Mechanical Engineering Accelerated Degree Apprenticeship

Summary

Fast-track your mechanical engineering career. Designed for individuals with relevant prior learning, this programme enables you to complete your apprenticeship in a shorter timeframe. This unique opportunity blends academic study with hands-on industry experience, leading to a full BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering and a rewarding career.

Wage

£38,378 a year

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Rising annually to c.£41,837 post-apprenticeship

Training course

Nuclear scientist and nuclear engineer (integrated degree) (level 6)

Hours

Monday to Friday, hours to be confirmed.

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

Our Cavendish Nuclear business plays a pivotal role in cleaning up the nuclear legacy and creating a world where nuclear plays a key contribution to protecting our nation, ensuring energy security and meeting net zero commitments. Through our Nuclear Services, we provide essential support to both operational power plants and those entering defuelling and decommissioning, offering spares, upgrades, and technical expertise across all areas of the nuclear industry.

As an Accelerated Mechanical Engineering Apprentice, you’ll be an integral part of our Engineering team, gaining practical experience in delivering projects for customers and directly applying your academic learning to real-world challenges.

You’ll contribute to projects at every stage, from concept development to manufacturing readiness. With guidance from experienced colleagues, you’ll rotate through different engineering departments and play an active role in key projects, continuously developing your skills and expertise.

As part of this fast-tracked programme, you will be involved in:

Developing CAD models and detailed engineering and manufacturing drawings using tools like Autodesk Inventor.
Performing scoping calculations and solving technical and engineering problems.
Ensuring compliance with customer, national, and international standards and regulations.
Creating technical and design documentation to support the delivery of engineering solutions.
Supporting assembly, manufacturing testing, and operational teams with technical guidance.
Developing technical solutions across the design lifecycle (from concept design to detailed design and design for manufacture).
Assessing designs for risk and hazards, focusing on nuclear and radiological safety.
Receiving specialised nuclear industry training through NSAN (National Skills Academy Nuclear).
Expanding your engineering skills with additional training in areas such as Machinery Directives, UKCA/CE marking, and Risk and Safety Management.

This programme is ideal for individuals eager to combine academic study with work-based learning, all within a supportive team environment dedicated to excellence.

Where you’ll work

Warrington
WA3 6YD

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

WIGAN AND LEIGH COLLEGE

Your training course

Nuclear scientist and nuclear engineer (integrated degree) (level 6)

Equal to degree

Course contents

Work competently in a technical nuclear environment, understand and promote personal responsibility for Health, Safety, Radiation Protection, Environmental Protection, Quality, Security, Safeguards and principles of Risk Management.
Apply their science or engineering discipline knowledge to the development, operation, maintenance and progression of technologies used for Decommissioning (e.g. remote handling and robotics), Waste Management, Reprocessing, and Nuclear Power Generation.
Accurately observe, record and draw conclusions from data and experimental evidence, recognising inherent uncertainties and limitations.
Apply design processes including materials selection that meet nuclear industry standards.
Apply the standards for nuclear professional practice as required by the industry and professional body institutions.

Your training plan

You’ll study to obtain the Nuclear Scientist and Nuclear Engineer (integrated degree) apprenticeship standard. On completion of the apprenticeship, you will hold a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, accredited by the Engineering Council. You will also be eligible to apply for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) registration with the IMechE and Engineering Council.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Any subject (grade 4(C) and above)
Any subject (grade 4(C) and above)
Any subject (grade 4(C) and above)
English (grade B/6 or above)
Maths (grade B/6 or above)

A Level in:

STEM-based subject (grade C or above)
STEM-based subject (grade C or above)

Other in:

Mechanical Engineering OR Nuclear Technician (grade Pass)

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
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Team working

Other requirements

Many of our early careers roles are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold may impact which roles you are eligible for. You must be able to achieve BPSS (Baseline security) and many of them require you to be eligible for Security Clearance.

About this company

Babcock is an international defence, aerospace and security company operating in our focus countries of the UK, Australasia, Canada, France and South Africa, with exports to additional markets with potential to become focus countries. We meet our customers’ key requirements of affordability, availability, and capability by delivering engineering, support and critical systems to defence and civil markets.

https://earlycareers.babcockinternational.com/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Fully funded qualification, personal development, training and opportunities, minimum 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays, competitive pension scheme, employee share scheme, flexible benefits including cycle to work 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

At the end of the programme, you will have acquired the skills and experience to move into an Engineering role, with a competitive annual salary of c.£41,837. We’ll also support you in achieving professional registration through the Institution of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE).

The skills you develop in this programme provide an excellent foundation for a successful future in engineering, which could see you progress into roles like Senior Engineer and Principal Engineer, and beyond. Other potential career routes include Subject Matter Expert, Project Management and Safety Specialist roles.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WIGAN AND LEIGH COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000311704.

Apply now

Closes in 10 days (Thursday 10 April 2025)

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

Once you’ve clicked ‘Apply’, you’ll be taken to our application site. Set up a candidate profile and you can apply for roles at Babcock.

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