Manufacturing – Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship

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

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £24k per year

Holiday entitlement 201 hours + BH

Contributory pension

Health care plan

Hybrid/flexible working options

Learning and development support

Employee discounts and wellbeing

80 hours volunteering per year

Job summary

Thales is offering a Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship in Templecombe. You will spend 37 hours per week on-site, with structured academic study through Yeovil College, and practical hands-on experience in our manufacturing environment.

During the programme you will learn assembly techniques, wiring and looming, soldering, and ESD safety while gaining a recognised qualification and the potential for a permanent role after completion.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Assist with assembly, testing and inspection of manufacturing components.
• Support daily production activities and operation/maintenance of equipment.
• Learn to read and interpret technical drawings, engineering specs 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 production records and report faults promptly.
• Participate in apprenticeship training modules and qualifications (e.g., BTEC, NVQ).
• Collaborate with team members to solve manufacturing and process challenges.

Education

2 GCSEs (Maths & English)

Job description

Turn your curiosity into a career.

If you're passionate about manufacturing, eager to learn, and looking for a degree apprenticeship that blends academic study with hands-on experience, we'd love to hear from you.

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)

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)

About the Company

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

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

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.

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.