Bicycle Mechanic Apprenticeship

Summary

As a Bike Apprentice, you will be working alongside our qualified Bike Workshop Manager and volunteers, repairing and maintaining bikes, assisting with workshops, and engaging with our community. This role is perfect for someone passionate about cycling, sustainability, and learning new skills.

Annual wage: £9,984 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Bicycle mechanic (level 2)
Hours: Number of Hours: 30 hours a week Lunch break length: 30 minutes unpaid Start Time: 9.30am Finish Time: 4.00pm
30 hours a week
Possible start date: Saturday 1 February
Duration: 1 year 6 months
Positions available: 1

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

Key Responsibilities:

Assist in repairing and maintaining donated bikes to make them roadworthy.
Learn and apply key cycle mechanic techniques under the guidance of skilled professionals.
Help rehome bikes to individuals and families in need.
Maintain a clean and organised workspace.
Support the sale of repaired bikes to fund the project.
Support community workshops, teaching basic maintenance skills to participants.
Promote cycling as a sustainable and healthy lifestyle choice within the community.
Work alongside volunteers from diverse backgrounds, each bringing unique needs and levels of experience.

What You’ll Gain:

Hands-on training in cycle mechanics.
Opportunity to gain an accredited qualification in cycle maintenance.
Practical experience in a dynamic, community-focused environment.
The chance to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.

Where you’ll work

Longacre House,

Longacre Way,

Shopwhykes Lakes,

Chichester

PO20 2JG

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

ACTIVATE LEARNING

Your training course

Bicycle mechanic (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents

Use specialist bicycle diagnostic equipment to identify fault and formulate a plan to solve the problems; identifying when it is uneconomical to proceed.
Use cycle workstand correctly to safely and securely hold a bicycle on the appropriate part of the frame.
Service a cup and cone type hub, identifying worn parts and correct replacements.
Remove and replace sealed cartridge bearings using appropriate tools.
Service cable operated brake systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using the correct spare parts and torque settings.
Bleed hydraulic brake systems.
Service derailleur gear systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using correct spare parts and torque settings; straighten a derailleur hanger.
Tap the crank arm threads.
Identify the different standards of cranks and bottom brackets; remove and replace crank arms, bottom brackets and tap and face the bottom bracket shell.
Identify chain wear; assess compatibility issues, taking account of chain line and correctly split and install a quick link based chain.
Tape road handlebars.
Remove and replace a set of forks, taking account of the correct way to cut a fork steering column to size. Hydraulic fork servicing, disassemble and clean stations and cartridges and re-grease properly.
Remove, replace and service a headset, taking account of sizing standards.
Perform alignment checks to a bicycle frame.
Hand-build a wheel of differing complexities (for example, from simple 3-cross to manufacturer specific wheel systems) in the patterns required for non-disc, front disc and rear disc to the required tolerance and correctly dished and tensioned.
Set up and adjustment of internal gears.
Conduct quality assurance check of build or repair work completed.
Complete handover once completed build or repair is finished, including advising on further and future work required, changes to operation, required on-going maintenance and complete paperwork as appropriate.
Serve customers or clients on any required area of the store; refer them on to a more senior colleague or to ask for help; seek after market sales.
Communicate via suitable means with customers (telephone, text, email, social media) in order to ensure good service is maintained.
Use catalogues (hard copy and online) to identify parts and order to fulfil customers needs.
Use manual system and workshop diary and complete any associated paperwork.
Deal with complaints, following employer and manufacturers policies.
Identify when something has failed or is not fit for purpose.
Maintain proper tool maintenance and general workshop cleanliness and tidiness.
Use specialist bicycle diagnostic equipment to identify fault and formulate a plan to solve the problems; identifying when it is uneconomical to proceed.
Use cycle workstand correctly to safely and securely hold a bicycle on the appropriate part of the frame.
Service a cup and cone type hub, identifying worn parts and correct replacements.
Remove and replace sealed cartridge bearings using appropriate tools.
Service cable operated brake systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using the correct spare parts and torque settings.
Bleed hydraulic brake systems.
Service derailleur gear systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using correct spare parts and torque settings; straighten a derailleur hanger.
Tap the crank arm threads.
Identify the different standards of cranks and bottom brackets; remove and replace crank arms, bottom brackets and tap and face the bottom bracket shell.
Identify chain wear; assess compatibility issues, taking account of chain line and correctly split and install a quick link based chain.
Tape road handlebars.
Remove and replace a set of forks, taking account of the correct way to cut a fork steering column to size. Hydraulic fork servicing, disassemble and clean stations and cartridges and re-grease properly.
Remove, replace and service a headset, taking account of sizing standards.
Perform alignment checks to a bicycle frame.
Hand-build a wheel of differing complexities (for example, from simple 3-cross to manufacturer specific wheel systems) in the patterns required for non-disc, front disc and rear disc to the required tolerance and correctly dished and tensioned.
Set up and adjustment of internal gears.
Conduct quality assurance check of build or repair work completed.
Complete handover once completed build or repair is finished, including advising on further and future work required, changes to operation, required on-going maintenance and complete paperwork as appropriate.
Serve customers or clients on any required area of the store; refer them on to a more senior colleague or to ask for help; seek after market sales.
Communicate via suitable means with customers (telephone, text, email, social media) in order to ensure good service is maintained.
Use catalogues (hard copy and online) to identify parts and order to fulfil customers needs.
Use manual system and workshop diary and complete any associated paperwork.
Deal with complaints, following employer and manufacturers policies.
Identify when something has failed or is not fit for purpose.
Maintain proper tool maintenance and general workshop cleanliness and tidiness.

Your training plan

Level 2 Bicycle mechanics Apprenticeship

Dedicated Performance Coach - regular visits

18 months + (up to 3 months) for End Point Assessment.

Remote (but the apprentice will have to attend a training centre to complete Cytech qualifications).

Additional professional trade qualifications

Cytech online Theory One
Cytech Technical Two
Cytech Technical Three

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade 3-4 (D-C))

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

Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Initiative
Non judgemental
Keen interest in cycling

Other requirements

DBS Check will be required.

About this company

Do you love the idea of transforming lives through the power of two wheels? At the Chichester Bike Project, we believe cycling is more than just a mode of transport—it's a way to empower individuals, build confidence, and bring communities together. Our mission is simple: to help people from all walks of life embrace the joy of cycling. Thanks to the generous bike donations from the people of Chichester, we repair and rehome bikes within the community, making cycling accessible, inclusive, and empowering for everyone.

https://chichesterbikeproject.com (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

To be confirmed on completion of apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ACTIVATE LEARNING

Jenny Hyam

faculty.enrolments@activateapprenticeships.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000291496.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Friday 17 January at 11:59pm)

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