Mechanic

As a mechanic, you will use a range of tools and engineering techniques to build, maintain and repair mechanical machinery and equipment. You will be using engineering drawings and diagrams to guide you.

Also known as:

• Mechanical fitter

Work activities

As a mechanic, you will use a range of tools and engineering techniques to build, maintain and repair mechanical machinery and equipment. You will be using engineering drawings and diagrams to guide you. Your duties could include:

• Servicing and repairing machinery.
• Spotting damaged or worn mechanical parts.
• Using precision measuring instruments to check parts for accuracy.
• Using hand tools to cut, drill, shape and finish machine parts.
• Some welding and soldering.
• Testing the machinery or equipment to ensure it performs as it designed to.
• Strictly following health and safety procedures.
• Making sure all your work is of a high quality.
• Completing documentation related to the work you have carried out.
• Working as part of a team.

Personal qualities and skills

As a mechanic, you’ll need:

• Good practical skills.
• An interest in understanding how machines work.
• To understand technical information and diagrams.
• To be able to write reports, describing the repairs and services you have carried out.
• To understand and follow health and safety regulations.
• The ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• You will need to be able to spot faulty machine parts.
• To be able to ask questions to find out what is wrong with the machine, and have the ability to explain problems and repairs to supervisors and managers.

Pay and opportunities

Mechanics earn from about £18,000 per year to £35,000.

Mechanics usually work up to 3u-45 hours a week, Monday to Friday. However, shift work, night and weekend work may be required. They may also be called out if an essential piece of equipment breaks down.

Employers are a broad range of manufacturing companies, public utilities and organisations such as hospitals or universities that may have a lot of mechanical equipment. Opportunities for mechanics occur with employers in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local/national newspapers, trade industry publications, and on the Government’s Find a Job service. Vacancies can also be found through specialist engineering recruitment agencies, internet job boards and the websites of professional engineering bodies.

Entry routes and training 

An apprenticeship is an ideal way into this career, providing full training while you work a paid job. Relevant programmes include:

• Aviation maintenance mechanic – military (level 2 / intermediate)
• Bicycle mechanic (level 2 / intermediate)
• Construction equipment maintenance mechanic (level 2 / intermediate)
• Maritime mechanical and electrical mechanic (level 2 / intermediate)
• Motor vehicle service and maintenance technician - light vehicle (level 3 / advanced)

Other apprenticeship programmes are also available.

Qualifications

To get onto an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship in this industry, you will need GCSEs in English and maths, although you may be able to complete these alongside your programme.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Those with skills gained in industrial production work have an advantage, including:

• Plant maintenance.
• Mechanical fault finding.
• Reading and following engineering technical drawings.
• Installation.
• Manual machine operation.

Related careers

• Installation engineer
• Maintenance technician
• Mechanical engineering technician