2026 Marine Engineer Apprentice - Turnchapel
THALES UK LIMITED
Plymouth (PL9 9RQ)
Closes on Thursday 12 February 2026
Posted on 3 November 2025
Contents
Summary
Are you passionate about engineering? Do you have an inquisitive mind? Do you want to be part of an Apprentice Programme that will develop and challenge you? If so, then look no further…
- Wage
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£24,000 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Performance related pay uplifts
- Training course
- Marine engineer (level 3)
- Hours
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37 hours a week, Monday - Thursday, 8 hours a day. Friday, 5 hours (08.00 to 17.00, with 1 hr for lunch).
37 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 7 September 2026
- Duration
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2 years
- Positions available
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1
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 Marine Engineer Apprentice, you will:
- Work hands-on with Thales UK vessels, supporting their operations and upkeep
- Carry out fault finding and troubleshooting tasks to ensure safety and reliability
- Perform both planned and reactive maintenance on cutting-edge marine systems
- Collaborate closely with the Operations team and Skippers to maintain vessel serviceability and high standards
- Accurately report and document defects to aid continuous improvement
- Provide practical support for all trials conducted at the Turnchapel site
Where you'll work
Turnchapel Wharf
Barton Road Turnchapel
Plymouth
PL9 9RQ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CITY COLLEGE PLYMOUTH
Training course
Marine engineer (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Prepare for meetings and discussions
- Communicate marine engineering principles, concepts and processes relevant to the customer using appropriate listening, questioning, non-verbal communication, recording and presentation techniques
- Use appropriate marine and engineering terminology
- Make recommendations to ensure optimal performance of boats
- Comply with quality, health and safety and environmental regulations
- Prepare the work area in order to conduct marine engineering activities
- Select, use, maintain and store equipment and tools spanners, socket sets, screwdrivers, power tools
- Follow and maintain work procedures, method statements and production records
- Work efficiently and effectively
- Consider sustainability and environmental impacts when making, safety, quality and cost decisions
- Use mathematical techniques, formulae, and calculations in marine engineering processes
- Design layout of marine system or component
- Interpret designer’s plans and engineering data, drawings and documentation
- Finalise time and cost of the work to be done
- Select/ maintain/ store appropriate equipment and materials
- Select/make/use appropriate engineering jigs, templates and tooling
- Select and use calibrated and measuring engineering tools
- Select, source and use a variety of precision data charts and reference tables
- Practical and safe use of tools, materials and equipment
- Safe uses of jigs, templates and tooling
- Measure and mark out to carry out precision machining and hand fitting processes
- Use hand tools to cut, drill, shape and finish components to tolerances
- Move components using appropriate safe methods and equipment
- Assemble, remove, overhaul and refit marine engineering components, sub-assemblies and systems using appropriate machinery, equipment, tools and materials
- Check/inspect components for robustness, fit and tolerances
- Shape, fabricate, manipulate and precision alignment of marine engineering components and materials to accepted tolerances
- Conduct/undertake planned or routine maintenance to required specification
- Check/test/diagnose marine engineering components to company and manufacturing standards
- Complete required organisational and manufacturer’s documentation
- Apply safety and social responsibility practices when working at sea
- Check installation meets required operational standards and is free from defects
- Commission and test systems
- Complete necessary documentation and company protocols
- Undertake basic crew roles
Training schedule
For this apprenticeship you will role onto a Level 3 Marine Engineer programme at City of Plymouth College. This programme will be delivered over a 3.5 year period, with a further 3-6 months for your End Point Assessment. For the first year of the apprenticeship, you will attend college full time for your academic studies. During the academic holidays you will work from the Thales site in Turnchapel to embed your learning and integrate with the team there. In your second year you will attend college on a day release basis and then spend the rest of the time in the business. Year three will be work based, with remote support from the college. At the end of the apprenticeship, you will have achieved a level 3 qualification in Marine Engineering.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Team working
- Initiative
About this employer
Together, we create the ingenious technological systems and innovations that impact and improve people's lives every single day. Even if you haven't heard the name Thales before, you've definitely benefited from our inventiveness. We reinvest 20% of our sales in Research & Development in the UK. We support businesses, organisations, and governments in addressing tomorrow’s major challenges by developing advanced Defence, Security, Cybersecurity, Digital Identity, and Aerospace solutions, in the most sustainable, responsible, and ethical manner.
https://careers.thalesgroup.com/global/en/united-kingdom-careers#Uk-Future-talent (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays) Company Pension Health Care Cash Plan Life Insurance Discount Portal 80 Hours Volunteering (first two years)
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
You will have a permanent role at our marine operations at Turnchapel.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THALES UK LIMITED
Thales Future Talent Team
suppearlycar@uk.thalesgroup.com
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000349324.
Apply now
Closes on Thursday 12 February 2026
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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.