Building Services Engineer Apprentice - Level 6 Degree

AWE PLC

Berkshire, RG7 4PR

Closes on Friday 31 January

Posted on 14 November 2024


Summary

AWE’s support for the government’s strategy takes many facets: from supporting the weapon programme for the nuclear deterrent, supporting the UK’s counter terrorist programme, identifying where there may be tests taking place around the world, and building an expert group of individuals to give the UK real depth in nuclear science and technology.

Annual wage
£22,250 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Salary increases annually.

Training course
Building services design engineer (degree) (level 6)
Hours
9 days per fortnight. 33 hrs on the short week, 8hrs 15 mins per day. 41 hrs on the long week, 8hrs 15 mins per day Monday to Thursday and Fridays 8hrs. Please note hours may alter due to University training times.

37 hours a week

Possible start date

Wednesday 27 August

Duration

5 years 8 months

Positions available

10

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

As a Building Services Engineer degree apprentice, first we’ll teach you the fundamental scientific principles that support mechanical and electrical building services. Following this, you’ll explore in more depth how to operate and control heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. In the final year, we’ll focus on sustainability: the dynamic thermal performance of buildings, energy resources, combined heat and power, wind power generation and lighting and electrical systems.

We set lots of design projects to simulate a working environment and you can expect to use computer modelling techniques to optimise and refine your design proposals, as well as laboratory/workshop experiments.

Where you’ll work

Atomic Weapons Establishment

Aldermaston

Reading

Berkshire

RG7 4PR

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

LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY

Your training course

Building services design engineer (degree) (level 6)

Equal to degree

Course contents
  • Use a sound, evidence-based approach to problem solving to develop building services engineering design solutions which maintain and enhance the quality of the environment and community and meet client, financial and safety objectives. Examples included: Use feedback from previous projects, and in use data from operational buildings, and incorporate lessons learnt into building services designs and management systems with cost benefit analysis
  • Identify, review and select techniques, procedures and methods best suited to undertake the design of complex building services systems and components. Examples included: comparison and selection of methods for equipment sizing for power systems; assessing the suitability of computational fluid dynamics for understanding thermal and ventilation dynamic characteristics in complex scenarios
  • Promote the continuous improvement of the design of building services systems and components. This includes using market intelligence and best practice and participating in design reviews and evaluation. Examples include: maintaining awareness of technical developments in equipment such as chillers, boilers and generators; and good practice methods for system configurations and control. Participating in design critiques for the building services strategy at the concept design stage
  • Manage and apply safe systems of work including responsibility for own obligations for health, safety and welfare issues, assessing and controlling risk, working with health, safety and welfare legislation and best practice. Examples include: Undertaking hazard identification and risk assessment for building services systems involving electricity, gas, rotating plant, refrigerants, hot surfaces, testing and commissioning. Planning suitable access and facilities for operation and maintenance of mechanical and electrical equipment
  • Managing the planning, budgeting and organization of tasks, people and resources through the use of appropriate management systems, working to agreed quality standards, project programme and budget, within legal, contractual and statutory requirements. Examples include: Use employer's quality management system for stage-by-stage project delivery; assessing required person-hours for design, site visits, inspections and witnessing in relation to fees
  • Manage teams and develop staff to meet changing technical and managerial needs. Examples include: Provide team briefings and guidance on interpretation and application of new energy regulations or employer/institutional design guidance on lighting design
  • Communicate effectively through reports, drawings, specifications, presentations and discussions with both technical and non-technical people. Examples include: Presenting building services design concepts and proposals to a client using diagrams, data in context and interactive discussions on the intended operational performance and user benefits
  • Carry out and record the continuing profession development needed to maintain and enhance knowledge and competence as a building services design engineer. Examples include: Learning and evidence records from project activities, such as mechanical/electrical systems design calculations; heating, cooling and power load assessments; lighting calculations; equipment capacities and selection; schematic and layout drawings for mechanical and electrical services; witness reports from commissioning; writing reports; and attendance at seminars, lectures and workshops

Your training plan

Qualification: BEng in Building Services Engineering

You will attend London South Bank University on either day or block release.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

  • English (grade 4/C)
  • Maths (grade 4/C)
  • Maths (grade C)
  • Physics (grade C)
  • 3 x subjects (grade 4/C or above)
  • National Diploma (grade DDM)

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

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Health & Safety Aware

Other requirements

Applicants must be aged 18 or over, as of 31st August 2025 due to security clearance requirements . You must be a British National to apply for a role with us.

About this company

For nearly 73 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK’s ultimate deterrent – Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions. Our role in nuclear defence and what we do to support the UK’s nuclear deterrent, is vital in defending our country from the most extreme threats and to keeping the peace.

https://www.awe.co.uk/careers/early-careers/apprenticeships/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Contributory pension scheme Holiday entitlement of 270 hours a year (inclusive of Bank Holidays) plus every other Friday off Access to employee discounts portal Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services

After this apprenticeship

A career within AWE plc in the Engineering environment.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY

earlycareers@awe.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000287570.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 31 January

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.