Project Planning & Controls – Business Higher Apprenticeship

Thales; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 20,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/flexible working options

Competitive salary of £24,000 per year

Health Care Cash Plan

Pension contribution

Learning and development support

Employee discounts and wellbeing

Job summary

Thales UK invites applications for a 3-year Project Planning & Controls Apprenticeship based in Belfast. You will learn the fundamentals of planning, scheduling, monitoring and governance while supporting bid and project management activities.

The programme blends on-campus study with hands-on experience and leads to a Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Business. We seek enthusiastic self-starters with a strong interest in project management, capable of managing time and showing

Qualifications

• 64 UCAS points at A Level, or BTEC diploma or a Level 3 apprenticeship.
• 5 GCSEs 9-4 (A-C), including Maths and English.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the creation and maintenance of integrated master schedules for projects.
• Contribute to project reports and attend reviews.
• Assist in deployment & reporting of risk & opportunity management.
• Help ensure correct and effective project governance.
• Operate Thales UK tools to manage schedule, budgets, risks and opportunities.
• Attend all apprenticeship modules, coaching calls, assignments and training activities.

Skills

Interest in project planning/controls

Self-motivation

Education

UCAS points or equivalent (64 UCAS points)

GCSEs including Maths and English (5 GCSEs 9-4)

Job description

Transform your curiosity into a rewarding career.

If you’re passionate about projects and eager to learn, this apprenticeship is perfect for you. Combining academic study with hands‑on, practical experience, it offers a fantastic opportunity to grow and thrive within a global, innovative & industry leading organisation. We’d love to hear from you!

Benefits of the programme:

• Earn a salary while studying for your apprenticeship
• Gain hands‑on experience within the Bid & Project Management environment
• Receive job‑specific training and development
• Achieve a recognised qualification
• Secure a permanent role from the start of your apprenticeship
• Have your tuition fees fully paid

About the Role

This exciting Project Planning & Controls Apprenticeship will give you the skills and knowledge to be an effective team member within the Bid and Project Management Function at Thales. The apprentice programme will provide you with a strong understanding and working knowledge of planning, scheduling, monitoring and controls, building the foundations for future roles supporting or managing projects that deliver world leading solutions to our global customer base. The Bid and Project Management functions’ key responsibilities are to support the project team deliver the mission and ensure strong governance over bids and projects and oversee the implementation of consistent and assured processes.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Assisting with the creation and maintenance of the integrated master schedules for assigned projects
• Contributing to project reports and attend associated reviews
• Assisting in the deployment & reporting of risk & opportunity management
• Helping the project team ensure correct and effective project governance is applied
• Operating Thales UK tools to ensure effective management of the project schedule, budgets, risks and opportunities
• Committing to attend all elements of the apprenticeship including attendance on virtual training modules, 1-2-1 coaching calls, assignments, exams and mandatory Thales UK training activities to lay the foundations for your contribution to future growth of the business

Apprenticeship Programme

Through our higher apprenticeship you’ll be making the most of your talents, getting to understand the Project Management Function from the ground up; and doing so with the help of one of the biggest and best names in the industry.

Throughout your apprenticeship, you’ll receive on-the-job training tailored to work alongside your studies, giving you the hands‑on experience needed to develop practical skills and knowledge.

The programme will be delivered via a blended learning model combing on campus attendance and self-directed learning activities.

This is a 3-year programme, working towards a Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Business, at Belfast Metropolitan College.

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are motivated, committed and keen to learn. A self‑starter who is able to manage their time, show initiative and has a genuine interest in project planning/controls and Thales. Successful candidates will show self‑discipline and an aspiration to achieve the qualification.

Entry Requirements

To apply, you will need:

• 64 UCAS points at A Level, or BTEC diploma or a Level 3 apprenticeship
• 5 GCSE's 9-4 (A-C), including 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)

For further information about our Future Talent recruitment process, including hints and tips, or to connect with a member of the Future Talent Team, a Graduate, or an Apprentice, please visit Thales Future Talent - Connectr.

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.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ROLES MAY CLOSE EARLIER THAN THE ADVERTISED DEADLINE IF WE RECEIVE A HIGH NUMER OF APPLICATIONS. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID MISSING OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.

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.

About the Company

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