2027 Manufacturing Apprentice - Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship

Thales Group; Henstridge; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance‑related pay uplifts

Holiday entitlement 201 hours

Contributory Pension

Health Care Cash Plan

Hybrid/flexible working options

Employee assistance programme

Learning and development support

Employee discounts and wellbeing

Life Cover

80 Hours Volunteering per year

Job summary

Thales Group in Templecombe invites applications for a 2027 Manufacturing Apprentice - Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship. The role combines hands‑on manufacturing training with college study, leading to a Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Operations.

You’ll work 37 hours on site across shifts, earn £24,000 annually, and move into a permanent role after completing the programme. Security clearance and UK right‑to‑work are required.

Qualifications

• 2 GCSEs grade 4 (D) or above, in Maths and English
• Applicants must have permanent right to work in the UK and be able to obtain UK government security checks (BPSS/SC).

Responsibilities

• Assist with assembly, testing and inspection of manufacturing components and sub‑assemblies.
• Support daily production activities and setup, operation, and maintenance of manufacturing equipment.
• Learn to read and interpret technical drawings, engineering specifications and work instructions.
• Adhere to UK health and safety regulations and company safety policies.
• Carry out quality control checks to ensure products meet standards.
• Maintain accurate production records and report faults promptly.
• Collaborate with team members to solve manufacturing and process challenges.

Education

GCSE Maths

GCSE English

Job description

Location: Templecombe, United Kingdom

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

2027 Manufacturing Apprentice - Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship

Start Date:

Monday 6 September 2027

Salary:

£24,000 per annum

Employee Type:

Permanent

Location:

Templecombe

Working Schedule:

37 hours per week on site (12.33 hours Monday - Wednesday days or nights or Thursday - Saturday days or nights).

Year 1 - Monday - Friday 37 hours a week, moving to a 4-day week (9.25 hour) after completing your academic year at college when 18 years of age. Then after completing the apprenticeship start 3-day week (12.33-hour shifts)

Turn your curiosity into a career. If you're passionate about manufacturing, eager to learn, and looking for an apprenticeship that blends academic study with hands‑on experience, we'd love to hear from you.

Benefits of the programme:

• Earn a salary while studying for your apprenticeship
• Gain hands‑on experience in a real working environment
• Receive job‑specific training and development
• Achieve a recognised qualification
• Secure a permanent role from the start of your apprenticeship

• Tuition fees for the approved training providers are fully covered

About the Role:

Join our Level 2 Manufacturing Apprenticeship in Templecombe and build your future with Thales from the ground up. This is a great start if you're keen to learn practical skills, understand how manufacturing really works, and want a pathway that can lead to a long‑term career‑whether you stay in manufacturing or explore new opportunities within the business.

You'll receive hands‑on training focused on our Towed Array business line, and after you complete the apprenticeship, you'll join one of the 4 shifts in the area‑becoming a valued part of the team from day one.

What You Will Learn:

• Assembly techniques
• Wiring and looming
• Soldering
• ESD safety

You’ll also be provided with the equipment and software you need to succeed while working across Thales.

Please note that during the apprenticeship you will work a standard week of 37 hours Monday to Friday.

Upon programme completion, you will roll off the scheme into a permanent role in the business and will move to a shift working pattern. This will be a 3‑day week (either Monday to Wednesday, or Thursday to Saturday) and will consist of 12.33‑hour shifts. These shifts operate 24 hours per day 6 days a week which include night shifts.

Due to the requirement of shift working applicants must be a minimum age of 17 at the point of commencing the apprenticeship September 2027.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with the assembly, testing, and inspection of manufacturing components and sub‑assemblies.
• Support daily production activities and the setup, operation, and maintenance of manufacturing equipment.
• Learn to read and interpret technical drawings, engineering specifications, and work instructions.
• Adhere strictly to UK health and safety regulations and company safety policies.
• Carry out quality control checks to ensure products meet industry and company standards.
• Maintain accurate production records and report faults or issues promptly.
• Participate fully in apprenticeship training modules and qualifications (e.g., BTEC, NVQ or equivalent).
• Collaborate with team members to solve manufacturing and process challenges.

Apprenticeship Programme:

As a Manufacturing Apprentice, you will enrol onto a Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship at Yeovil College. The programme is 12 months in duration, plus 6 months for the End Point Assessment period. It will be delivered via a day release model whereby academic content is delivered in the classroom on set study days and then the rest of the time you will be working in the business and applying what you have learnt.

At the end of the programme, you will have achieved a Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Operations, plus the Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship qualification.

The programme is delivered via a day release model at the Yeovil College campus.

Entry Requirements:

• 2 GCSEs grade 4 (D) or above, in Maths and English

Benefits:

• Competitive salary of £24,000 per annum
• Performance‑related pay uplifts
• Holiday entitlement of 201 hours a year (plus a company day and bank holidays)
• Contributory Company Pension
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Hybrid/flexible working options
• Employee assistance programme
• Learning and development support
• Employee discounts and wellbeing initiatives
• Life Cover
• 80 Hours Volunteering per year (first two years)

Please note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February - May 2027. Induction week for all Graduate and Apprentices will take place from Monday 6 September - Friday 10 September 2027.

Closing date:

Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 17 February 2027, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note, we will be in contact by the end of February 2027 with details of next steps.

Because of the work we do at Thales, all roles are subject to security requirements.

To be considered for this position, you must have the permanent right to work in the UK and be able to successfully complete and maintain UK Government security checks, including Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) screening and Security Clearance (SC), which is a government background check, before starting employment.

To be eligible for SC clearance, you will typically need to have lived in the UK continuously for the last five years. As part of the vetting process, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, right to work in the UK, any time spent overseas during the last five years, and your employment and/or education history.

In addition, this role supports a UK Eyes Only programme and is therefore subject to government‑mandated nationality restrictions. To satisfy the security clearance requirements for access to highly sensitive information, applicants must have been British citizens from birth and must not hold any other nationality. This requirement is determined by the UK Government and is a condition of programme access rather than an employment preference.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link -

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity, and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn't quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.