Toolmaker and Tool Maintenance Technician (Standard) – Level 3
Toolmakers and Tool and Die Maintenance Technicians are predominantly involved in the highly skilled, complex and specialist detailed work of manufacturing and maintaining the engineering tooling used to produce components, products and assemblies
Course Summary

Course Information for Students
Who is this course for?
Toolmakers and Tool and Die Maintenance Technicians are predominantly involved in the highly skilled, complex and specialist detailed work of manufacturing and maintaining the engineering tooling used to produce components, products and assemblies. Their work can be used in cars, planes, boats and rail, energy, defence, food, clothing, packaging and health including medical equipment, devices and implants such as joint replacements.
This requires the application of a broad range of activities including the interpretation of engineering drawings and technical instructions and the use of hand, machine and automated computer controlled machine tools and measuring equipment.
You will be expected to test and adjust the systems, ensuring tooling, jigs, fixtures and assemblies meet the required specification.
This requires the application of skills, knowledge and occupational behaviours across a range of engineering disciplines.
Entry Requirements
Individual employers will set the selection criteria for their apprenticeships. In order to optimise success, candidates will typically have four GCSEs at grade C or equivalent, including Mathematics, English (grade 4 or above) and a Science. Employers who recruit candidates without English or Maths at grade C or above must ensure that the candidate achieves this standard prior to the completion of the apprenticeship.
What will you learn?
After a period of foundation skills and technical knowledge development, all apprentices will be required to achieve the following qualifications:
- Level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Foundation Competence)
After a further period of skills and technical knowledge development, all apprentices will be required to achieve the following qualifications:
- Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Competence) – Toolmaker, Tool and Die Maintenance
- Level 3 Diploma or Extended Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Knowledge)
Academic and practical learning will include:
- Analytical and Scientific Methods for Engineers
- Project Design, Implementation and Evaluation
- Instrumentation and Control Principles and Applications
- Mathematics for Technicians
- Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic and Digital Principles and Applications
- Quality Assurance Principles within Mechatronic Systems
- Applications of Pneumatics and Hydraulics
- Health, Safety and Risk Assessment in Engineering
- Plant and Process Principles and Applications
- Condition Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis
- Business Improvement Techniques
You will cover the following units:
- Complying with Statutory Regulations and Organisational Safety Requirements
- Working Efficiently and Effectively in an Engineering Environment
- Using and Communicating Technical Information
- Conducting Business Improvement Activities
- Producing Components using Hand Fitting Techniques
- Maintaining Mechanical Devices and Equipment
- Maintaining Electrical Equipment/Systems
- Wiring and Testing Electrical Equipment and Circuits
- General Turning, Milling and Welding Applications
- Producing Engineering Project Plans
How will you learn?
The apprenticeship will be delivered in the workplace and on-site.
What will you need to bring with you?
Apprentices will be expected to comply with their company’s standard Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) dress code. Any shortfalls in safety equipment will be addressed during the first week of the course.
How will you be assessed?
There will be two phases of training to ensure that apprentices meet this apprenticeship standard, in line with specified employer requirements.
The foundation phase will involve intensive off-the-job training focused on developing the apprentice’s core skills, knowledge and behaviour, allowing them to work effectively with supervision in a largely simulated working environment. This stage will typically require 1,400 Vocational Guided Learning Hours, building up from the basics to more complex engineering operations and practices. The tasks will be aligned to the job role to develop a range of tailored core engineering techniques. By the end of this phase, the apprentice will therefore be able to demonstrate, under independent test conditions, that they can deploy the relevant skills and occupational behaviours.
There will be an employer endorsement as part of the final assessment of this phase to ensure that the apprentice has demonstrated full competence against the knowledge, skills and behaviours in this apprenticeship standard. The employer will sign off that the apprentice is ‘job ready’ as a competent technician.
Where next?
Completion of this apprenticeship standard will be recognised by the relevant professional institutions as the evidence required for Engineering Technician (EngTech) registration through a professional review.
For those deemed capable and ready, there is the chance to progress to higher levels of education and training.
Who do you contact for more information?
For more information contact Derby College on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk
Is there any financial support available?
Course Information for Employers
Apprenticeship summary
This apprenticeship is designed as a three-year programme. It equips the apprentice with a complex blend of skills, knowledge and occupational behaviours. The focus is on maintaining the engineering tooling used to produce components, products and assemblies for cars, planes, boats and rail, energy, defence, food, clothing, packaging and health including medical equipment, devices and implants such as joint replacements.
Are they any entry requirements for my apprentice?
Individual employers will set the selection criteria for their apprenticeships. In order to optimise success, candidates will typically have four GCSEs at grade C or equivalent, including Mathematics, English (grade 4 or above) and a Science.
Employers who recruit candidates without English or Maths at grade C or above must ensure that the candidate achieves this standard prior to the completion of the apprenticeship.
What is required from the employer in the workplace?
Your apprentice will need access to work that covers a broad range of activities including installation, testing, fault finding and the ongoing planned maintenance of complex automated equipment.
You will also need to nominate a mentor to support the apprentice with the on-the-job training.
Behaviours expected within the role
Personal responsibility, resilience and ethics. Your apprentice will need to comply with health and safety guidance and procedures, be disciplined and have a responsible approach to risk, work diligently at all times, accept responsibility for managing time and workload, and stay motivated and committed when facing challenges. They will also need to comply with any organisational policies/codes of conduct in relation to ethical compliance.
Work effectively in teams. Your apprentice will need to integrate with the team, support other people, and consider the implications of their actions on other people and the business.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills. Your apprentice will need to be an open and honest communicator, communicating clearly using appropriate methods, listening to others and having a positive and respectful attitude.
Focus on quality and problem solving. Your apprentice will need to follow instructions and guidance, demonstrate attention to detail, follow a logical approach to problem solving and seek opportunities to improve quality, speed and efficiency.
Continuous personal development. Your apprentice will need to reflect on their skills, knowledge and behaviours and seek opportunities to develop, adapt to different situations, environments or technologies, and have a positive attitude to feedback and advice.
What qualification will my apprentice gain?
After a period of foundation skills and technical knowledge development, all apprentices will be required to achieve the following qualifications:
- Level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Foundation Competence)
After a further period of skills and technical knowledge development, all apprentices will be required to achieve the following qualifications:
- Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Competence) – Toolmaker, Tool and Die Maintenance
- Level 3 Diploma or Extended Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Knowledge)
What will the assessment look like?
There will be two phases of training to ensure that apprentices meet this apprenticeship standard, in line with specified employer requirements.
The foundation phase will be intensive off-the-job training focused on developing the apprentice’s core skills, knowledge and behaviour, allowing them to work effectively with supervision in a largely simulated working environment. This stage will typically require 1,400 Vocational Guided Learning Hours, building up from the basics to more complex engineering operations and practices. The tasks will be aligned to the job role to develop a range of tailored core engineering techniques. By the end of this phase, the apprentice will therefore be able to demonstrate, under independent test conditions, that they can deploy the relevant skills and occupational behaviours.
There will be an employer endorsement as part of the final assessment of this phase to ensure that the apprentice has demonstrated full competence against the knowledge, skills and behaviours in this standard. The employer will sign off that the apprentice is ‘job ready’ as a competent technician.
Will my apprentice need to come into college?
Is there any specialist equipment required?
Apprentices will only need the tools and equipment required for the tasks to complete the apprenticeship.
What progression can my apprentice expect after completion of their apprenticeship?
This apprenticeship standard will meet the professional standards of the Engineering Council for registration as an Engineering Technician (Eng Tech) by an appropriate professional engineering institution.
What job roles will this apprenticeship be suitable for?
Will the college help me find an apprentice?
You may already have someone in your organisation or someone has come to you direct asking for an apprenticeship, but if you don’t we have a free recruitment service to help you hire the best candidate for your organisation from our talent pool and external advertising through social media and the national apprenticeship services website
Contact us
If you are an employer and you would like to know more, please email businessenquiries@derby-college.ac.uk or call 01332 387421
Career Information
This course could lead to one of these careers...
Tool Makers, Tool Fitters and Markers-out
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£40548
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Course Information Last Updated On: October 12, 2021 2:29 pm