Manufacturing Apprentice - Level 3 Engineering Manufacturing Support Technician Apprenticeship

Thales Group; Templecombe; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary £24,000 per annum

Hybrid/flexible working options

Contributory Company Pension

Health Care Cash Plan

Learning and development support

Employee discounts and wellbeing

80 Hours Volunteering per year

Holiday entitlement 201 hours a year

Job summary

Thales in Templecombe, UK is seeking a motivated candidate for a Level 3 Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technician Apprenticeship. The role blends college study with hands‑on experience across manufacturing, with rotations through different placements to build broad skills.

You will learn assembly, wiring, soldering and safety practices while progressing toward a Level 3 diploma. The programme offers a funded career path toward a permanent role on completion.

Qualifications

• 5 GCSEs grade 9-4 (A-C) including English and Maths.

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.

Education

5 GCSEs grade 9-4 including English and Maths

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 3 Engineering Manufacturing Support Technician 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 (8 hours Monday - Thursday). Year 1 Monday – Friday 37 hours a week, moving to 4-day week when 18 years of age after year 1 is complete

Turn your curiosity into a career. If you’re passionate about manufacturing, eager to learn, and looking for a level 3 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

Our Level 3 Manufacturing Apprenticeship in Templecombe is a brilliant chance to learn how our business works from the ground up. You’ll gain real insight into the different areas of manufacturing—supporting you whether you want to build your future in manufacturing or explore a different path within Thales.

You’ll rotate through a range of placements, so you can try different roles, discover what you enjoy most, and find where your strengths really shine.

You’ll also develop essential manufacturing skills, including:

• 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.

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 3 Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technician Apprenticeship at Yeovil College over a 3.5‑year duration. Delivered via a day release delivery model, you will complete your academic studies at college each week and then come back to the workplace to apply what you have learned.

The End Point Assessment will consist of a work‑based project report and a professional discussion.

Upon completion of the programme, you will have achieved a Level 3 Diploma in Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technologies, plus a Level 3 apprenticeship qualification.

Entry Requirements

• 5 GCSEs grade 9-4 (A-C) including English and Maths

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)

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 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

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.

Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!