Instrumentation: Engineering Apprenticeship

The application window to apply for apprenticeships starting in September 2024 is now closed. HETA will begin accepting applications for their September 2025 opportunities from October 2024.

An instrumentation technician monitors environmental and atmospheric changes in industrial environments.

The process controlled systems operated by these technicians are central to the operation of such facilities as chemical plants, canneries, food processing plants, air and water pollution control agencies, petroleum reveries and power plants.

What Technicians do:

• test and record the ejects of varying conditions, actual or simulated, such as vibration, temperature, humidity, pressure, deferential pressure, liquid ow and level, altitude, acceleration, pH, conductivity, stress and chemical analysis.
• prepare graphs and written reports translating test results into meaningful terms.
• select, install, calibrate and check out telemetering and recording instruments and circuits.
• using engineering data and considering the limitations of the equipment being tested, they develop speciation's for non-standard apparatus and equipment.
• they may make sketches and build or modify instruments and related apparatus. They also may verify the acceptability of devices which have been fabricated by craft workers or other technical personnel.
• in addition, technicians troubleshoot, repair and perform preventive maintenance on test apparatus and peripheral equipment.

Some Instrumentation Technicians work as service representatives who install and maintain equipment and systems at the customer’s worksite. In addition to providing preventive and corrective maintenance, their duties may involve training the customer’s employees and advising them of proper procedures to use to avoid equipment breakdowns.

Your first year of your apprenticeship you will be based at the HETA training centre. The first 8 months you will undertake a multi-skilled engineering programme consisting of Mechanical, Electrical, and Fabrication/Welding. The last 3 months, you will undertake your specialised training in Instrumentation. 4 days a week in a practical workshop- 1 day a week in a classroom based environment underpinning knowledge to complete your Level 3 qualification.

In years 2 and 3, you will spend the rest of your time of your apprenticeship programme within your sponsored company.

HETA's entry requirements are a minimum of 4 GCSEs - grades 5-9 (or A*-C) including:

• Maths
• English
• Science
• Additional GCSE

As well as Level 3 qualifications, HETA also offer a two year Higher National Certifcate (Level 4) and a one year Higher National Diploma (Level 5). Learners may have the opportunity to enroll on the following programmes within the second year of their apprenticeship programme. HNC’s and HND’s are a great route to moving on to higher-level qualifications; you can do extra studies working with our university partners to top up the HND into a full degree.

Completing Higher level qualifcations like HNC’s and HND’s give you great opportunities in your career. Not only are you more competent but also gives you a stepping stone into senior and management roles.