Frequently Asked Questions

Information for those considering engineering as a career

Why choose a career in engineering?

The confusion of choosing a career path after GCSE’s can be daunting to say the least. Many young people desire a prosperous career, and an Engineering Apprenticeship is the way forward. Today’s hi-tec society requires enthusiastic young people to work within the engineering industry. The Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) offers a full range of Engineering Apprenticeships and is keen to recruit young people.

Who are HETA?

The Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) has been providing a service to the engineering industry since 1967 when it was formed under the name of the Humberside Group Training Scheme. HETA operate from its premises based in Hull, Grimsby and Scunthorpe. The extensive training workshops are fully equipped for all engineering scenarios. HETA has been training school leavers for over forty years and has a wealth of experience amongst its qualified staff. Training is given to standards demanded by the Engineering & Marine Training Authority (EMTA) and the Engineering Trade Unions. HETA is also an approved training provider for the Humberside LSC.

What does HETA offer?

We offer Apprenticeships, which includes to NVQ levels 2, 3 and 4 in Engineering Occupations and other related work activities. We can help you get an Apprenticeship on leaving school or college, with local employers. All applicants have to sit a selection test, team building and work shop assessments to determine their suitability for training in the engineering industry. Those applicants who know which Engineering Apprenticeship they wish to follow and who have achieved satisfactory results in the selection tests, will then, subject to a preliminary interview, be put forward for job interviews with local companies. Subsequently, those employed will attend HETA, for basic training, for between six months and one year as part of the Apprenticeship.

Listed below are the main engineering trades, try to find out something about them – this will help you make a choice and be of value in job interviews:

What is a HETA Apprenticeship?

A chance to gain skills and qualifications with one of the best training providers in the country. You will be employed or sponsored by some of the regions best engineering/manufacturing companies and in most cases you will be paid a weekly wage whilst you learn within a working environment.

Do I need qualifications?

Four good GCSE passes (A, B or C grades) in Maths, Science, English and one other subject, preferably a Design Technology subject, are the standard requirements. All applicants will also have to take our assessments to help us determine their suitability for training.

How do I apply?

Apply on-line by following the links on our website www.heta.co.uk

Alternatively contact your local centre: Hull 01482 826635, Grimsby 01469 552880 or Scunthorpe 0330 333 31501

What happens next?

If you are eligible you will be invited to attend assessments designed to establish numerical ability, mechanical understanding and special ability. Applicants that have achieved suitable scores will then be invited to attend a functional skills test and team building/assessment taster day, before being invited to attend for an interview to select the engineering area you are interested in most. Finally, your application will be considered by our client companies at an Open Day, at which you will be able to meet company representatives.

Following the Open Day companies will then invite chosen applicants for formal interviews.

When does the training start?

Your training programme will start at the end of July with an induction and initial assessment period. Full training commences early September.

What kind of training will I get?

You will receive a combination of ‘Off-the-Job Training’ in our training centre and ‘On-the-Job Training’ at employer’s premises for which you will follow a planned training programme, which will lead to National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) at Level ll and III. The training will be in practical and technical skills. You will also receive training in such things as communicating, problem solving and planning. We also offer a Technical Certificate that will be delivered in our training centre as part of your Apprenticeship.

What is a Technical Certificate & what qualifications can I hope to achieve?

All trainees will have the opportunity to achieve NVQ Level II and III; some will progress to NVQ IV. A technical certificate is an academic qualification which has the equivalent of 2 A Levels. It gives the theory that directly relates to the practical work being carried out in the workshop and gives the learner the knowledge to progress into higher education. The technical certificate is a nationally recognised qualification and is an integral part of an apprenticeship.

How far can I progress?

The technical certificate is a stepping stone onto a Foundation Degree which many of our client companies are happy to support over the duration of the apprenticeship.