Quality & Inspection Engineer

What is a Quality & Inspection Engineer Degree Apprenticeship?

In nuclear engineering quality plays an important role in delivering nuclear safety.

Everything is designed to engineering standards, and within quality and inspection we work with our supply chain to ensure that safety critical items are manufactured to meet design specifications and standards, this ensures that items are fit for purpose and will operate as expected within the nuclear environment. This minimises operational issues once the equipment is in use, reduces equipment failures and therefore reduces the need for intervention and the hazards associated with personnel entering potentially radioactive environments.

Clearly some equipment failures can have very serious consequences, hence why this is seen as such an important role within the business.

It is a varied role, from working up-front with manufacturers to ensure that they understand SL expectations and specific requirements, building quality plans that ensure SL have adequate oversight of the key steps, on site visits during and following manufacture to oversee manufacture and inspection activities, and finally review of the manufacturing quality records to ensure that everything is as expected.

As an apprentice you will be joining an established and supportive team which works within the Warrington office, but also across the UK in our extensive supply chain.  You will gain industry recognised qualifications in Weld Inspection and Non-destructive Testing alongside your apprenticeship, these will enable you to start your journey to becoming a valued member of the team.

Things I should consider?

To succeed on your chosen pathway, you should have a passion for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths) based subject and a desire to pursue a career within the field. Following successful completion of your Level 5 Apprenticeship you will have the opportunity to complete a Level 6 apprenticeship with an integrated Degree tailored to your chosen pathway.

Throughout your chosen scheme, you will get to work on exciting projects and deliver complex pieces of work whilst becoming an integral part of a community of enthusiastic, talented individuals, who will go on to shape the future of Sellafield Ltd.

As an integral part of your apprenticeship your progress will be monitored and assessed against government standard requirements. You will compile an evidence folder, demonstrating your areas of learning with accredited certificates of completion for elements of your training. Within the last six months of your apprenticeship you will undertake an assessment by an independently appointed organisation, where you will be expected to clearly demonstrate your capability to perform in your chosen career.

Where will my training be delivered?

Year 1 – All Apprentices will commence full time academic and engineering studies at one of our local training providers.

Years 2-5 – All Apprentices will be office based but will continue academic studies at one of our local training providers. Work placements will be based at Hinton House, Warrington.

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 replaced with an equivalent.

What are the entry requirements?

• Minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grades 9 to 4 (Grades A* to C) including Mathematics, English Language and one Science or Engineering subject.
• Minimum of 96 UCAS points at A-Level / T-Level, STEM subjects preferred (e.g. Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Science) but not mandatory.
• Other Level 3 STEM qualifications may be considered.
• Vocational equivalents at level 3 or higher will also be considered as equivalent to UCAS points.
• If you do not have Mathematics at A Level then you must achieve a minimum of Grade 6 (Grade B) at GCSE.
• Functional Skills Level 2 will also be considered as equivalent to GCSE Grade 4 (Grade C). Other equivalent qualifications may be considered.

Additional Requirements