.
  • Option 1. Produce detailed drawings of electrical power components such as wires connection, voltage, capacity, main switches.
  • Option 1. Identify cable types and application.
  • Option 1. Use digital tools such as CAD and BIM to produce electrical power project deliverables such as output drawings and electrical designs.
  • Option 2. Produce general arrangements of control and instrumentation designs.
  • Option 2. Produce detailed drawings of control and instrumentation components such as cable numbers, wire colours, junction block numbers and panel identification.
  • Option 2. Identify different cable types and appropriate application.
  • Option 2. Use digital tools such as CAD to produce control and instrumentation project deliverables.
  • Option 3. Produce general arrangements of mechanical designs.
  • Option 3. Produce detailed drawings of mechanical components such as part dimensions, shape and manufacture.
  • Option 3. Use digital tools such as CAD to produce mechanical project deliverables.
  • Option 4. Produce general arrangements of piping design.
  • Option 4. Produce detailed drawings of piping components such as pipework, ducts and fittings and including supports and skids.
  • Option 4. Use digital tools such as CAD or Plant Design Management Systems to produce piping design project deliverables.
  • Option 5. Produce general arrangements of structures showing multiple materials such as steel, concrete, masonry, timber.
  • Option 5. Produce detailed drawings for multiple materials such as steel, concrete, timber or masonry.
  • Option 5. Use digital tools such as CAD and BIM to produce structural project deliverables.
  • Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards.
  • Work in accordance with the design process, company management systems, policies and procedures.
  • Review and interpret technical information and requirements from different sources such as specifications, engineering drawings, concepts, stakeholders.
  • Identify and assess factors that affect designs such as materials, application, location, risk and environment.
  • Select materials and parts.
  • Propose and evaluate ideas for sustainable engineering concepts to solve engineering challenges.
  • Develop solutions that can be manufactured or built, and proven, operated and maintained during their operational life and decommissioned or recycled at the end of their operational life.
  • Provide feedback on engineering designs.
  • Apply quality assurance procedures to engineering drawings or models, including own designs and those of peers.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Produce written documents, schedules and reports.
  • Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
  • Identify inaccuracies or discrepancies in drawings and specifications and propose solutions.
  • Incorporate changes to an existing design as a result of any modifications made during the as-built implementation.
  • Create concepts for system layouts and associated components.
  • Read, interpret and establish design intent.
  • Determine the correct tolerances for components of the design.
  • Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
  • Perform simple calculations to use in design drawings.
  • Use measuring techniques for reverse engineering.

Your training plan

  • 2 ½ Year Engineering Design Technician (Level 3) Apprenticeship Programme.
  • Design and Draughting Skills, Knowledge & Behaviours – delivered in the workplace.
  • Level 3 BTEC in Construction and the Built Environment – Day Release or Remote Delivery.
  • Specialist Training Programme Blocks of your choice.
  • End Point Assessment – Knowledge Test, Practical Test and Presentation/Interview.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4+)
  • Mathematics (grade 4+)
  • Science (grade 4+)

Desirable qualifications

A Level in:

  • Mathematics (grade A Pass or above)
  • Physics (grade A Pass 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

  • Attention to detail
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Team working

About this company

At Etex, our purpose is to inspire new ways of living. We are an international leader in sustainable construction, driven by a passion for excellence, but it's our people that are our top priority. We connect, collaborate, and champion the well-being of our employees, forming partnerships and pioneering change in our ever-evolving industry.

http://www.etexgroup.com (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Possible progression onto Structural Engineer.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

T3 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT LTD

Will Mackintosh

Will.mackintosh@t3-training.com

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000316059.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 31 July 2025

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