Mechanical Design Apprenticeship

Babcock International

Leicester (LE3 1UF)

Closes on Thursday 12 March 2026

Posted on 2 December 2025

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Summary

Our 4-year Mechanical Design Apprenticeship offers a fantastic opportunity to contribute to real-world nuclear engineering projects while developing the knowledge and technical skills to become a confident and capable design professional.

Wage

£21,205 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Year 1: £21,205 Year 2: £24,494 Year 3: £27,782 Year 4: £31,072

Training course
Engineering manufacturing technician (level 4)
Hours
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

35 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

3 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

As part of your apprenticeship, you’ll study for the Level 4 Engineering Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Standard through Loughborough College. 
 
You’ll attend college one day per week during term time. Progress reviews with your college assessor and workplace mentor will take place every 12 weeks, with regular opportunities for feedback and development built in. 

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

LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE

Training course

Engineering manufacturing technician (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules,  drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
  • Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
  • Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
  • Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
  • Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
  • Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
  • Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
  • Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
  • Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
  • Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.
  • Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules,  drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
  • Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
  • Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
  • Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
  • Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
  • Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
  • Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
  • Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
  • Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
  • Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.

Training schedule

As part of your apprenticeship, you’ll study for the Level 4 Engineering Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Standard through Loughborough College. 
 
You’ll attend college one day per week during term time. Progress reviews with your college assessor and workplace mentor will take place every 12 weeks, with regular opportunities for feedback and development built in. 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Any subject (grade 4/C or above)
  • Any subject (grade 4/C or above)
  • English (grade 4/C or above)
  • Maths (grade 4/C or above)
  • Science (grade 4/C or above)

A Level in:

  • Maths (grade C or above)
  • Physics (grade C or above)

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
  • Team working

Other requirements

Many of our apprenticeship 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 Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) clearance. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

About this employer

Babcock is an international defence company providing support and product solutions to enhance our customers’ defence capabilities and critical assets. We provide through-life technical and engineering support for our customers’ assets, delivering improvements in performance, availability and programme cost. Our c27,700 employees deliver these critical services to defence and civil customers, including engineering support to naval, land, air and nuclear operations, frontline support, specialist training and asset management. We also design and manufacture a range of defence and civil specialist equipment, from naval ship and weapons handling systems to liquid gas handling systems. We also provide integrated, technology-enabled solutions to our defence customers in areas such as secure communications, electronic warfare and air defence.

https://earlycareers.babcockinternational.com/apprenticeships/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• 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

Disability Confident

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

Once you complete the programme, you’ll be ready to move into a permanent role as a Mechanical Designer, with the skills, confidence and experience to make a valuable contribution from the outset. 
 
Upon programme completion, you can expect to earn a competitive salary exceeding £39,000. 
 
You’ll also have the opportunity to work toward professional registration, guided by a mentor from a UK engineering institution. 
 
From there, your development doesn’t stop. Through the Babcock Role Framework, you’ll have a clear view of how your career can progress, with mapped-out pathways, development opportunities and the tools you need to get wherever you want to go. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000002656.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 12 March 2026

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