Design Engineer Apprenticeship

Summary

We have an exciting opportunity for an Apprentice Design Engineer to join us at CPW. You will work on a wide variety of building projects across a range of sectors, applying research-led design, innovation, and sustainable methodologies to create tailored solutions, whilst delivering on net-zero carbon.

Wage

£20,500 a year

We offer a wide range of competitive benefits to all employees. Further details will be shared with you when we meet you.

Training course

Building services engineer (level 6)

Hours

General working hours will be 9.00am - 5.15pm, 4 days a week, with one day per week as your college release day.

36 hours 15 minutes a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

3 years

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

In your new role as a design engineer you will be:

• Be assigned to a close-knit team with a dedicated mentor and work with them on a variety of exciting construction projects across a range of sectors, including commercial, healthcare, industrial, education and residential
• Design mechanical and electrical engineering services to create high quality internal environments, developing detailed knowledge of heating, ventilation, cooling and lighting systems
• Design engineering distribution networks for essential building services, including power, water and data
• Design a variety of essential systems to ensure occupant safety
• Use sophisticated computer software to create 3D models detailing how buildings function
• Learn how to optimise the synergy between engineering and architecture to create low energy, sustainable buildings
• Meet and work with clients and other professionals such as architects, cost consultants, master planners, ecologists, contractors, acousticians and fire consultants
• Work closely with the construction teams on site to see your designs come to life
• Continue to work with evolving technologies and innovative approaches to create a sustainable future for the built environment

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

• 106 New Walk, Leicester, LE1 7EA
• 20-22 Victoria Street, Nottingham, NG1 2EX

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

CU APPRENTICESHIPS (BETTER FUTURES) LIMITED

Training course

Building services engineer (level 6)

What you'll learn

• Apply engineering principles to solve broadly defined engineering problems and contribute to continuous improvement: scientific, theoretical, and technical principles.
• Apply building services engineering techniques, procedures and methods, review and evaluate the results, including when measuring and testing, designing, installing, commissioning, maintaining or operating building services engineering systems or improving the performance of building services engineering components and systems.
• Employ mathematical, statistical and data interpretation tools, using analytical and computational methods, and apply an integrated or systems-based approach.
• Identify, interpret, and compare information in relation to materials, components or parts used in building services engineering.
• Research, collect, select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of data and information to address, analyse and evaluate building services engineering problems.
• Produce building services engineering technical solutions in accordance with relevant industry standards, policies, codes of practice, regulations, and legislation.
• Select and apply computational and analytical techniques to model building services engineering problems, recognising the limitations of the techniques employed.
• Contribute to the design, development and implementation of building services engineering solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness in the context of the whole project life cycle.
• Manage and comply with statutory health, safety and welfare policies, procedures and regulation, and contribute to improvements in health, safety and welfare, within their own area of responsibility.
• Complete risk assessments to identify, evaluate, manage and mitigate risks.
• Apply principles of sustainable development and evaluate their effectiveness on the whole project lifecycle of building services engineering solutions.
• Manage engineering activities that contribute to sustainable development and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
• Apply project management techniques, identifying, measuring, recording and reporting progress against building services engineering project performance criteria.
• Manage quality processes and contribute to quality improvements.
• Plans and manages resources, equipment and technology, to meet project requirements, specifications, costs and budgets and timescales, with an appreciation of statutory and commercial arrangements.
• Monitor and manage individual performance, and the input of others, recognising the need to adapt to, and communicate, changing demands.
• Comply with appropriate codes of practice and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) requirements.
• Communicate in verbal and written contexts using appropriate methods for the audience. Use appropriate engineering terminology and conventions.
• Apply teamwork and collaboration principles.
• Apply ethical principles, Identifying and analysing ethical concerns and making reasoned ethical choices.
• Plan, undertake and review their own professional competence, regularly updating, recording and reviewing their continuing professional development (CPD).
• Apply engineering principles to solve broadly defined engineering problems and contribute to continuous improvement: scientific, theoretical, and technical principles.
• Apply building services engineering techniques, procedures and methods, review and evaluate the results, including when measuring and testing, designing, installing, commissioning, maintaining or operating building services engineering systems or improving the performance of building services engineering components and systems.
• Employ mathematical, statistical and data interpretation tools, using analytical and computational methods, and apply an integrated or systems-based approach.
• Identify, interpret, and compare information in relation to materials, components or parts used in building services engineering.
• Research, collect, select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of data and information to address, analyse and evaluate building services engineering problems.
• Produce building services engineering technical solutions in accordance with relevant industry standards, policies, codes of practice, regulations, and legislation.
• Select and apply computational and analytical techniques to model building services engineering problems, recognising the limitations of the techniques employed.
• Contribute to the design, development and implementation of building services engineering solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness in the context of the whole project life cycle.
• Manage and comply with statutory health, safety and welfare policies, procedures and regulation, and contribute to improvements in health, safety and welfare, within their own area of responsibility.
• Complete risk assessments to identify, evaluate, manage and mitigate risks.
• Apply principles of sustainable development and evaluate their effectiveness on the whole project lifecycle of building services engineering solutions.
• Manage engineering activities that contribute to sustainable development and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
• Apply project management techniques, identifying, measuring, recording and reporting progress against building services engineering project performance criteria.
• Manage quality processes and contribute to quality improvements.
• Plans and manages resources, equipment and technology, to meet project requirements, specifications, costs and budgets and timescales, with an appreciation of statutory and commercial arrangements.
• Monitor and manage individual performance, and the input of others, recognising the need to adapt to, and communicate, changing demands.
• Comply with appropriate codes of practice and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) requirements.
• Communicate in verbal and written contexts using appropriate methods for the audience. Use appropriate engineering terminology and conventions.
• Apply teamwork and collaboration principles.
• Apply ethical principles, Identifying and analysing ethical concerns and making reasoned ethical choices.
• Plan, undertake and review their own professional competence, regularly updating, recording and reviewing their continuing professional development (CPD).

Training schedule

You will acheive a Level 4 HNC in Building Services Engineering and will study, one day per week

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4)
• Maths (grade 4)
• Science (grade 4)

Desirable qualifications

A Level in:

• Maths (grade C)
• Physics (grade C)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Problem solving skills
• Number skills
• Team working

Other requirements

• You must have a Level 3 qualification to progress onto a Level 4 Study
• This can include A levels, BTEC or NVQ