Engineering Apprenticeship – Build Your Future at Sea
Get paid to qualify. Learn from the best. Launch an exciting marine engineering career.
Are you finishing school, college or looking for a career with real purpose?
Do you enjoy engineering, solving problems, and want a career that's anything but ordinary?
Join Svitzer, the world's leading towage company, and become part of a team that keeps global trade moving.
This isn't just another apprenticeship. It's the start of a career where every day is different, you'll work on powerful vessels, develop specialist engineering skills and earn recognised qualifications while getting paid.
Why Svitzer?
Our tugboats may be small, but they're among the most powerful (for their size!) and technically advanced vessels on the water.
Operating in major ports across the UK and around the world, our engineers work with sophisticated propulsion systems, high-performance machinery and innovative marine technology to safely move some of the world's largest ships.
With over 4,000 employees and a fleet of 450+ vessels worldwide, Svitzer offers career opportunities that few companies can match.
What You'll Get
✔ Fully funded Level 4 Chief Engineer (Small Vessel) qualification – full course description Small vessel chief engineer / Skills England
✔ Earn while you learn
✔ Hands-on experience alongside experienced marine engineers
✔ Work with an industry-leading company
✔ Industry recognised qualifications
✔ Career opportunities across the UK
✔ A structured pathway to becoming a qualified Chief Engineer (Small Vessel)
Your Career Journey
This apprenticeship is designed to develop the next generation of marine engineers.
Over approximately five years, you'll gain the knowledge, practical skills and sea-going experience needed to achieve:
- Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW) Small Vessel Certificate of Competency, followed by;
- Chief Engineer (Small Vessel) Certificate of Competency
Throughout your apprenticeship you'll combine classroom learning at Fleetwood Nautical College with real-world experience onboard our vessels.
You'll be supported every step of the way.
We're looking for people who are:
- Curious and eager to learn
- Passionate about engineering and technology
- Reliable and hardworking
- Safety focused
- Ready for a challenge
- Comfortable working as part of a close-knit team
No maritime experience is needed—just the right attitude.
Entry Requirements
You'll need:
- GCSE (or equivalent) Maths or Physics at Grade 6 (B) or above
- GCSE English at Grade 5 (C) or above
- Full UK driving licence
- UK Resident and Right to work in the UK
- Live within one hour of one of our UK port operations (Southampton, Felixstowe, Gravesend)
- Flexibility to train in any of our UK port operations as required
- Be willing to work a 2-weeks-on, 1-week-off rotation, including time away from home
- Be able to commit to the full academic content of the programme including periods of study at Fleetwood Nautical College
- Be aged 18 or over when the programme starts
- Successfully pass an ENG1 Seafarer Medical (upon receiving an offer to the apprenticeship program)
- Ready to start mid-October – Exact date TBC
Salary & Benefits
- Paid apprenticeship from day one
- Fully funded qualifications – no college fees! (Travel & Accommodation provided)
- Year 1 hourly pay at the National Apprentice Wage
- From Year 2 your hourly rate will move onto the National Living Wage for your age bracket until you receive your first Certificate of Competency
- Expert mentoring and coaching
- Long-term career opportunities with an industry leader
Ready to Start Your Journey?
If you're looking for more than just a job—if you want an exciting career where you'll work with incredible technology, gain industry recognised qualifications and become part of a team that keeps the world's ports moving—this is your opportunity.
Apply today and start building your future with Svitzer.
Building a Diverse Workplace
In Svitzer we value the diversity of our talent and will always strive to recruit the best person for the job – we value diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to gender, age, nationality, race, sexual orientation, disability, or religious beliefs. We are proud of our diversity and see it as a genuine source of strength for building high performing teams.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that members from some under-represented groups are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t meet every single qualification. At Svitzer we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles, and we are excited about hearing from you!
How to Apply
To apply for this role, please 'Apply Now' and create a Candidate Home to manage your applications.
