2027 Manufacturing Apprentice - Templecombe

What you'll do

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.

Training

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.

• 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

After the apprenticeship

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.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Problem solving skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working

Qualifications

• Essential: GCSE, 5 GCSE's Including English and Maths (grade 9-4/A-C)

Things to consider

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

Benefits

• Holiday entitlement of 201 hours a year (plus a company day and bank holidays)
• 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 employer

Together, we create the ingenious technological systems and innovations that impact and improve people's lives every single day. Even if you haven't heard the name Thales before, you've definitely benefited from our inventiveness. We reinvest 20% of our sales in Research & Development in the UK. Together we supply invention across 4 core areas: Aerospace, Space, Defence and Security, Digital Identity and Security.

Apprenticeship details

• Course: Engineering and manufacturing support technician (level 3), Engineering and manufacturing
• Apprenticeship level: Advanced (level 3)
• Training provider: YEOVIL COLLEGE
• Expected duration: 3 Years
• Hours: 37 hours a week. Working week: 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.
• Start date: 6 September 2027
• Positions available: 5
• Wage: £24,000 a year