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Degree Apprenticeship At Sellafield Ltd. A Game Changer?

Updated: Dec 3, 2022

This post is part of the Get Into Nuclear Jobs of the Week series of posts. We are not affiliated with Sellafield Ltd and make no money from anything below. We are passionate about raising the profile of the UK Nuclear Industry and the various roles available - by the way the opportunities below are some of the best around anywhere.


 

Years of non-stop experience

The Sellafield Ltd Degree Apprenticeships offers the perfect balance of on-the-job training and experience whilst enabling you to also study for a degree without having to cover the cost of tuition.


Through a degree apprenticeship you could gain;

  1. Higher-level qualifications than a regular apprenticeship

  2. Professional accreditation and memberships

  3. On the job experience and skills recognised by employers

  4. A degree qualification without the tuition fees

  5. An excellent opportunity to develop your future career path

Entry Requirements

The Sellafield Ltd degree apprenticeships are aimed at those studying for A-Levels or equivalent. The entry requirements for the degree apprenticeship schemes are:

  • Minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grades A* to C (Step 9-4) including a Science subject (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Science or similar) and Mathematics at Grade B (Step 6) or above and English Language at Grade C (Step 4).

  • Minimum of 96 UCAS points at A-Level, STEM subjects preferred (e.g. Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Science) but not mandatory. Other Level 3 STEM qualifications may be considered.


Sellafield Jobs

Degree Apprenticeship Pathways

What you will be doing day to day will depend on your chosen pathway; Sellafield Ltd offer a number of different degree apprenticeship pathways including:

 

Engineering Design

Location: Sellafield, Cumbria or Risley, Warrington.

As an Engineering Design Degree Apprentice you will be part of a training programme designed to develop the skills required to successfully deliver Sellafield Ltd’s current and future missions as an Engineer. You will learn common elements of engineering such as the application of Maths and Science to engineering design and fundamentals of computer aided engineering including 3D modelling. Engineering design apprentices will gain specialist technical knowledge in one of the following chosen pathways:

  • Civil, Structural & Architectural Engineering Design (Risley Only)

  • Control, Electrical and Instrumentation Engineering Design

  • Mechanical Design

Things you should consider?

To succeed on your chosen scheme you should have a passion for engineering or science and a desire to pursue a career within the field. You will have the opportunity to complete a level 6 Bachelors of Engineering degree or a level 6 Bachelors of Science degree, whilst learning the practical engineering skills required for the role and earning a salary.


Throughout your chosen scheme, you will get to work on exciting projects and deliver complex pieces of work whilst becoming an integral part of a community of enthusiastic, talented individuals, who will go on to shape the future of Sellafield Ltd.


Where will your training be delivered?

You will initially complete a 17 weeks bridging course delivered at one of Sellafield Ltd’s local training providers.

  • Year 1 – Design Engineering and ICT schemes will be based full time at one of the local training providers, undertaking Performing Engineering Operations (PEO).

  • On completion of PEO all apprentices will be based in the work place with day release at one of the local training providers.

Warrington based apprentices: (Design Engineering only)

  • Year 1 – All apprentices will commence full time academic and engineering studies at one of the local training providers.

  • Years 2, 3, 4 & 5 – All apprentices will be office based but will continue academic studies at one of the local training providers.


What qualifications will you obtain?

Phase 1: Level 5 Foundation Degree/HND in either Engineering or Applied Chemistry within the first 3 years.


For candidates with the potential to progress further:


Phase 2: Level 6 Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (BEng) or a Bachelor’s Degree in Science (BSc) a aligned to your chosen scheme over a further 2 year period.


Watch the Sellafield Ltd Engineering Design Degree Apprenticeship video below:


 

Civil Asset Management

Location: Sellafield, Cumbria

As an apprentice you will learn a broad range of civil asset management knowledge; this will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the full life cycle of civil assets. This includes design, construction, operations, inspection, specifications, maintenance, repair, replacement and asset management techniques associated with civil assets. You will gain the relevant experience necessary to understand the current condition of civil assets and determine how they will meet the future functional needs of the Sellafield site.


Things you should consider?

To succeed on your chosen scheme you should have a passion for engineering or science and a desire to pursue a career within the field. You will have the opportunity to complete a level 6 Bachelors of Engineering degree or a level 6 Bachelors of Science degree, whilst learning the practical engineering skills required for the role and earning a salary.


Throughout your chosen scheme, you will get to work on exciting projects and deliver complex pieces of work whilst becoming an integral part of a community of enthusiastic, talented individuals, who will go on to shape the future of Sellafield Ltd.


Where will your training be delivered?

You will initially complete a 17 weeks Bridging course delivered at one of our local training providers.


Apprentices will be based in the work place with day release at one of our local training providers.


What qualifications will you obtain?

Phase 1: Level 5 Foundation Degree/HND in either Engineering or Applied Chemistry within the first 3 years.


For candidates with the potential to progress further:


Phase 2: Level 6 Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (BEng) or a Bachelor’s Degree in Science (BSc) a aligned to your chosen scheme over a further 2 year period.

 

Information, Communications & Technology (ICT)

Location: Sellafield, Cumbria

As an ICT apprentice you will follow a broad training programme designed to introduce you to the many elements of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT), together referred to as ICT. Whilst focusing on the IT aspects, you may work in a team to change or develop systems ranging from small plant based self-managed IT applications through to outsourced enterprise-wide systems. Whilst focusing on the OT aspects, you will learn about powerful control systems and associated technology used to control, safeguard and monitor all aspects of plant operations. Over 5 years, in partnership with Gen2, you will be trained in the design, development, maintenance and servicing of plant control systems. You will gain experience in computer programming, fault finding, electrical principles, maintenance of plant automation systems, knowledge of process plant operations and control system technologies.


Things you should consider?

To succeed on your chosen scheme you should have a passion for engineering or science and a desire to pursue a career within the field. You will have the opportunity to complete a level 6 Bachelors of Engineering degree or a level 6 Bachelors of Science degree, whilst learning the practical engineering skills required for the role and earning a salary.


Throughout your chosen scheme, you will get to work on exciting projects and deliver complex pieces of work whilst becoming an integral part of a community of enthusiastic, talented individuals, who will go on to shape the future of Sellafield Ltd.


Where will your training be delivered?

You will initially complete a 17 weeks Bridging course delivered at one of our local training providers.

  • Year 1 – Design Engineering and ICT schemes will be based full time at one of our local training providers, undertaking Performing Engineering Operations (PEO).

  • On completion of PEO all apprentices will be based in the work place with day release at one of our local training providers.


What qualifications will you obtain?

Phase 1: Level 5 Foundation Degree/HND in either Engineering or Applied Chemistry within the first 3 years.


For candidates with the potential to progress further:


Phase 2: Level 6 Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (BEng) or a Bachelor’s Degree in Science (BSc) a aligned to your chosen scheme over a further 2 year period.

 

Operational Research & Analytics

Location: Risley, Warrington.

What is Operational Research & Analytics?

Operational research (O.R.) is the discipline of applying analytical methods to help make better decisions. Its methods can be used by almost all organisations, groups and individuals. It uses methods such as logic and mathematical modelling to analyse complex situations, giving decision makers of all types the power to make more effective decisions. This decision making covers most areas of Sellafield, and the interface with Design Engineering enables the best possible levels of plant availability and helps us to accelerate high hazard reduction in a safe, environmentally responsible, cost effective and pragmatic way.


What will you be doing?

As an Operational Research & Analytics Apprentice you will be part of a training programme designed to develop the skills required to successfully deliver Sellafield Ltd’s current and future missions. In the first 2 years you will learn common elements of engineering such as the application of Maths and Science to engineering design and fundamentals of computer aided engineering including 3D modelling.  Operational Research & Analytics apprentices will gain specialist technical knowledge in the following areas:

  • Mathematical Methods

  • Statistical Analysis

  • Discrete Event Simulation Modelling

  • Data Visualisation

What do you need to consider?

To succeed on this scheme you should have a passion for problem solving and mathematics and a desire to pursue a career within the field. You will have the opportunity to complete a level 6 Bachelors of Science degree, whilst learning the practical skills required for the role and earning a salary.


Throughout your chosen scheme, you will get to work on exciting projects and deliver complex pieces of work whilst becoming an integral part of a community of enthusiastic, talented individuals, who will go on to shape the future of Sellafield Ltd.


Where will your training be delivered?

Year 1 – All apprentices will commence full time academic and engineering studies at one of our local training providers.


Years 2, 3, 4 & 5 – All apprentices will be office based but will continue academic studies at one of our local training providers.


What qualifications will you obtain?

Phase 1: Level 5 Foundation Degree/HND in Engineering


For candidates with the potential to progress further:


Phase 2: Level 6 Bachelor’s Degree in Operational Research, Mathematics or a related analytical subject over a further 2 year period.


As an integral part of your apprenticeship your progress will be monitored and assessed, against government standard requirements. You will compile an evidence folder, demonstrating your areas of learning with accredited certificates of completion for elements of your training.  Within the last six months of your apprenticeship you will undertake an assessment by an independently appointed organisation, where you will be expected to clearly demonstrate your capability to perform in the role you are aligned to.


What are the entry requirements?

  • Grade C (Step 4) or above in at least 5 GCSEs including English Language, Maths and a Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology or similar)

  • A minimum of 96 UCAS points, including Maths at A Level grade B or above and Science at A level grade C or above. Other level 3 STEM qualifications may be considered.

 

Operations

Location: Sellafield, Cumbria

Apprentices within the Operations profession have a fairly diverse role – it can be control room based (which is mainly monitoring plant conditions and responding to alarms via remote systems and computers) to