Building Services Apprenticeship (Level 6 Degree)

Job description

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?

For nearly 70 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.

It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?

Building Services Engineers are the people who create a safe, healthy and comfortable environment in which people can live, work and achieve.

Imagine yourself in the most fabulous building in the world. Now take away the lighting, heating and ventilation, the lifts and escalators, acoustics, plumbing, power supply and energy management systems, the security and safety systems. You are left in a cold, dark uninhabitable shell. Building Services Engineers really do “bring buildings to life”.

Imagine the air filtration systems you'd need in a clean computer manufacturing facility. The heating controls in a special care baby unit? The airflow systems needed to control bacteria and humidity in an operating theatre? What about security systems at an airport or in the Headquarters of MI5? Lighting the Olympic Stadium? Coping with a power cut in the dealing room of a city banker?

This is everyday work for a building services engineer.

As a Building Services Engineering degree apprentice, you will work towards a BEng (Hons) in Building Services Engineering. The programme includes:

• Part time day release: Apprentices attend university once a week
• Formal lectures, study guides, course notes, directed reading, class tutorials, assignments, small group projects, workshops and laboratories.
• Assessment of the academic element of this apprenticeship will consist of coursework, exams and timed assessments.
• Employer focused contextual content
• Practical engineering workshop practice and skills

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.

Following completion of your placements and subject to the business need and your career aspirations, your final role placement will be selected, and you will complete your training as a professional engineer in this area.

This role may appeal to you if you enjoy:

• Understanding how things work and improving themSolving problems in different ways
• Working with Control Systems (Coding Raspberry PI/Arduino, hacking consumer electronics, small audio electronic projects etc.)
• Working with Mechanical Assemblies (Car/bike/clock maintenance, restoration, and modification etc.)
• Working with Electrical Systems (Home electrical maintenance, changing sockets/light fittings, vehicle electrical systems)
• Interest in learning / improving practical applications
• Applying engineering principles into real life scenarios

Entry requirements

• Applicants must be aged 18 or over, as of 12th August 2024 due to security clearance requirements
• A Level BBC or; BTEC National Diploma DDM or; Access to Engineering qualifications with 15 Distinctions and 30 Merits including Maths and Physical Science credit or; Equivalent level 3 qualifications worth 128 UCAS points. Level 3 qualifications must include Maths and Physics. Applicants must hold 5 GCSEs A-C including Maths and English or equivalent (reformed GCSEs grade 4 or above).
• Good communication skills (i.e. technical speaking, active listening, professional writing, professional body language and technical presentation)
• Reliability with a high level of respect for confidentiality on work-related and personal matters
• Ability to work autonomously and interact effectively within a wide, multi-disciplinary project team
• Ability to understand the impact of work on others, especially where related to diversity and equality
• Good time management skills (i.e. planning and completing work to schedule)
• A supportive attitude to change and ability to respond positively to change management processes
• Ownership for personal development
• Open attitude towards receiving feedback
• Committed to health & safety (i.e. personal, workplace, radiological and nuclear)
• Effective at following rules, procedures and principles
• Enthusiasm and motivation for the nuclear industry
• PC literate
• Excellent team working skills
• Ability to concentrate for long periods
• Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. Please note that you must be a British National to apply for a role with us.

What we offer

• We offer our level 3 apprentices a starting salary of £20,000
• A market leading contributory pension scheme
• Generous holiday entitlement and excellent work/life balance including a nine-day working fortnight. This means that every other Friday you won’t be required to work!
• Access to employee discounts – everyday savings on retail, hospitality and leisure.

Alongside these benefits you will get the opportunity to learn from some of the top leaders in their field whilst helping us to continue to deliver national nuclear security, threat reduction and counter-terrorism solutions.

Start date

All successful candidates will join us on 12 August 2024. It is important that you are available that week and the week commencing 19 August so you can meet the rest of the Apprentice cohort and take part in our induction programme. There is another compulsory training week from 11 September, so we'll ask you not to request annual leave that week either.

Additional job details

How to apply

Would you like to learn more about our selection process? Watch our video to find out more.

Our deadline line for applications is Sunday October 29th. The earlier you apply the better chance you have of success.

Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants.

Any inclusion information you provide us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.

Click Apply to start your application now. This job will be available on Prospects until 3 December 2023

Don't forget to mention Prospects to employers when you contact them.

Closing date:  3 December 2023