2026 Project Planning and Controls Apprentice - Crawley
THALES UK LIMITED
Crawley (RH10 9HA)
Closes on Thursday 12 February 2026
Posted on 4 November 2025
Contents
Summary
Are you looking for an employer who will sponsor you through your qualifications, whilst providing valuable and exciting on-the-job experience within a global, innovative and industry leading organisation? If so, read on to see what Thales has on offer.
- Wage
-
£24,000 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Yearly performance, related pay uplifts
- Training course
- Associate project manager (level 4)
- Hours
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Monday - Friday, 8 hours Monday - Thursday. 5 hours on a Friday.
37 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 7 September 2026
- Duration
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2 years
- Positions available
-
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
This exciting apprenticeship will give you the skills and knowledge to be an effective Project Planning and Controls Apprentice within the Bid and Project Management Function at Thales. The apprentice programme will provide you with a strong understanding and working knowledge of planning, scheduling, monitoring and controls, building the foundations for future roles supporting or managing projects that deliver world leading solutions to our global customer base. The Bid and Project Management functions’ key responsibilities are to support the project team deliver the mission and ensure strong governance over bids and projects and oversee the implementation of consistent and assured processes.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist with the creation and maintenance of the integrated master schedules for assigned projects
- Contribute to project reports and attend associated reviews
- Assist in the deployment & reporting of risk & opportunity management
- Help the project team ensure correct and effective project governance is applied
- Operate Thales UK tools to ensure effective management of the project schedule, budgets, risks and opportunities
- Commit to attend all elements of the apprenticeship, including attendance on virtual training modules, 1-2-1 coaching calls, assignments, exams and mandatory Thales UK training activities to lay the foundations for your contribution to future growth of the business
Where you'll work
Manor Royal
Crawley
RH10 9HA
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE APPRENTICE ACADEMY LIMITED
Training course
Associate project manager (level 4)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Use project monitoring and reporting techniques to track, interpret and report on performance.
- Manage and engage with stakeholders.
- Influence and negotiate with others to create a positive outcome for the project.
- Resolve conflict as and when required with stakeholders within limits of responsibility.
- Adapt communications to different stakeholders.
- Communicate and support the project vision, to ensure buy in to the project objectives.
- Collate and analyse information and provide input to support negotiations relating to project objectives.
- Monitor and analyse project budgets.
- Review and provide feedback on a project business case to ensure the project remains valid.
- Apply change control processes to support the management of project scope.
- Evaluate an integrated project management plan to provide recommendations on areas for improvement.
- Prepare, monitor, and schedule activities that contribute to the delivery of the overall project schedule and objectives.
- Evaluate and make recommendations on the risk management plan to threats to delivery and recommend solutions.
- Identify and monitor project risks and issues; and plan and implement responses to them.
- Deliver a Quality Management Plan which contributes to quality control processes.
- Use an organisation’s continual improvement process including lessons learned to improve performance.
- Support the preparation or maintenance of a resource management plan for project activities.
- Work with stakeholders to deliver the project.
- Use digital tools and software to meet project objectives for example research, collaboration, presentations, and resolution of problems.
- Provide underpinning data to support the written submission through the governance process.
- Work within the approved project budget.
- Ensure that integrated schedules support critical path analysis, interface management, resource forecasting and risk management.
- Apply relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice, and ethical guidance where appropriate to their work.
- Use data to inform decisions on actions to take to mitigate risks on project.
- Use configuration management and change control to schedule and maintain projects.
- Manages resources through the project lifecycle.
- Use project monitoring and reporting techniques to track, interpret and report on performance.
- Manage and engage with stakeholders.
- Influence and negotiate with others to create a positive outcome for the project.
- Resolve conflict as and when required with stakeholders within limits of responsibility.
- Adapt communications to different stakeholders.
- Communicate and support the project vision, to ensure buy in to the project objectives.
- Collate and analyse information and provide input to support negotiations relating to project objectives.
- Monitor and analyse project budgets.
- Review and provide feedback on a project business case to ensure the project remains valid.
- Apply change control processes to support the management of project scope.
- Evaluate an integrated project management plan to provide recommendations on areas for improvement.
- Prepare, monitor, and schedule activities that contribute to the delivery of the overall project schedule and objectives.
- Evaluate and make recommendations on the risk management plan to threats to delivery and recommend solutions.
- Identify and monitor project risks and issues; and plan and implement responses to them.
- Deliver a Quality Management Plan which contributes to quality control processes.
- Use an organisation’s continual improvement process including lessons learned to improve performance.
- Support the preparation or maintenance of a resource management plan for project activities.
- Work with stakeholders to deliver the project.
- Use digital tools and software to meet project objectives for example research, collaboration, presentations, and resolution of problems.
- Provide underpinning data to support the written submission through the governance process.
- Work within the approved project budget.
- Ensure that integrated schedules support critical path analysis, interface management, resource forecasting and risk management.
- Apply relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice, and ethical guidance where appropriate to their work.
- Use data to inform decisions on actions to take to mitigate risks on project.
- Use configuration management and change control to schedule and maintain projects.
- Manages resources through the project lifecycle.
Training schedule
Through our higher apprenticeship you’ll be making the most of your talents, getting to understand the Project Management Function from the ground up; and doing so with the help of one of the biggest and best names in the industry.
This is a 2 year programme, working towards the Level 4 Project Manager Associate Apprenticeship standard, with our training provider, The Apprentice Academy. The programme will be delivered via a virtual delivery model, with live virtual workshops and 1-2-1 coaching calls. Throughout your apprenticeship, you’ll receive on-the-job training tailored to work alongside your studies, giving you the hands-on experience needed to develop practical skills and knowledge.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
A Level 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
- Logical
- Team working
Other requirements
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, all of our roles are subject to security restrictions. All successful candidates must possess the permanent right to work in the UK, and will be required to go through Government security clearance at BPSS Level and to obtain full Security Clearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements below, prior to starting with us. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance. To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. As part of the vetting process you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, eligibility to work in the UK, time spent abroad over the last 5 years, as well as employment and / or educational history. For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels
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-apprenticeship (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 • Performance-related pay uplifts • 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
Upon successful completion of your End Point Assessment, you will roll off into the Thales UK Bid and Project Management job family into a Project Planner or Project Controller role.
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 VAC1000349506.
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.