Craft Apprenticeship (36 to 48-month)

A Craft Apprentice at Sellafield Ltd trains to become a highly skilled craftsperson within the nuclear industry. You can choose to specialise in one of six craft pathways:

  • Electrical Pathway (48 months)

    During your apprenticeship, you’ll train to maintain and repair electrical and instrumentation equipment, including lighting circuits, motors, radiometric tools, and control loops for pressure, temperature, and flow. You’ll develop skills in planned, preventative, and corrective maintenance.

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  • fabrication

    Fabricator Pathway (48 months)

    You will be trained to:

    During your apprenticeship, you’ll learn to fabricate items using stainless steel, carbon steel, and aluminium. You’ll cut and form metals, develop patterns, and work in active areas wearing full protective gear, including PVC suits, gloves, and respirators, sometimes in confined spaces or at heights.

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  • mechanic

    Machinist Pathway

    During your apprenticeship, you’ll train to operate lathes and milling machines to create precise items with threads, grooves, and other features. You’ll work in active areas wearing full protective gear, including PVC suits, gloves, and respirators, sometimes in confined spaces or at heights.

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  • mechanical

    Mechanical Pathway (36 months)

    During your apprenticeship, you’ll maintain and repair mechanical systems like ventilation, pumps, valves, and hydraulic systems. You’ll use tools, test equipment, and engineering documents to solve problems and ensure plant health through preventative and corrective maintenance.

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  • pipe fitter

    Pipefitter Pathway (48 months)

    During your apprenticeship, you’ll train to fabricate, assemble, and install pipework. You’ll develop patterns and work in active areas wearing full protective gear, including PVC suits, gloves, and respirators, sometimes in confined spaces or at heights.

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  • Welding Icon

    Welder Pathway (48 months)

    During your apprenticeship, you’ll produce welds using methods like MIG, TIG, and MMA, supporting fabricators with structures and pipefitters with fluid-transfer pipework. You’ll work in active areas wearing full protective gear, including PVC suits, gloves, and respirators, sometimes in confined spaces or at heights.

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  • It is important that you are a self-starter who is able to manage your own time and work independently, as well as in a team, in a physically demanding environment; you will also have a keen interest in learning an engineering trade.

    As an integral part of your apprenticeship your progress will be monitored and assessed against the Apprenticeship requirements. You will compile an evidence folder, demonstrating your areas of learning with accredited certificates of completion for elements of your training.

  • 1st Year – training is delivered at our off-site training facility.

    Years 2 to 4 of your training will be spent in the central workshops, on plant, in the active area at Sellafield where you will work with specialists aligned to your chosen pathway.

    Some craft pathways may be required to work shift patterns in support of your learning, which can involve working weekends and/or unsociable hours.

    • Level 3 Apprenticeship qualifications aligned to your chosen craft pathway.
    • Level 3 Diploma in Installing Engineering Construction Plant and Systems (RQF)
    • Level 2 Award for Nuclear Industry Awareness (ANIA)

    *Specific qualifications are subject to change and replaced with an equivalent

  • Minimum of 3 GCSEs Grade 4 (Grade C) in Mathematics, English Language & 1 Science or Engineering subject. Other equivalent qualifications may be considered.

    Functional Skills Level 2 will also be considered as equivalent to GCSE Grade 4 (Grade C). Other equivalent qualifications may be considered.

  • Candidates will be required to achieve appropriate security and medical clearances; these will be instigated on receiving a conditional offer of employment.

    Unfortunately, we are unable to take individuals on to the Electrical Craft pathway who are colour blind due to the electrical safety implications.

  • Year 1* – £21,260

    Year 2* – £21,960

    Year 3 – £26,413

    Year 4 – £27,295

    *21 years plus – £25,959

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