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Marine Engineering Apprentice

Location: Charlton - Duration: 4 years - Starting salary: £18,000

About the apprenticeship

The apprentice will study towards a Level 3 apprenticeship, run by South Essex College, following the Maritime Engineering Technician standard. The duration of the apprenticeship is typically four years. The college training is delivered through weekly day release, which will require the successful candidate to travel to the training provider’s facility in Basildon, for which travel costs will be reimbursed.

Training is supplemented by on-the-job experience, mostly at our Charlton Barge Yard. The successful candidate will be required to work independently outside of the college training to build their portfolio of work evidence necessary to pass the apprenticeship while also keeping their training records up-to-date.

Typical duties:

  • Assist with the installation of new equipment, components and systems

  • Assist with ship repair projects at our Gravesend site

  • Follow safety protocols while working around the Barge Yard and on the boats

  • Keep the workshop clean and maintained

  • Maintain and understand the purpose of Stores

  • Attend and participate in training sessions as required

The Apprenticeship Journey

Here's what to expect over your four-year apprenticeship.

Induction - Week 1 to 6

We will register you with South Essex College, where you will meet your classmates and complete their induction and gain an understanding of Health and Safety, Equality and DIversity, Prevent and British Values.

Cory's induction will give you an overview of the company as a whole, introduce you to the key areas of the business outside Charlton (the transfer stations, energy from waste plant and head office), as well as making you're settled into your new team successfully.

Cory pays you a highly competitive salary of £18,000/year from your first day with the company, so you'll be learning while you earn from the outset. This is reviewed annually based on your performance and attitude.

Years 1 to 3

You'll attend South Essex College in Basildon on day release, where you'll gain the following qualifications:

- Level 2 Diplomas in Maritime Defence (Foundation Knowledge and Foundation Competence)

- Level 3 Diplomas in Maritime Defence (Development Knowledge and Competence)

The college will formally review your progress every 10 weeks and come to meet your managers at Cory every 6 weeks.

Your manager, mentors and Apprenticeships Manager will also meet you regularly to check on your progress and continue to challenge and build your skills.

Year Four

Unlike the first three years, the final year of the apprenticeship is spent entirely at the workplace, where you'll complete work-based assessments.

The College continues to give you the same support as in the first three years and will continue to visit and help you prepare for your end point assessment in months 46-48.

You'll go through Gateway (the final step prior to your end point assessment) with the College and Cory's support and finally put you through end point.

If successful, you'll complete your apprenticeship and receive the appropriate certification.

After the apprenticeship

There's no guarantee of a permanent position with Cory after your apprenticeship, but if you show the right attitudes to learning and progress well then we hope to make you permanent when you complete your apprenticeship if a position is available. We don't forget about you at the end of the apprenticeship either - our Apprentice Manager will continue to meet with you for the first 12 months after graduation to make sure you're continuing to develop and integrate into the business.

Meet the apprentices

Don't just take our word for it.

Here's what our apprentices love about working for Cory.

  • I chose an apprenticeship because it gives me college training and the practical on-the-job experience for my career as a marine engineer. It's great to learn from my colleagues' decades of experience.

    Tyler

    Marine Engineering Apprentice (2023 intake)

  • What I've enjoyed most about this apprenticeship is meeting new people and how welcoming everyone was with me when I first started, which gave me a real boost in confidence.

    Dennis-James

    Engineering Apprentice (2023 intake)

Salary and package

An apprenticeship is a great alternative to studying at university. You'll be paid a competitive salary from your first day with the company, which we review each year.

  • Starting Salary: £18,000

  • A competitive benefits package including company pension

Entry Criteria

You must have the following qualifications, or expect to obtain these qualifications:

  • Mathematics - GCSE Grade 4 or higher

  • English Language - GCSE Grade 4 or higher

  • Science - GCSE Grade 4 or higher is desirable

Please note if you sat your exams outside of the UK, you would need to provide a Statement of Comparability for Eligibility Reasons at your assessment centre. More information is available here.

It is important to note that this is an entry-level apprenticeship position with strict academic entry requirements. If you hold a Bachelors or Masters degree then unfortunately, we will be unable to consider your application.

Other information

This apprenticeship will begin in late August 2024.

This role is based in Charlton but will involve travel to other Cory sites, e.g. Gravesend, to assist with support and projects as necessary. You will also need to travel to South Essex College in Basildon for the day-release training. A full driving licence is therefore desirable.

Working hours: Monday to Friday 06:00-14:30.