Engineering Trades Apprenticeship

Location

Dunfermline, Fife | United Kingdom

Job description

Programme title: Engineering Trades Apprenticeship
Level: SCQF Level 5
Salary: 

Year 1 - £14,791
Year 2 - £20,106
Year 3 - £23,822
Year 4 - £27,106
Post apprenticeship: £36,231
Location: Rosyth, Scotland
Application closing date: March 2024
Programme start date: August 2024

Ready to learn a skilled trade? On our 4-year Engineering Trades Apprenticeship, you’ll develop specialist engineering trade skills and gain hands-on experience maintaining the Royal Navy's fleet. 

About the programme 

This is no ordinary engineering apprenticeship. Our engineers are at the forefront of building and maintaining the Royal Navy’s fleet.

As part of our busy team, you'll contribute to the build, maintenance, and refit of UK Royal Navy and international naval vessels, including the Type 31 Frigate Programme and UK Submarine Dismantling Programme.

You will have the opportunity to work on a variety of projects such as new builds and upgrades to existing vessels, along with other commercial engineering projects.  

This varied and exciting programme covers trades including Mechanical, Electrical, Fabrication, CNC Machining, Pipefitting and Welding. You'll be assigned one of these trade routes to specialise in. 

Find out more about each of the trades below. You’ll be asked to indicate your preferences during the application process.

Mechanical Fitting 

You’ll be trained to use a variety of hand and machine tools whilst learning how to identify faults and return equipment to working condition. You’ll be involved in the installation, commissioning, maintenance and repair of a wide range of equipment including engines, pumps, valves and hydraulic equipment. You could even work on complex weapon systems and nuclear reactor systems.

Electrical Fitting

You’ll learn how to interpret electrical engineering drawings and specifications to rebuild strip, test and maintain a variety of electrical equipment and machinery. You’ll gain knowledge and understanding of the practical skills you’ll need to install, connect and assist in the commission of complex electrical circuits on projects like the Type 31 Frigate Programme, small ships and nuclear submarines. You will also support the daily running of the site by helping maintain a vast network of high and low voltage equipment, advanced robotic panel lines, and CNC machinery. You will have support from experienced trade professionals onsite who will help you develop your electrical skillset. 

Fabricating

You will manufacture a wide range of components and construct minor and major ship structures such as the hull, shell, deck, bulkheads, seats, frames and girders using a range of metals. You’ll be trained in outfitting steelwork components, including the installation of doors, auxiliary seating, ladders, hatches and platforms. You will also learn to tack weld using different welding processes and will be trained to use thermal cutting equipment, power tools and metalworking machinery.

CNC Machining 

You will learn the various processes involved in producing precision components, from raw material state through to testing the integrity of the finished item. These components will be manufactured on CNC Turning and Milling Machines. You will learn how to manufacture basic and complex components from Engineering Drawings and learn how to work with CAD/CAM software and 3D models to produce complex components. 

Pipefitting 

Using a range of materials, from plastic to high-quality stainless steel used on submarine reactor systems, you’ll be involved in the manufacture and installation of low and high pressure pipe systems such as water, air, hydraulics, steam and fuel. You’ll learn a range of skills including how to interpret engineering drawings, how to fabricate pipes and pipe brazing. You can expect a varied workload working on ships, submarines as well as in the workshop and service systems within the dockyard. 

Welding

As well as learning all forms of welding, you’ll also gain some fabrication skills to enable you to manufacture items or repair structural parts of the naval fleet. You could be involved in manufacturing components in our factory one day, repairing the shipside of a warship the next or working on a submarine to ensure its watertight integrity.

Whatever route you take, you'll gain knowledge and skills in: 

• Health and safety 
• Planning and documentation 
• Engineering mathematical and scientific principles 
• Methods and techniques 
• Structure, properties and characteristics of materials 
• Diagnostic methods to overcome problems 
• Interpreting engineering drawings and data 
• Adhering to and refining processes and procedures 

At the end of the 4-year programme, you'll have all the skills and experience you need to embark on a fulfilling career supporting the future of marine and defence engineering. 

Your education/training

As part of your apprenticeship, you will receive training at Fife College (mechanical fitting, electrical fitting, CNC machining and pipefitting) or Forth Valley College (fabricating and welding). During your apprenticeship, you will study towards: 

• SVQ Level 2 in Performing Engineering Operations
• SVQ Level 3 in your chosen engineering discipline/trade route   
• National Certificate in your chosen discipline/trade route   
• Core skills at intermediate 2/SCQF Level 5 (Including NVQ Level 3). 

Through a combination of classroom learning and onsite training you’ll develop well-rounded engineering competencies and behaviours, preparing you for life in the industry.  

Through rotations across departments, you'll grow a broad expertise in engineering and gain insight into our operations, helping you to thrive in this vital role.  

What you’ll need  

• National Level 5 qualifications in Maths, English, and a Science or technical subject. 
• Two other qualifications at either National Level 4 or 5.
• Many of our early careers roles are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold or have held may impact which roles you are eligible for. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels – GOV.UK ( For our early careers roles, you must be able to achieve BPSS and many of them require you to be eligible for Security Clearance.

What you’ll get

We will provide you with a supportive and engaging environment where you can grow your career.

In addition, you’ll benefit from:

• Fully funded qualification
• Personal development training and opportunities
• Minimum 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays
• Competitive pension scheme 
• Employee share scheme
• Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme and employee shopping savings portal

You’ll also have the chance to get involved in our STEM outreach activities and volunteering opportunities, which our apprentices find incredibly rewarding.

Your career development

It’s hard to beat the variety of fantastic opportunities and business experiences you’ll receive. You can expect real world encounters and exposure to exciting projects that will really help you navigate where you want to take your career.

Plus, when you join us, you’ll be automatically enrolled onto our Apprentice Development Programme. Through a series of digital and face to face sessions, presented by wellbeing and performance experts and our external partners, we will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to thrive and perform at your very best on your programme and beyond.

Closing dates

Please be aware that if there is a high level of interest in this programme, applications may close earlier than advertised. To give yourself the best chance of being considered for a place on this programme, please submit your application as early as possible.

Job tags

Salary

£36.23k per annum