4 minute read
The Metrology Technician apprenticeship standard was first introduced in 2017, to develop essential metrology skills, which are fundamental to a wide spectrum of sectors and industries including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, construction, energy, environment, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and space.
Measurement skills enable organisations and businesses to increase confidence in specifications and performance and boost productivity. Around 6% of all employment in the UK involves taking measurements (1).
The Metrology Trailblazer group includes representation from employers and other key stakeholders including professional bodies, associations and training providers and is chaired by Claire Hutchinson at NPL.
The Metrology Technician standard has been revised to ensure it continues to meet the needs of employers in ever increasing digital, data and technologically advanced environments. The standard sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by competent Metrology Technicians and can support a wide range of related job roles across science and engineering workforces.
The standard is aligned to the professional registration requirements of Registered Science Technician (RSciTech) and Registered Engineering Technician (EngTech). This means that, in recognition of the knowledge, skills and professional experience gained through the standard, apprentices will be eligible for registration of RSciTech or EngTech status upon completion - enhancing their early career progression and raising the profile of their employer's workforce. The revised Metrology Technician standard also aligns with Level 1 of the National Metrology Skills Alliance (NMSA) Metrology Skills Framework.
The importance of skilled Metrology Technicians cannot be overstated. Their work is integral to measuring everything from the reliability of data to industrial emissions, making them essential to science, engineering, the advancement of technology, the innovation process and the economy.
Claire Hutchinson, Chair of the Metrology Trailblazer Group and Training Unit Leader at NPL, said: “The Level 3 Metrology Technician standard has been reviewed and updated to ensure that the standard continues to meet the needs of employers across a wide variety of sectors and industries, whilst providing a development opportunity for individuals interested in a career in metrology.
As an employer, NPL has offered the Metrology Technician apprenticeship standard since its inception in 2017, alongside a variety of other apprenticeship programmes. Apprenticeships offer a key early careers talent pipeline within our organisation, providing excellent development and growth opportunities for individual apprentices. I would like to thank the metrology trailblazer group for their effort, input and contributions during the review of the Level 3 Metrology Technician standard.”
Daniel Smith, Assistant Scientist at NPL and Metrology Technician apprenticeship graduate, said: “The Metrology Technician apprenticeship afforded me the opportunity to leave an unsatisfying career and follow my passion in science and engineering. I am now in full time employment within the nuclear metrology group, operating and maintaining a particle accelerator, managing a high-profile research project, with more opportunities on the horizon. This has been possible because of the knowledge and skills I have obtained through the apprenticeship and the guidance I have received from my tutors and line managers throughout.”
A Metrology Technician apprenticeship graduate at Procter and Gamble (P&G) said: “This apprenticeship has dramatically improved the way I approach tasks and projects at work. The most important part of working in Research & Development for a large Consumer Goods company is collecting robust, repeatable and reliable data to provide products that are proven to meet/exceed the expectations of our customers. Therefore, the deep understanding of Metrology that I have gained from this apprenticeship has given me a strong eye for detail and a questioning mindset, so that I always thoroughly plan my studies/experiments to ensure that the data I produce is valuable and trustworthy.”
A Manager at Procter and Gamble (P&G) said: “This is the first time we have run the Metrology Apprenticeship at P&G and have seen huge benefits from this course. Being a large company comes with the risk of institutionalizing ourselves and doing things because it is “what we have always done”. This apprenticeship has brought to light new measurement methods, technologies and practices that will help us improve our operations, ensure data integrity and keep up to date with competition.”
If you would like to find out more about the revised Metrology Technician standard please visit the Skills England website.
If you would like to find apprenticeship training providers that deliver the Metrology Technician standard, please visit the find apprenticeship training website.
(1) UK Measurement Strategy for the National Measurement System, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, December 2022. Available at: UK Measurement Strategy for the National Measurement System (accessed 22 September 2025)
26 Nov 2025