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Mechanical Engineering Degree Apprenticeship
CAVENDISH NUCLEAR LIMITED Leicester (LE3 1UF)
Closes on Monday 7 December 2026
Posted on 15 October 2026
Summary
Join our Cavendish Nuclear business and build a career that truly matters. Over this 4-year programme, you’ll study towards a BEng (Hons) in Nuclear Engineering while gaining hands-on experience on initiatives that support the safe delivery of nuclear new build and decommissioning projects.
Wage
£23,598 a year
Training course
Nuclear scientist and nuclear engineer (integrated degree) (level 6)
Hours
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
35 hours a week
Start date
Wednesday 1 September 2027
Duration
4 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
As a Mechanical Engineering Apprentice at Cavendish Nuclear, you’ll join a collaborative and experienced team working across all phases of the engineering lifecycle. Whether you’re supporting new build or decommissioning projects, you’ll play a vital role in the UK’s civil nuclear sector helping to deliver national energy resilience, meet net zero commitments, and safely clean up the nuclear legacy.
You’ll work on a variety of nuclear projects, from developing new technologies and maintaining essential systems to extending the life of vital infrastructure. Your day-to-day activities will include hands-on experience with Computer Aided Design (CAD), 3D modelling, mechanical calculations, and producing engineering documentation to national and international standards. You’ll support operational teams, resolve technical issues, and inform decisions that impact real-world outcomes.
As part of your role, you’ll define design requirements, develop 3D CAD models, produce detailed engineering drawings, and carry out scoping calculations. You’ll also prepare equipment specifications, technical reports, and help manage plant and equipment obsolescence to ensure systems remain safe and reliable. Supporting assembly, testing, and operational teams, you’ll offer technical guidance, resolve engineering queries, and manage nonconformance issues, while gaining exposure to advanced engineering tools such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software.
Based at one of our key sites in Leicester, you’ll support major projects at locations like Sellafield. You’ll begin by shadowing experienced engineers, building a strong foundation in design, modelling, calculations, and documentation. As you develop, you’ll take on more complex tasks and gain valuable experience across the full design lifecycle.
Every drawing, design, or calculation you contribute to plays a part in protecting people, the environment, and the nation’s energy future.
Throughout your apprenticeship, you’ll be surrounded by supportive mentors and experienced engineers who are invested in your growth. You’ll be part of a wider emerging talent community, sharing experiences and learning alongside other apprentices across the business. You’ll be trusted to take ownership of your development and supported every step of the way as you turn theory into real-world impact.
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Where you'll work
Leicester LE3 1UF
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
UNIVERSITY OF DERBY
Training course
Nuclear scientist and nuclear engineer (integrated degree) (level 6)
What you'll learn
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, recognizing 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.
Training schedule
You will study towards the Nuclear Scientist and Nuclear Engineer Degree Apprenticeship standard through the University of Derby. Your academic learning will take place at the Nuclear Skills Academy, located in Derby’s newly refurbished iHub building on Infinity Park. This cutting-edge facility serves as the central hub for all apprenticeship programmes and is managed by the University of Derby.
The Nuclear Skills Academy is supported by a network of industry and education partners, including the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, the National College for Nuclear, and Derby City Council – ensuring your education is grounded in the latest developments and best practices in the field. The programme is delivered part-time over four years, with three semesters per year in the first three years and two semesters in the final year. As a work-based learning qualification, your apprenticeship integrates both off-the-job and on-the-job training. This structure allows you to apply your academic knowledge directly to your workplace experiences, helping you develop the skills, behaviours, and understanding required to succeed in the industry.
In your final year, you’ll complete an integrated End Point Assessment (EPA), designed to evaluate your readiness for professional practice. By the end of the programme, you’ll be equipped with a respected degree and nuclear engineering experience.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
- GCSE in: Any Subject (grade C)
- English (grade C)
- Maths (grade C)
- Science (grade C)
- A Level in: Maths (grade C)
- Physics (grade C)
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Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Team working
Other requirements
Many of our programmes 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 programmes you are eligible for. For this programme, you must be able to achieve and maintain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) security clearance. For further details, visit GOV.UK and search ‘United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels’.
About this employer
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.
Company benefits
- Fully funded qualification
- Personal development training and opportunities
- 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays
- Competitive pension scheme
- Employee share scheme
- Flexible benefits
- 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
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay. 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.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
UNIVERSITY OF DERBY
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000058712.
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