Vehicle Maintenance Apprenticeship

Holcim Ltd; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction materials company in Gateshead is seeking an apprentice for equipment maintenance and repairs. You will learn to diagnose and repair specialist machinery used in road construction while gaining hands-on experience and academic knowledge. The ideal candidate is motivated, enjoys learning, and has strong problem-solving skills. This role focuses on maintaining high safety and quality standards, with opportunities to develop into a long-term engineering career.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualifications and industry experience can be customized for the apprenticeship.
• Enjoy practical work, motivated by problem solving.
• Confident in following safety processes and instructions.

Responsibilities

• Learn on site while combining hands‑on experience and academic study.
• Resolve equipment issues at local sites.
• Carry out equipment inspections and verify performance.

Skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Attention to detail

Organisation skills

Customer care skills

Problem-solving skills

Administrative skills

Logical thinking

Team working

Initiative

Patience

Job description

You’ll learn how to maintain, diagnose, and repair a wide range of specialist equipment used in road construction and surfacing. This includes the machinery, tools, and technology that keep our sites running safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards.

Responsibilities

• Spend much of your time learning on site, combining hands‑on experience with academic study.
• Work at our depot and travel to local sites to resolve equipment issues as they arise.
• Take part in day‑to‑day engineering tasks and gradually build the confidence to diagnose faults, carry out equipment checks, and support timely repairs that keep projects moving.
• Carry out equipment inspections, compile reports, verify performance against specifications, and deliver safe, cost‑effective repairs that support our operational teams.
• Learn how we maintain high standards in safety, quality and environmental performance while ensuring we produce and deliver the right materials to our customers.
• Interpret technical data, documentation, schematic diagrams, wiring diagrams and technical specifications.
• Work in accordance with Safe Systems of Work and apply control measures (Health and Safety at Work Act, lone working, working at height, risk assessments) to safeguard bystanders, the public, property and livestock.
• Use digital equipment to interrogate land‑based machinery, extract data, and communicate results to stakeholders.
• Obtain information from colleagues and stakeholders using a range of techniques.
• Establish the information required to perform an efficient and effective diagnosis.
• Communicate technical matters to technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Perform repairs of technologically advanced land‑based machinery, equipment and prime movers in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines and industry standards.
• Measure and assess wear tolerances and deformation in line with manufacturer instructions or guidance.
• Identify components that require repair or replacement, and provide alternative solutions where appropriate.
• Repair or replace component parts in accordance with manufacturer guidelines.
• Establish and replicate the circumstances and conditions that give rise to reported faults.
• Determine whether reported symptoms are indicative of a characteristic or a fault.
• Diagnose faults and reported underperformance using approved diagnostic procedures, equipment, and logical problem‑solving techniques.
• Maintain, interrogate, calibrate, and repair electronic equipment and systems (precision technology, electronic management systems, telemetry, autonomous and automated operations).
• Differentiate between the root cause and symptom of land‑based machinery failures.
• Identify crop, soil, climatic and environmental factors that impact performance of land‑based machinery.
• Identify the equipment settings appropriate to working conditions, considering crop, soil types, weather and climatic conditions.
• Perform verification tests to check performance against manufacturer specifications.
• Identify stakeholder requirements and provide tailored advice that informs selection and operation of appropriate machinery to meet the land‑based environment.
• Apply supervision and mentoring techniques to support junior colleagues’ development.
• Plan and prepare maintenance or repair work schedules, showing task allocation, sequencing, workflow and time management.
• Compile technical reports and statements.
• Provide technical input to facilitate the compilation of repair schedules, action plans, quotations and estimates.
• Identify parts and services required to enable reinstatement of land‑based machinery for estimates and quotations.
• Perform installation and handover, explaining safe operation, settings required for the environmental conditions and application, and the maintenance and warranty requirements.
• Establish the level of customer understanding of how to operate machinery or equipment following installation and handover.
• Use predictive and preventative maintenance effectively to minimise downtime.
• Identify toxic and hazardous substances and environments and apply suitable and sustainable control measures.
• Dispose of equipment, components and substances in accordance with environmental regulations, industry standards and company policy.
• Keep up to date with advances in environment land‑based working practices, engineering technologies and share best practice.
• Understand how contextual factors (operational techniques, crop, soil types, conditions, environmental, weather and climatic conditions) impact machine performance and faults.
• Repair complex electrical and electronic systems in accordance with job requirements.

Qualifications & Skills

• Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem‑solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Logical thinking
• Team working
• Initiative
• Patience

Personal Attributes

• You are someone who enjoys practical work, is motivated by problem solving and has a genuine interest in how machines and systems operate.
• You are naturally curious and like asking questions so you can learn and improve.
• You feel confident following clear processes and instructions, especially when it comes to safety, and you understand the importance of keeping yourself and others safe at work.
• Most importantly, you are motivated, eager to learn and ready to build a long‑term career in engineering.