Apprentice Engineer - Mechanical Building Services

The broad purpose of the occupation is to bring the built environment to life by designing the buildings we live and work in, ensuring they meet the needs of the people, plant, and services they need to accommodate whilst providing this efficiently and sustainably to meet climate control objectives.

The Mechanical Building Services Engineer Apprentice will be responsible for contributing to the design and implementation of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems within building projects. This role offers a unique opportunity for professional career development, hands-on experience, and mentorship from experienced professionals within the field.

Responsible for generating good quality, accurate designs, calculations, modelling and drawing records of mechanical building services engineering drawings, and work under the supervision of Engineers and Technicians.

In this position, you will be enrolling to the BEng (Hons) Engineering Design and Manufacture (Mechanical) Graduate Apprenticeship. As part of the program, you will attend Heriot-Watt University on a day-release schedule to earn the theoretical engineering qualification, with support from a learning mentor to complete the apprenticeship. Throughout the program, apprentices are continuously evaluated through a mix of university coursework and work-based projects.

Apprentices will gain a BEng (Hons) Engineering Design and Manufacture Degree qualification which is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). With a combination of on-the-job training and academic studies you will work towards fully satisfying the requirements for registration as an Incorporated Engineer.

• To provide Mechanical Building Services draughting and modelling tasks for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and public health systems
• To provide Mechanical Building Services calculation and simulation tasks for a range of different building services systems
• To carry out discrete tasks and can manage their own time effectively.
• To work well within a team environment collaborating with engineers, architects, civil, structural engineers, project managers and other stakeholders to integrate building services into project designs.

• Learn from, and be mentored by, senior members of the Engineering and CAD teams
• Learn to produce schematic, general arrangement and detailed drawings in accordance with drawing markups and relevant standards, under the supervision of a Technician/Senior Technician
• Learn to ensure the production or updating of CAD drawings is carried out to a high quality in accordance with company procedures
• Learn to produce design calculations for building services systems, under the supervision of an Engineer/Senior Engineer
• Learn and develop a working knowledge of sustainable technologies and carbon reduction techniques in building services systems towards net zero objectives.
• Work closely with other members of the design team to help deliver a quality product
• Learn about design co-ordination, and how it relates to the building services drawings
• Develop an appreciation of the company philosophy of Perfect Delivery
• Develop an appreciation of the company QA procedures, and learn how to check their own work prior to submission to their supervisor
• Help with the registering and document control of incoming information and outgoing deliverables.
• Help with office and project filing and maintaining calculation and drawing records, such as check and record file copies
• Develop positive relationships with colleagues through good professional conduct
• Attend in-house Engineering and CAD courses and seminars
• Be willing to learn new design trends / design techniques involving sustainable methods, new technology and software
• Be a good member of the team, and be willing to work extended hours on occasions if required

• SQA Highers at BBBB including Mathematics, plus Physics or similar​
• A-Levels at BBC including Mathematics, plus Physics or similar​
• SQA HNC in an engineering discipline (or relevant Modern/Technical Apprenticeship) with Engineering Mathematics 1 & 2 (or equivalent)​
• Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering in conjunction with SQA Highers at BBB* including Mathematics​

Technical:

• A working knowledge of AutoCAD, Autodesk REVIT and IES would be an advantage but not essential.
• Ability to work under the supervision of an Engineer or Technician to produce 2D & 3D deliverables
• To be willing and able to develop knowledge and experience of mechanical building services, heating ventilation and air-conditioning and public health systems
• An ability to understand drawing markups, and able to develop a good eye for the detail of specific tasks
• Be willing and able to learn and develop knowledge of sustainable technologies and carbon reduction techniques in building services design
• To be willing and able to develop an outline appreciation of Health and Safety, CDM regulations, and how they relate to the tasks under their remit.
• Be willing and able to learn and develop knowledge of current UK technical standards/publications and legislation requirements
• Be willing and able to learn and develop knowledge of standard details and solutions, and compliance.
• To have proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel

Professional Development:

• Attend University and work towards formal academic qualifications.
• Stay updated on industry trends, codes, and standards relevant to building services design.
• Participate in training programs and seek opportunities for continuous professional development.

Personal abilities:

• To be a good learner, and able to pick up new tasks and ideas readily
• Ability to work accurately and methodically, under the supervision of Engineers and Technicians
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to work well within a team of other Engineers and CAD Technicians
• Knowledge of engineering science and technology
• Good maths knowledge along with analytical thinking skills
• Good attention to detail, being thorough and diligent in the delivery of tasks
• The ability to use your initiative, to learn and adapt to new challenges

Eligibility for Graduate Apprenticeship: 

• Application Requirement: You must complete an application on the SAAS website at the start of every academic year to ensure your tuition fees are covered
• This apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with a Scottish university and funded via the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). To be eligible for this funding, candidates must have the right to live and work in the UK and typically need to have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years before the start of the course. We are committed to inclusive recruitment and encourage applications from all backgrounds; however, applicants must meet the funding and university eligibility criteria associated with this programme.