Key Takeaways
- Earn £24,000 per year as a Manufacturing Apprentice on a Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship.
- Gain hands-on experience in assembly, wiring, and soldering, leading to a Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Operations.
- Work full-time, 37 hours per week, at Thales in Templecombe.
- Applications close on Wednesday 17 February 2027.
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.
Working Schedule
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.
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.
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)
Security Requirements
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.