Apprentice HGV Mechanic/MOT Tester

Do you want to build a career making a difference to road safety in Great Britain?

Would you like to gain an industry recognised qualification and earn while you learn?

If so, we'd love to hear from you!

We are looking for people who have an interest in vehicle mechanics and want to build a career with us. Once you have completed your apprenticeship we will look to offer you a permanent role as an HGV MOT tester. This role comes with great career opportunities. This could be promotion into specialist approvals, working roadside as a vehicle examiner or into a management role. Your career in DVSA and where you go with us is up to you but we will support you all the way including further training opportunities.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably. We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles.

You will complete the Level 3 Heavy Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship. This is a three year apprenticeship. Click here to find out more about it. We expect enrolment for this apprenticeship to be in November 2026 and applicants will need to be available to start then.

This role is a Fixed Term appointment for a maximum length of three years; there will be a possibility of becoming a permanent Vehicle Standards Assessor/MOT Tester once the apprenticeship has been completed.

There is a physical nature to the role, which will require climbing up into larger vehicles to inspect the inside. There is also a need to climb in and out of a pit to inspect the underside.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the Kings birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at DVSA Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Your responsibilities will include, but arent limited to:

1. Gain practical experience repairing and maintaining heavy goods vehicles. This is undertaken via a work placement at a third-party workshop. Please note: some workshops might be an hour away from the advertised location.
2. Spend time away from home; this involves attending college for 8 blocks per year, lasting one week each, to work towards a qualification in heavy goods vehicle repair and maintenance. This is a mandatory part of the role.
3. Typically, spend one to two days a week shadowing a Vehicles Standards Assessor mentor at third party testing facilities. Here you will learn the various processes and routines used in vehicle testing. This will be your full-time role on completion of the apprenticeship.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile.

Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Open Sessions:

To find out more about the job and to get some advice on the application process, please join us at one of our virtual events where you will also have an opportunity to ask questions. You can register for an event here. There are a number of DVSA events scheduled, so please be sure to select one of the Apprentice Vehicle Standards Assessor events. A current apprentice will be at the event to give practical insight.

Essential qualifications/licenses:

1. Hold a Full UK Driving Licence at the point of application
2. If you are under 19 years of age, youll need GCSE grade C/4+ in Maths and English (or equivalent) or be willing to take these subjects as functional skills during the apprenticeship

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any qualifications/licenses at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

You have an interest in road safety, as well as mechanics and have a great eye for detail.

You have excellent communication skills with the ability to adapt your delivery to suit a wide variety of audiences.

You will be highly organised and possess excellent analytical skills.

Within this role you will be working towards a Level 3 qualification in Heavy Goods and Vehicle Maintenance. You will also be learning how to conduct MOT tests on lorries and buses to set you up for your future career with us.

Additional Information

To be eligible for this apprenticeship, you must:

• Be aged 18or over (this is due to the requirement for driving on business and overnight stays).
• Have the right to work in the UK.
• Not be in full-time education.
• Hold a full UK Driving Licence at the point of application.
• Not be in receipt of funding for other learning programmes at the point of enrolment for this apprenticeship.
• Have valid and eligible residency status and be resident in the UK for 3 years before the start of the apprenticeship.  Full eligibility details can be found at Annex A. If you are not sure if you meet the residency requirements then please contact us before applying.

If you currently hold or are working towards a similar qualification of the same level or higher, then you will not be eligible to apply for this vacancy. In order to be eligible for our apprenticeship vacancy, any qualifications previously held or currently being worked towards must differ in content so that this apprenticeship provides substantial new skills. Additionally you must not already be over-qualified or over-experienced in this type of work.

If you apply and are found to possess the above: your application will not be considered; any offer of employment will be withdrawn, and your contract will be terminated.

Operational Delivery Profession (ODP) is the largest and most diverse professional community across the Civil Service. Many of us will have an association with several professional communities or specialisms, ODP applies to all public facing roles / or a role that is primarily aligned to supporting the work of those with public facing roles. All critical to the delivery of UK public services. 

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying. Full-time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

For this role there is a business requirement for the successful candidates to be available to work a minimum of 37 hours per week.

This role is not suitable for hybrid working and will require the successful candidate to work solely from their designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, from other offices/work locations/visiting stakeholders.

Due to the nature of the role, you will be expected to drive on DVSA business. You will be provided with a fully insured and taxed lease car, which is for both work and personal use. Other running costs are also covered. You can also have up to two additional drivers use the vehicle.

This role will require a lot of travel, potentially covering a wide geographical area.

We recommend you are within 30-45 minutes travel time of your chosen location as you will be required to travel to a number of third-party sites within that area. Travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

If you have a question about flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.