How you'll make a difference:
As a Heavy Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician Apprentice, you will play a key role in supporting the maintenance, servicing, repair and inspection of the council’s diverse fleet of vehicles and equipment.
Working alongside experienced mechanics, you will help ensure that all vehicles, including those owned by the council as well as those from partner organisations and external customers, are maintained and tested to the highest standards, and in a timely, efficient manner. Your contribution will be vital in keeping essential services operating safely, reliably and effectively.
This is an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a busy workshop environment, where you will develop practical skills, technical knowledge and confidence as part of a supportive and professional team.
What you will be doing:
- Working closely with qualified mechanics, you will support them in carrying out mechanical and electrical inspections, maintenance and repair work across a wide range of council vehicles.
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Learning how to prepare vehicles for MOT testing, you will identify any defects, carry out necessary repairs and complete routine servicing and inspections.
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You will gain experience working on larger and more complex vehicles and equipment, including 26-tonne gritters, tankers, buses tippers, vans, cars and plant machinery.
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This hands-on role involves working both indoors and outdoors, sometimes in physically demanding conditions. You will use compressed air power tools, work in confined spaces such as inspection pits under vehicles and climb ladders and gantries.
What we need from you:
- You will ideally hold a minimum of GCSE A*-C/4-9 or an equivalent qualification in English and maths or be willing to undertake and gain Functional Skills Level 2 in English and maths as part of the apprenticeship.
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It is essential that you have the drive and willingness to learn new things and be committed to gaining your qualification.
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You should have an interest in vehicles and a desire for this to become a career.
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You must meet the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) eligibility requirements. These include:
o be aged 16 years or over
o be an EEA citizen (with Right to Work in the UK) and not be in any other kind of full-time education (including being enrolled on any other apprenticeship programme).
What you need to know:
Face to face Interviews will be held on 5th and 6th August 2026
All candidates that successfully reach the interview stages will be required to provide a 10-minute presentation as part of the recruitment process. Candidates who do not provide a presentation at interview will not progress through the recruitment process.
Throughout your 3 year apprenticeship, we will allocate you a workplace mentor to give you guidance and support in completing your Level 3 Heavy Vehicle Service and Maintenance technician apprenticeship, which will involve block release learning at City of Bristol College, Parkway Campus, Motor Vehicle Technology Centre at Parkway, New Road, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8SF.
This is a 36-month limited term contract for the duration of the apprenticeship programme.
As part of this training route, you will need to undertake a basic skills assessment as part of the selection process. These will be emailed to you by the training provider, City of Bristol College.
The salary for this apprenticeship is set at the current National Minimum Wage:
Age
Hourly rate
Annual salary
The apprenticeship starts on 5th October 2026. Therefore, we will require for the successful person to start employment with us during September 2026.
How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different:
- As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
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We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.
- We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
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We're planning for the future; building and improving the roads, railways, schools, green spaces, and houses.
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We’re providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.
We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.
We’re making a difference, be part of it!
To view the full job description, please click this link:Mechanic Apprenticeship Advert June 2026
