Metallurgy Apprenticeship

Programme title: Metallurgy Apprenticeship 
Level: SCQF Level 7
Salary: £16,000 (rising annually to c.£38,461 post apprenticeship)
Location: HM Naval Base Clyde
Application closing date: 20th March 2025
Programme start date: August 2025

This 4-year apprenticeship is a great start for anyone interested in metals, materials science, and engineering. Throughout the apprenticeship, you’ll earn technical qualifications and gain practical experience working on Royal Navy submarines.

About the programme 

As an apprentice in our Metallurgy department, you’ll play a key role in maintaining and ensuring the reliability of Royal Navy submarines and other Ministry of Defence assets at HM Naval Base Clyde. You’ll be part of a team that provides specialist material analysis and on-site inspection services, ensuring the structural integrity of vital components and contributing to the safety and performance of naval operations.

Throughout your apprenticeship, you’ll gain practical experience in metallurgy, a specialist field of material science and engineering. A typical week could be varied, with time spent in the laboratory, on submarines, and in the office, giving you broad exposure to metallurgical processes in an operational defence environment. 

You’ll primarily be supporting the etching of components, conducting metallurgical visual inspections, preparing metallurgical samples in the laboratory, and handling failure investigations. You’ll also assist in the general operations and upkeep of the laboratory and have the opportunity to work on continuous improvement projects.

Alongside your technical training, you’ll develop core skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving and leadership. You’ll also build a strong understanding of material science, metallurgical inspection processes, and material testing procedures.

Your education/training 

As part of your apprenticeship, you will study for a series of industry-recognised qualifications at West College Scotland.

• SVQ 2 Performing Engineering Operations at SCQF Level 5
• HNC in Mechanical Engineering at SCQF Level 7
• HND in Mechanical Engineering at SCQF Level 8
• SVQ 3 Technical Services at SCQF Level 7

Through a combination of classroom learning and practical experience, you will develop essential skills such as teamwork, communication, literacy, numeracy, and IT. You will gain in-depth knowledge of material science, metallurgical inspection techniques, material testing, and procedures. Alongside your technical expertise, you'll have the chance to build valuable leadership, problem-solving, and organisational skills that will support your career development.

What you’ll need  

• Maths at Higher level grades A-C or above or equivalent.
• English at Higher level grades A-C or above or equivalent.
• Physics or Chemistry at Higher level grades A-C or above or equivalent.
• Another technical subject at Higher level grades A-C or above or equivalent.
• 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 or have held may impact which roles you are eligible for. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). For our early careers roles, you must be able to achieve BPSS and many of them require you to be eligible for Security Clearance.

What you’ll get

 
We’ll provide you with a supportive and engaging environment where you can grow your career. In addition, you’ll benefit from: 

• 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 and employee shopping savings portal

You’ll also have the chance to get involved in our STEM outreach activities and volunteering opportunities, which our apprentices find incredibly rewarding.

Your career development

It’s hard to beat the variety of fantastic opportunities and business experiences you’ll receive. You can expect real world encounters and exposure to exciting projects that will really help you navigate where you want to take your career.

Plus, when you join us, you’ll be automatically enrolled onto our Apprentice Development Programme. Through a series of digital and face to face sessions, presented by wellbeing and performance experts and our external partners, we will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to thrive and perform at your very best on your programme and beyond.

Closing dates   

Please be aware that if there is a high level of interest in this programme, applications may close earlier than advertised. To give yourself the best chance of being considered for a place on this programme, please submit your application as early as possible.