Analytics are greyed out due to low classification confidence (42.0%).
Occupation Type
Energy plant operatives
Occupation Code Skill LevelMedium Skilled
Sponsorship Salary Threshold
£41,700
(£21.38 per hour)
Standard minimum applies
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Description
Location: Templecombe, United Kingdom
Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.
Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.
Working Schedule: 37 hours per week on site (12 hours Monday – Wednesdays days or nights or Thursday – Saturday days or nights). Year 1 Monday – Friday 37 hours a week, moving to 3-day week (12-hour shift) when 18 years of age after completing the apprenticeship
Do you have an inquisitive mind? Are you interested in how things work? Do you want to be part of an Apprenticeship Programme that will develop and challenge you? If so, read on to see what Thales has on offer within the Industry Team at our Templecombe site…
What the role has to offer:
Earn while you learn
Job specific training experience
Industry recognised qualifications
Permanent role from day one
Tuition fees for university or approved training providers are fully covered
Our Level 2 manufacturing apprenticeship in Templecombe is a fantastic opportunity to join our business and develop from the ground up, which will be invaluable regardless of if you choose to stay in manufacturing or wish to move into a different function. This programme will provide you with focused learning specific to our Towed Array business line. Following completion of the apprenticeship you will join one of the
4 shifts operating in this area, becoming a valued member of the team.
You will learn the key skills required for working in the manufacturing areas; assembly techniques, wiring and looming, soldering and ESD safety. You will receive all the relevant equipment and software needed to work throughout Thales.
Year 1 of the apprenticeship is split between both work and college spending 2 days per week at college and the remainder of the week in the workplace. You will follow a set curriculum to give you the skills required for your future career.
Year 2 allows you to embed those skills and is based on site, working with our experienced technicians, learning in role while you work your way towards End Point Assessment.
Apprentice Programme
As a Manufacturing Apprentice, you will enrol onto a Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship at Yeovil College. The programme is 12 months in duration, plus 6 months for the End Point Assessment period. It will be delivered via a day release model whereby academic content is delivered in the classroom on set study days and then the rest of the time you will be working in the business and applying what you have learnt. At the end of the programme, you will have achieved a Level 2 Certificate in Engineering Operations and a Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Operations, plus the Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship qualification.
Please note that during the apprenticeship you will work a standard week of 37 hours Monday to Friday. Upon programme completion, you will roll off the scheme into your permanent role in the business and will move to a shift working pattern. This will be a 3-day week (either Monday to Wednesday, or Thursday to Saturday) and will consist of 12-hour shifts. There will be some night shifts.
Requirements:
2 GCSEs grade 4 (D) or above, Maths and English
Successful candidates must be 17 years old or above at the programme start date (07th September 2026). This will ensure that you are 18 years of age at the point of programme completion and therefore able to work the shift patterns that we need. Working time legislation prevents anyone under the age of 18 working more than 8 hours at one time.
Benefits
201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays)
Company Pension
Health Care Cash Plan
Life Insurance
Discount Portal
Performance-related pay uplifts
80 Hours Volunteering (first two years)
Please note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February - May 2026.
Induction week for all Graduates and Apprentices will take place from Monday 7 September - Friday 11 September 2026.
Closing date: Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Thursday 12 February 2026, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note, we will be in contact by the end of February 2026
with details of next steps.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ROLES MAY CLOSE EARLIER THAN THE ADVERTISED DEADLINE IF WE RECEIVE A HIGH NUMER OF APPLICATIONS. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID MISSING OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.
Recruitment Process:
For further information about our Future Talent recruitment process, including hints and tips, or to connect with a member of the Future Talent Team, a Graduate, or an Apprentice, please visit Thales Future Talent - Connectr.
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, all our roles are subject to security restrictions.
All successful candidates must possess the permanent right to work in the UK and will be required to go through Government security clearance at BPSS Level and to obtain full Security Clearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements below, prior to starting with us.
This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. As part of the vetting process, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, eligibility to work in the UK, time spent abroad over the last 5 years, as well as employment and / or educational history.
For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link -https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/nationa…
Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity, and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.
In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.
At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embrac
ing flexibility is a smarter way of working.
Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.
Great journeys start here, apply now!
2026 Manufacturing Apprentice – Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship | Thales | Hunt UK Visa Sponsors
