Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
Engineering & Manufacturing Foundation Apprenticeship
An entry point for younger people into general engineering and manufacturing operations, combining employability skills and behaviours, technical knowledge and skills, and English and maths, with clear progression into a specialist Level 2 or Level 3 apprenticeship.
Overview
Foundation apprenticeships are employed positions designed for younger people who will benefit from a wide range of experiences. This standard covers general engineering and manufacturing operatives found across production, maintenance, assembly, machining, fabrication and welding, and additive manufacturing functions in sectors including automotive, aerospace, energy, and general manufacturing.
It combines hands-on workplace practice with off-the-job learning, certifying competency in technical knowledge and skills alongside employability skills and behaviours. It maps to four Engineering Operative (ST0537) pathways — Maintenance, Mechanical Manufacturing, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, and Fabrication — giving apprentices a natural progression route into a full Level 2 or Level 3 apprenticeship.
Apprentices must normally be aged 16 to 21 at the start of the apprenticeship (exceptions per DfE funding rules). Employers can access up to £2,000 per foundation apprentice under DfE Apprenticeship Funding Rules 25/26, subject to retention and progression.
Assessment Components
Assessment is organised around three Assessment Outcomes (AOs), assessed at appropriate milestones through the programme rather than a single end-point event. Good2Go's role differs from our other standards here: we deliver the knowledge test and provide independent quality assurance sign-off, while the training provider carries out the practical observation directly with the apprentice.
- Delivered by: Good2Go
- Format: Paper (TP-invigilated) or remote proctoring
- Covers: K1, K2, K3, K5, S1, S2, S3
- Covers AO2: K4, K6, K7, K13, S4, S5, S10
- Covers AO3: K8, K9, K10, K11, K12, S6, S7, S8, S9
- Conducted by: Training provider (not Good2Go)
- Format: Workplace-based practical observation
- Conducted by: Good2Go (quality assurance / approval)
- Grading: Pass (per performance descriptor: reliable, effective, appropriate to standard)
The assessment plan does not prescribe exact assessment methods or timing beyond requiring a knowledge test and a practical assessment — the four-step model above reflects Good2Go's delivery approach as set out in the Gantt chart, not a fixed requirement of the standard.
What's Assessed in the EPA
The End Point Assessment evaluates apprentices across Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours as defined by the occupational standard:
Technical Knowledge (selected)
- Health, safety and welfare regulations, PPE, and sustainability/waste disposal principles
- The engineering and manufacturing function and the operative's role
- Job specifications, drawings, and technical information
- Tools, equipment, and machinery: use, basic maintenance, and storage
- Hand-based and machine-based tasks (measuring, marking out, bench fitting, drilling, milling, turning, grinding, basic CNC, additive manufacturing)
- Simple quality checks: visual inspection and basic operational testing
Technical Skills (selected)
- Comply with health, safety and welfare responsibilities; use and store PPE
- Prepare and maintain the work area; dispose of waste safely and sustainably
- Interpret engineering/manufacturing drawings and technical information
- Apply basic hand-based and machine-based engineering techniques
- Carry out simple quality checks of own work
Employability Skills & Behaviours
- Communicate using verbal, non-verbal, written, and digital methods
- Act professionally, including timekeeping and conduct
- Apply new learning and feedback to everyday practice
- Complete own work tasks and ask for help when needed
- Work with colleagues to contribute to team outcomes
- Overcome challenges and adapt to changes at work
Full K1-K13, S1-S10, and EB1-EB8 statements are set out in the FA0006 occupational standard, grouped into three Assessment Outcomes (AO1-AO3) — this is a summary for the webpage, not the complete mapping.
Good2Go EPA Support
At Good2Go Awards, we provide comprehensive support throughout the EPA journey:
Programme Roadmap to Success
Assessment happens at milestones throughout the programme rather than as a single end-point event. Good2Go's delivery model, based on our own Gantt chart, follows this sequence:
AO1 Workbook & Knowledge Test
The apprentice completes the AO1 workbook covering health, safety, regulatory, and environmental responsibilities, then sits the AO1 Multiple-Choice Test. Good2Go delivers this on paper (training provider invigilates) or via remote proctoring.
AO2 Workbook & Assessment
The apprentice completes the AO2 workbook (preparation, interpretation, and quality), followed by the AO2 assessment confirming this Assessment Outcome has been met.
AO3 Workbook & Assessment
The apprentice completes the AO3 workbook (components, tools, and techniques), followed by the AO3 assessment confirming this Assessment Outcome has been met.
Portfolio Evidence Collection & Upload to ACE360
Evidence demonstrating AO2 and AO3 in practice is collected into a portfolio and uploaded to ACE360.
Observation of AO2 & AO3
The training provider — not Good2Go — carries out the practical observation of the apprentice applying AO2 and AO3 in the workplace, and records this as part of the portfolio evidence.
Final EPA — Portfolio Review & Approval
Good2Go reviews the AO2/AO3 portfolio and observation evidence on ACE360 as an independent quality assurance check, then approves. Results are released within 5-7 working days.
Employer confirms Employability Skills & Behaviours (EB1-EB8) have been demonstrated before award
Requirements Before Assessment
Foundation Apprenticeships are not gated in the same way as our other standards — assessment happens at appropriate milestones through the programme. Before the Final EPA (portfolio approval), the apprentice must have:
- Completed a minimum of 187 hours of off-the-job learning
- Completed the AO1, AO2, and AO3 workbooks and assessments
- Passed the AO1 Knowledge Test
- Compiled a portfolio of AO2/AO3 evidence, including the training provider's observation
- Progressed towards English and maths qualifications in line with DfE Apprenticeship Funding Rules
- Portfolio of AO2/AO3 evidence, including training provider observation records
There are no mandatory qualifications or licence-to-practice requirements for this occupation. Apprentices must normally be aged 16-21 at the start of the apprenticeship.