Land Based Service Engineering Technician Apprenticeship (England)

Land Based engineering is a broad and highly specialised industry working with a vast array of machines. Employees are expected to work on a wide range of specialist vehicles and machines used in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, groundcare and fixed plant. An important role for employees is keeping equipment in good working order through planned maintenance, as well as carrying out any diagnostic and repair work when required. This Framework now has Apprenticeship Standards in place that will replace them.

This occupation is typically found in the agricultural, horticultural, forestry, amenities and outdoor power sectors.

A land-based engineering technician may work in the employer’s workplace or on site from a fully equipped service vehicle. They are required to work flexible working hours as dictated by seasonal requirements.

The technician acts as an ambassador for the employer’s business and the products represented, utilising their own initiative in a customer facing role.

Businesses employing land-based engineering technicians deliver technical support to their end user customers, dealership networks or own manufacturing activities.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to support the customer by conducting installation, setup, maintenance, diagnostic and the repair of land-based equipment throughout its end to end operating lifecycle.

They will conduct inspections and consultations and compile condition reports.  They diagnose and repair complex faults in prime movers, machinery, and equipment, prepare repair proposals and implement timely and cost-effective repairs.

The land-based engineering technician will verify the performance of prime movers, machinery and equipment against the manufacturer’s specification and customers’ expectations.

They understand the interrelationship of machines and the interface between machine, biological systems and the influence of the crop condition and working environment on optimum performance and operating expense.

They perform a multi-disciplinary role requiring a diverse blend of diagnostic activities and logical thought processes relating to mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, electronic and autonomous and automated land-based machinery and equipment.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide range of internal and external customers. This may include colleagues, suppliers, manufacturers, business to business customers and the public. They will embrace equality, diversity and inclusion.

They will typically report to a line manager.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for completing work to specification and quality requirements, on schedule and without immediate supervision.

Land-based service engineering technicians are responsible for managing the outcome of their assigned tasks.

They need to consider the land-based environment and conditions in which they operate along with health and safety and the implications of lone working.

Technicians are often called upon to supervise and mentor junior colleagues and dispense advice to customers regarding machinery selection and the application of technologically advanced products.

Land Based Service Engineering Technician Apprenticeship (England) website