Apprentice Technical Officer

Summary

You will be working towards becoming a G5 Technical Officer on successful completion of the apprenticeship. They deliver technical solutions in high risk environments, employing modern technology and sensitive tactics, in order to develop intelligence and acquire evidence which contributes to cutting serious and organised crime affecting the UK.

Annual wage

£25,785 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Posts in the South East will attract London Weighting of £4,040 / annum. The NCA normally receives a pay increase in August each year or backdated to August.

Training course

Engineering technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday between 8am–4pm (STC) at College during year 1. Year 2-4 will have day release but flexible working to attend training sites across the country during the day and night.

37 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 1 September

Duration

4 years

Positions available

4

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

What does a technical officer do?

They deliver technical solutions in high risk environments, employing modern technology and sensitive tactics, in order to develop intelligence and acquire evidence which contributes to cutting serious and organised crime affecting the UK.

Identify the most suitable equipment for the task in-hand and prepare it for deployment.

Test the equipment prior to deployment, fix or replace any faulty equipment, re-test.

Create, design and build concealments for the equipment they are going to deploy.

Support the operational lead in deploying technical capabilities on behalf of the NCA to the highest standards.

Develop, modify and adapt innovative technological solutions which enable the delivery of covert investigative activity against agreed strategic objectives.

Provide information and advice on new technologies/equipment to ensure the organisation utilises the latest covert technical capability.

This is a Technical Apprenticeship like no other.

As well as acquiring electrical, electronic and engineering skills, you will be at the heart of the UK’s fight against serious and organised crime.

Working in the NCA’s Technical Operations department, you will be helping to pursue and bring to justice those serious and organised criminals who present the highest risk to this country.

This exciting programme starts in September 2025 and offers a mix of classroom learning and practical experience, including a variety of research, development and project work to develop your ability to prototype and test your own solutions to problems.

You'll be taking on real business challenges that will stretch and develop your expertise in areas such as electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering.

On completion, you'll be qualified as a Maintenance & Operations Engineering Technician or Mechatronics Maintenance Technician Level 3 (dependent on which qualification option is available to us) and have an Engineering BTEC HNC L4.

Where you’ll work

Olympic park

Longbarn Boulevard

Woolston Grange

Warrington, Cheshire

WA2 0XA

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

To be confirmed

Your training course

Engineering technician (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Your training plan

This is a full-time post but will require flexibility from successful candidates as we will take you to training locations across the country. This training will include realistic scenarios which can be conducted during the day or throughout the night in all weather conditions in rural and urban environments. Gillingham (Kent) or Warrington - for the duration of the apprenticeship (these posts can be based in Gillingham, Leicester, Warrington or Thirsk on successful completion of the apprenticeship, and you are offered a permanent G5 post). One college will be based in the North West, and one college will be based in the South East - exact locations, training schedule and training providers TBC.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Any subject (grade 4)
English (grade 4)
Maths (grade 4)
Second any subject (grade 4)
Technology / Engineering or similar (grade 4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Attention to detail
Problem solving skills
Team working
Physical fitness

Other requirements

All officers in the NCA are members of the UK Civil Service. If qualifying criteria is met, new joiners to the NCA from UK Police Forces or UKIC will have service with those employers taken into account for continuous service purposes for Annual Leave entitlement only. This will be up to a maximum of 31 days' leave (including 1 privilege day).

About this company

Protecting the nation and its dependent territories will always be the British Army's first role. Highly trained soldiers are ready to deploy anywhere at any time to meet a variety of challenges. Ranging from support to the police following a terrorist attack, to specialist capabilities such as bomb disposal and intelligence experts, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, we are always ready to serve.

https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Civil Service Pension with employer contribution 28.97% (£7,469). 26 days annual leave rising to 31 on completion of 5 year. Training and development opportunities. Flexible working & family-friendly policies. Cycle to work scheme. Blue Light scheme.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

On successful completion of the apprenticeship, the expectation is that you will be promoted into a full-time position of Technical Officer (G5 next grade up). Depending on your skills, abilities and additional courses completed, at some point you are likely to be qualified for promotion to being a G4 Senior Technical Officer.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

To be confirmed

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000284844.

Apply now

Closes in 23 days (Sunday 24 November)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

If the link does not work, go to the civil service recruitment website and search under the National Crime Agency. Successful candidates will be invited to complete a mechanical / Physics aptitude test before being invited to an interview.

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