Electrical, Control and Instrumentation Craftsperson Apprenticeship in Carlisle

Our 4-year Electrical, Control and Instrumentation (EC&I) Craftsperson Apprenticeship at Sellafield is a unique opportunity to start your engineering career in one of the UK's most specialist and safety-critical environments. You’ll play a vital part in maintaining the technology that helps detect and monitor radioactive contamination on one of the most complex nuclear sites in the world.

About the programme

This apprenticeship places you right at the heart of our Radiological Protection Instrument Services team at Sellafield, a highly specialist group responsible for maintaining the vital instruments that monitor radioactive contamination across site. It is a department unlike any other. With over 2,000 instruments in use, many in active or hazardous areas, we even build our own test rigs to make sure everything operates exactly as it should.

From your first weeks, you’ll be working with a wide range of equipment including Personnel Contamination Monitors, Gamma and Air Activity Monitors, and the portable devices used by Health Physics teams. Some days you’ll carry out repairs onsite. Other times, you’ll be based in the workshop, stripping equipment down to the component level for detailed diagnostics and calibration.

A long the way, you’ll develop practical skills in electronics and fault finding, while building a strong understanding of how radiation is detected and measured. You will also be trained to handle radioactive materials, which allows for highly accurate calibration using real alpha, beta and gamma sources. It is a fascinating place to learn and a meaningful way to support safety on one of the UK’s most complex nuclear sites.

Your education / training

As part of your apprenticeship, you’ll study for the Level 3 Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician (MOET) Apprenticeship Standard through Lakes College West Cumbria. This will provide you with both the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills you need to succeed as an EC&I Craftsperson in a nuclear environment.

Future prospects

By the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll be ready to take on roles such as EC&I Craftsperson – a vital position in maintaining the safety of nuclear operations at Sellafield. Upon programme completion, you can expect to earn a competitive salary exceeding £35,000. 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.

What you’ll need

Minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 (C) or above including Maths, English and Science. 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.

What you’ll get

We’ll provide you with a supportive and engaging environment where you can grow your career. In addition, you’ll benefit from:

• 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 and employee shopping savings portal

You’ll also have the chance to get involved in our STEM outreach activities and volunteering opportunities, which our apprentices find incredibly rewarding.