2027 Service Delivery Manager Apprentice - Templecombe

THALES UK LIMITED

Templecombe (BA8 0DH)

Closes on Wednesday 17 February 2027

Posted on 8 October 2026


Summary

Are you passionate about project management and support engineering services? Do you have an inquisitive mind? Are you looking for an employer who will sponsor you through academic study, whilst providing valuable and exciting on-the-job experience within a global, innovative and industry-leading organisation? 

Wage

£24,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  • Competitive salary of £24,000 per annum
  • Performance-related pay uplifts
Training course
Associate project manager (level 4)
Hours
Monday- Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday- Thursday, 5 hours Friday)

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 6 September 2027

Duration

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

About the Role

Services teams all around Thales UK are responsible for the deployment and delivery of services to our customers.  The Services job family has people working in many different roles pursuing outstanding outcomes for our customers, from Service Delivery Managers, Product Support Engineers, and Spares & Repairs coordinators, who are all collectively focused on outstanding Service Delivery.

Service Delivery Managers (SDM) are responsible for the co-coordination and the delivery of Services and Programmes for Thales internal and external customers.  This service delivery ranges from spares and repairs to the provision/availability of a capability.

The SDM plays a vital role in creating and maintaining customer relationships.  The SDM acts as the link between the customer and the UK Services operational delivery teams.  It is the mission of the SDM to always strive to exceed expectations and delight our customers.

Customer relationship management is key to service success to ensure we pre-empt customer needs and offer solutions that add value.

What You Will Learn

As a Service Delivery Manager Apprentice, you will develop key skills and experience in the following:

  • Integrated Logistic/Product Support Engineering Management
  • Customer Relationship Management
  • Operational Strategy
  • Project Management & Business Finance
  • Digital Operations
  • Leadership
  • Communication & Collaboration
  • Problem-Solving & Decision Making
  • Commercial Awareness

Where you'll work

Ocean House
Throop Road
Templecombe
BA8 0DH

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

Apprenticeship Programme  

You will study towards the Level 4 Associate Project Manager Apprenticeship with the Apprentice Academy.

The programme is delivered through a virtual learning model, combining:

  • Live virtual lectures
  • 1-2-1 coaching calls
  • Online learning resources
  • Self-directed learning activities

Throughout the programme, you will combine study with practical workplace experience, developing both academic knowledge and professional skills.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

5 GCSE's Including English and Maths (grade 5 GCSE's Grade 9-4/A-C)

A Level in:

in any subject (grade 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
  • Problem solving skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working

Other requirements

To be considered for this position, you must have the permanent right to work in the UK and be able to successfully complete and maintain UK Government security checks, including Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) screening and Security Clearance (SC), which is a government background check, before starting employment.

To be eligible for SC clearance, you will typically need to have lived in the UK continuously for the last five years. As part of the vetting process, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, right to work in the UK, any time spent overseas during the last five years, and your employment and/or education history. 

In addition, this role supports a UK Eyes Only programme and is therefore subject to government-mandated nationality restrictions. To satisfy the security clearance requirements for access to highly sensitive information, applicants must have been British citizens from birth and must not hold any other nationality. This requirement is determined by the UK Government and is a condition of programme access rather than an employment preference.

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. Together we supply invention across 4 core areas: Aerospace, Space, Defence and Security, Digital Identity and Security.

https://careers.thalesgroup.com/global/en/united-kingdom-apprenticeship (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • Holiday entitlement of 201 hours a year (plus a company day and bank holidays)
  • Contributory Company Pension
  • Health Care Cash Plan
  • Hybrid/flexible working options
  • Employee assistance programme
  • Learning and development support
  • Employee discounts and wellbeing initiatives
  • Life Cover
  • 80 Hours Volunteering per year (first two years)

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

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

  • Secure a permanent role from day one at the start of your apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THALES UK LIMITED

Thales Future Talent Team

futuretalent@uk.thalesgroup.com

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000058170.

Apply now

Closes on Wednesday 17 February 2027

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.