Engineering Design Degree Apprenticeship

• What do I need to consider?

  To succeed in your chosen pathway, you should have a passion for STEM subjects and a desire for a career in the field.

  After completing a Level 5 Apprenticeship, you can progress to a Level 6 apprenticeship with a tailored degree. You’ll work on exciting projects, join a talented community, and help shape Sellafield Ltd’s future.

  Progress will be assessed via government standards, evidence folders, and a final independent review to demonstrate your capabilities.

• Where will my training be delivered?

  For Cumbria apprentices:
  Start with a 3-month induction at our local training facility. Work placements will be at Sellafield or one of our satellite offices, with 1-day weekly academic learning off-site at our training providers. Some pathways include Practical Engineering Operations training at our local off-site facilities.

  For Risley/Warrington Apprentices:
  Year 1: Full-time academic/engineering studies at our local training providers.
  Years 2–5: Office based, with work placements at Hinton House, Warrington, and day-release academic studies at our local training providers.

• What qualifications will I obtain?

  The Degree Apprentice Programme consists of 2 phases;

  • Level 5 ST0380 Nuclear Technician Apprenticeship
  • Level 5 Foundation Degree/ Higher National Diploma (HND) in Engineering or Science aligned to your chosen pathway

  For candidates with the potential to progress further:

  • Level 6 ST0289 Nuclear Scientist and Nuclear Engineer Apprenticeship
  • Level 6 Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (BEng) or Science (BSc) aligned to your chosen pathway, over a further 2-year period.

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

• What are the entry requirements? 

  • Degree apprenticeships target A-Level students or equivalents. Entry requirements include:
    Minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grades 9 to 4 (Grades A* to C) including Mathematics, English Language and 1 Science or Engineering subject.
  • Mathematics GCSE at Grade 6 (Grade B) is essential or Grade C, at A Level Mathematics.
  • Minimum of 96 UCAS points at A-Level, T- Level,
  • One STEM subjects is required (e.g. Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Science or Engineering)
  • Other Level 3 STEM qualifications may be considered.
  • Vocational equivalents at level 3 or higher will also be considered as equivalent to UCAS points.

• Additional Requirements 

   

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

Lewis
Design Engineering Degree Apprentice

Can you describe a project you’ve worked on during your degree apprenticeship?

As a degree apprentice, I get to help deliver real projects. For example, I have designed a sludge sump piping system to manage liquor ingress into a sump near to one of our highest hazard retrievals facilities. The system discharges liquor from the sump to prevent a build-up and any subsequent structural failure.

What has been the best part of your degree apprenticeship?

The best part of my apprenticeship experience so far has been to see my design work manufactured, installed, and used on the plant at Sellafield. It is a really rewarding feeling.

What’s it like working alongside experienced professionals?

Getting to study while also working alongside industry-leading, and at times world-leading, experts to deliver complex engineering solutions means that I feel valued, respected, and included.