Engineering covers a wide range of sectors and activities, and is a fast moving and diverse industry with many occupational routes including a significant number of roles at Technician level, Foundation Apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships and Graduate level Apprenticeships can be supportive in meeting the needs of the sector in many areas of engineering skills requirements.
The Level 3 qualification is work based but candidates are required to attend college to complete an NC or HNC and this can take between 12 and 24 months depending on the chosen route. The qualification structure requires the learner to complete common mandatory units within their chosen pathway followed by a number of optional units from a provided selection but additional units can be taken to meet a business’s needs. There are 6 separate pathways under this framework. The first 3 mandatory units apply to each pathway as listed below:
Full details of the qualification can be found on the SQA or EAL Website as appropriate using the following link :
Full details of the Modern Apprenticeship framework can be found on the Skills Development Scotland Website using this link :
| Qualification | Modern Apprenticeship |
| Awards Body | EAL |
| SVQ Level | 3 |
| SCQF Level | 6 |
| Course Code | GL3N 23 |
Mandatory Units
All 3 mandatory assessment routes must be completed
| SFWE3/001A | Complying with statutory regulations and organisation safety requirements |
| SFWE3/002A | Using and interpreting engineering data and documentation |
| SFWE3/003A | Working efficiently and effectively in engineering |
Optional Units
Pathway 1 – Pipe and Tube Fabrication SFWEA
Learners must complete a further 5 assessment routes from the optional section (optional section : 1 assessment route must be chosen from Group A, 1 from Group B, 2 from Group C and 1 from Group D) (total of 8 units) for this pathway
Group A : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/022A | Marking out components for metalwork |
| SFWE3/027A | Developing and marking out templates for metalwork |
Group B : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/033A | Cutting and shaping materials using portable thermal cutting equipment |
| SFWE3/034A | Cutting materials using saws and abrasive discs |
Group C : Two optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/044A | Forming pipework by machine bending |
| SFWE3/045A | Producing pipe fabrications |
| SFWE3/037A | Producing and finishing holes using drilling machines |
Group D : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/028A | Joining fabricated components using mechanical fasteners |
| SFWE3/046A | Producing socket and flange fillet welded joints in pipe using a manual welding process |
| SFWE3/029A | Bonding engineering materials using adhesives |
| SFWE3/039A | Slinging, lifting and moving materials and components |
Pathway 2 – Manual Welding SFWEB
Learners must complete a further 1 assessment route(total of 4 units) for this pathway
One optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/004A | Welding materials by the manual metal arc process |
| SFWE3/005A | Welding materials by the semi-automatic MIG/MAG and flux cored arc processes |
| SFWE3/006A | Welding materials by the manual TIG and plasma arc welding process |
| SFWE3/007A | Welding materials by the manual oxy/fuel gas welding process |
| SFWE/008A | Welding pipe/tube using multiple manual arc welding processes |
| SFWE/009A | Welding plate using multiple manual arc welding processes |
Pathway 3 – Welding Machine Settings and Operating SFWEC
Learners must complete a further 2 optional assessment routes – 1 from Group A and 1 from Group B (total of 5 units) for this pathway
Group A : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/010A | Preparing mechanised arc welding equipment for production |
| SFWE3/011A | Preparing resistance spot, seam and projection welding machines for production |
Group B : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/016A | Welding materials with mechanised arc welding equipment |
| SFWE3/017A | Welding materials using resistance spot, seam and projection welding machines |
Pathway 4 – Plateworking (3mm upwards) SFWED
Learners must complete 6 optional assessment routes – 1 from Group A, 1 from Group B, 2 from Group C and 2 from Group D (total of 9 units) for this pathway
Group A : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/022A | Marking out components for metalwork |
| SFWE3/027A | Developing and marketing out templates for metalwork |
Group B : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/032A | Cutting plate and sections using shearing machines |
| SFWE3/033A | Cutting and shaping materials using portable thermal cutting equipment |
| SFWE3/034A | Cutting materials using saws and abrasive discs |
| SFWE3/066A | Operating CNC fabrication equipment |
Group C : Two optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/035A | Bending and forming plate using press brakes or bending machines |
| SFWE3/036A | Forming platework using power rolling machines |
| SFWE3/037A | Producing and finishing holes using drilling machines |
| SFWE3/038A | Producing platework assemblies |
Group D : Two optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/028A | Joining fabricated components using mechanical fasteners |
| SFWE3/031A | Producing fillet welded joints using a manual welding process |
| SFWE3/039A | Slinging, lifting and moving materials and components |
Pathway 5 – Sheet Metalworking (3mm or less) SFWEE
Learners must complete a further 3 mandatory assessment routes from Group A, plus 3 additional optional assessment routes – 2 from Group B, and 1 from Group C (total of 9 units) for this pathway
Group A : The following 3 mandatory assessment routes must be completed
| SFWE3/022A | Marking out components for metalwork |
| SFWE3/023A | Cutting sheet metal to shape using hand and machine tools |
| SFWE3/024A | Forming sheet metal using hand and machine tools |
Group B : Two optional assessment routes must be completed
| SFWE3/025A | Producing sheet metal assemblies |
| SFWE3/026A | Heat treating materials for fabrication activities |
| SFWE3/027A | Developing and marking out templates for metalwork |
Group C : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/028A | Joining fabricated components using mechanical fasteners |
| SFWE3/029A | Bonding engineering materials using adhesives |
| SFWE3/030A | Joining materials by resistance spot welding |
| SFWE3/031A | Producing fillet welded joints using a manual welding process |
| SFWE3/039A | Slinging, lifting and moving materials and components |
| SFWE3/066A | Operating CNC fabrication equipment |
Pathway 6 – Structural Steelwork SFWEF
Learners must complete a further 6 optional assessment routes – 1 assessment route from Group A, 1 from Group B, 2 from Group C and 2 from Group D (total of 9 units) for this pathway
Group A : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/022A | Marking out components for metalwork |
| SFWE3/027A | Developing and marking out templates for metalwork |
Group B : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/032A | Cutting plate and sections using shearing machines |
| SFWE3/033A | Cutting and shaping materials using portable thermal cutting equipment |
| SFWE3/034A | Cutting materials using saws and abrasive discs |
| SFWE3/066A | Operating CNC fabrication equipment |
Group C : Two optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/040A | Forming structural sections using machines |
| SFWE3/041A | Producing structural steel ancillary components |
| SFWE3/042A | Producing major structural components/sub-assemblies |
| SFWE3/037A | Producing and finishing holes using drilling machines |
Group D : Two optional assessment route must be completed
| SFWE3/028A | Joining fabricated components using mechanical fasteners |
| SFWE3/031A | Producing fillet welded joints using a manual welding process |
| SFWE3/039A | Slinging, lifting and moving materials and components |
| SFWE3/043A | Erecting structural steelwork |