UK Ministry of Defence
NAD Group Security Apprenticeship Scheme
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MOD Abbey Wood, Filton, Bristol, BS34 8JH
Job Summary
Location: MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, BS34 8JH (office attendance required)
Duration: 26 – 30 months
Start Date: January 2027
Salary: £23,280 (with annual increments)
Entry Requirements: Five full GCSEs at grades 4-9 including English Language and Mathematics, and Two A Levels at minimum grade C
Working Pattern: Full-time
Overview:
Join our Security Profession and be part of something that really matters—helping protect people, information, technology, and the UK’s defence capabilities.
Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has recently been integrated into the National Armaments Director Group (NAD Group). The NAD Group brings together key Ministry of Defence (MOD) organisations including DE&S, to unite expertise across science, technology, procurement, infrastructure, and support to provide integrated capabilities faster and more efficiently for our armed forces and our allies. This is an exciting new opportunity to enable better ways of working and empower greater collaboration across Defence. For further information about the NAD Group, please visit: National Armaments Director Group - GOV.UK
This apprenticeship is a great way to get started, giving you hands-on experience while working towards a Level 4 qualification. From day one, you won’t just be learning—you’ll be actively involved in real work. You’ll help spot risks, understand potential threats, and support the team in keeping things safe and secure across a large and diverse organisation.
You’ll also gain experience across different areas of security, including people, physical environments, tech, and cyber—building skills that are in high demand and relevant to the modern, digital world.
Along The Way, You’ll:
- Learn directly from experienced security professionals
- Build practical skills you can use throughout your career
- Work on real challenges that have a genuine impact
- Be part of a supportive team that wants you to succeed
If you’re curious, motivated, and want a career where you can make a difference while learning cutting-edge skills, this is a brilliant place to start.
Job Description
What You’ll Do:
Stepping into the heart of Defence security where no two weeks are the same, you will build the skills that protect the UK’s most critical people, assets and information. During your apprenticeship, you’ll rotate across a range of specialist Security Profession teams, gaining hands-on experience in personnel, physical and cyber security.
You Will:
- identify emerging threats and uncover vulnerabilities before they become risks
- support the assessment of complex security challenges
- help design smart, proportionate solutions that keep Defence secure and resilient
Working Alongside Experienced Professionals And External Partners, You’ll:
- shape and deliver engaging security briefings
- maintain and analyse asset and risk registers that inform key decisions
- contribute to real-world protective security planning and assurance activity
- build confidence communicating with a wide range of stakeholders
- champion best practice across DE&S, helping strengthen our security culture
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By the end of your apprenticeship, you won’t just understand security, you’ll be actively influencing it, developing the essential skills and mindset needed to become a future Protective Security Adviser.
Read more about the Apprenticeship Standard here: Protective security adviser / Skills England
Working Alongside Experienced Professionals And External Partners, You’ll:
- shape and deliver engaging security briefings
- maintain and analyse asset and risk registers that inform key decisions
- contribute to real-world protective security planning and assurance activity
- build confidence communicating with a wide range of stakeholders
- champion best practice across DE&S, helping strengthen our security culture
By the end of your apprenticeship, you won’t just understand security, you’ll be actively influencing it, developing the essential skills and mindset needed to become a future Protective Security Adviser.
Read more about the Apprenticeship Standard here: Protective security adviser / Skills England
Person Specification
Eligibility:
- UK residency for the last 5 years
- Security Check (SC) clearance required
- Right to work in the UK (DE&S does not sponsor visas)
- Must not hold existing higher-level qualifications in the same or a similar subject
- Must no longer be in full-time education by the start of the scheme
Minimum Selection Criteria:
- Five full GCSEs at grades 4-9 including English Language and Mathematics and Two A Levels at grade minimum grade C
- Pass at online assessment stage
Final-year students can apply with official predicted grades; all qualifications must be evidenced by end of September 2026. (Equivalent level qualifications in the required subject and grades will also be considered).
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £23,280, Ministry of Defence contributes £6,744 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides opens in a new window.
Benefits Include:
- Salary of £23,280 with annual increments
- 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays and an extra privilege day)
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97%
- Flexible working options and access to on-site facilities
- Professional training and funding for qualifications
- Access to employee networks promoting diversity and inclusion
- Huge range of discounts
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our [candidate guidance](opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
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Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.
Application Process
Apply Online (6 July – 27 July 2026)
Complete an online application form using the link in this advert. Complete all information accurately including how you meet our minimum selection criteria. Please allow sufficient time to submit your application before the deadline.
Online Assessments (July/August 2026)
We’ll ask you to complete some interactive assessments. These should take around 20-30 minutes. They will provide us with insight into your adaptability, how you interact and learn new skills, and how you will naturally act and think at work.
Eligibility Checks (August 2026)
We will review your application form to ensure you meet our minimum selection criteria and nationality requirements.
Assessment Centre (September 2026)
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an assessment centre at DE&S headquarters, MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol. There will be limited dates available. You’ll undertake an interview, presentation and a group activity. Please note, attendance is required in person, as virtual participation is not available.
Provisional Offer (September 2026)
We will offer based on order of merit to the number of roles available.
Onboarding (Oct – Dec 2026)
All pre-employment checks will take place to ensure you evidence our minimum selection and eligibility criteria to undertake a role within the MOD. If all are successful, we will provide a formal offer of employment.
Induction (January 2027)
Subject to confirmation, this scheme is expected to start January 2027.
Additional Information
- Your application form must list your qualifications to meet the minimum selection criteria, if missing, we will be unable to qualify you against our eligibility checks.
- Should you encounter any technical difficulties submitting your application please take screenshots and email us at DESHR-ETCoE-Recruitment@mod.gov.uk. Without screenshots of the issue, we may be unable to progress your application.
- On occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to invite all successful candidates to an assessment centre, we may limit the number of invites offered. In this circumstance we may prioritise interviewing candidates who align most closely to the selection criteria. Information for this will be drawn from other sources of information from your application such as your CV.
- We will assess you on the following DE&S Behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Civil Service offers are made in order of merit. If you have passed our assessment centre but there are no roles available, we may offer you an alternative, or lower role in a similar position that matches your skills and experience, or you may remain on a reserve list for 1
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