Mechanical Engineering Degree Apprenticeship

As a Mechanical Engineering Apprentice at Cavendish Nuclear, you’ll join a collaborative and experienced team working across all phases of the engineering lifecycle. Whether you’re supporting new build or decommissioning projects, you’ll play a vital role in the UK’s civil nuclear sector helping to deliver national energy resilience, meet net zero commitments, and safely clean up the nuclear legacy.

What You'll Do

You’ll work on a variety of nuclear projects, from developing new technologies and maintaining essential systems to extending the life of vital infrastructure. Your day-to-day activities will include hands-on experience with Computer Aided Design (CAD), 3D modelling, mechanical calculations, and producing engineering documentation to national and international standards. You’ll support operational teams, resolve technical issues, and inform decisions that impact real-world outcomes. As part of your role, you’ll define design requirements, develop 3D CAD models, produce detailed engineering drawings, and carry out scoping calculations. You’ll also prepare equipment specifications, technical reports, and help manage plant and equipment obsolescence to ensure systems remain safe and reliable. Supporting assembly, testing, and operational teams, you’ll offer technical guidance, resolve engineering queries, and manage nonconformance issues, while gaining exposure to advanced engineering tools such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software.

Location

Based at one of our key sites in Warrington, you’ll support major projects at locations like Sellafield.

Training and Development

You will study towards the Product Design and Development Engineer (Degree) Apprenticeship standard through the University of Lancashire. Your training will be delivered through a blended learning model that combines in-person and online teaching. Each semester begins with a three-day block of face-to-face delivery, followed by weekly online sessions throughout the term. This structure is designed to support both academic learning and practical application.

The programme is tailored for engineers involved in product development and integrates key disciplines such as materials science, computer-aided design (CAD), systems integration, and prototyping. It focuses on equipping learners to create fit-for-purpose solutions in regulated environments.

Upon successful completion, you will be awarded a BEng (Hons) in Professional Engineering (Product Design) and a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship qualification.

Throughout your apprenticeship, you’ll be surrounded by supportive mentors and experienced engineers who are invested in your growth. You’ll be part of a wider emerging talent community, sharing experiences and learning alongside other apprentices across the business. You’ll be trusted to take ownership of your development and supported every step of the way as you turn theory into real-world impact.

What Happens at the End

It’s hard to beat the variety of fantastic opportunities and business experiences you’ll receive. You can expect real world encounters and exposure to exciting projects that will really help you navigate where you want to take your career.

Plus, when you join us, you’ll be automatically enrolled onto our Apprentice Development Programme. Through a series of digital and face to face sessions, presented by wellbeing and performance experts and our external partners, we will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to thrive and perform at your very best on your programme and beyond.

Skills

• IT skills
• Organisation skills
• Analytical skills

Qualifications

• GCSE Any Subject (grade C) - essential
• GCSE English (grade C) - essential
• GCSE Maths (grade C) - essential
• GCSE Science (grade C) - essential
• A Level Maths (grade C) - essential
• A Level Physics (grade C) - essential

Key Details

• Wage: £23,598 a year
• Working week: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
• Hours: 35 hours per week
• Duration: 4 Years
• Start date: 2027-09-01
• Closing date: 2026-12-07
• Apprenticeship standard: Product design and development engineer (degree) (level 6)
• Training provider: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE