There’s never been a more exciting time to be part of the nuclear sector. New opportunities are being created all the time. At NNL, you’ll be in the ideal place to capitalise on this momentum, face new challenges and develop a long, successful and meaningful career.
We’re an organisation that’s here to experiment and push the limits of what’s possible. So, if you’re keen to excel in your chosen field, this is the place to do it. Because at NNL, anything is possible.
NNL is not like any other business, and our apprenticeships are like no other. Our apprentices are our future, which is why we have a dedicated programme which supports you in your personal development whilst you complete your apprenticeship.
To join the NNL apprenticeship scheme you’ll already have a good academic background and should have attained or be on track to achieving 5 GCSE's 9-4 (A-C) including Maths, English & a Science. You should also be on track to complete, or have obtained a Level 3 qualification, such as A-levels, or completed an advanced apprenticeship in a STEM related subject providing the appropriate number of UCAS points for entry to level 5 HE programmes.
You must be 18 years or over by September 2025.
To be eligible for this apprenticeship you must:
You will have the right to work in the UK and be able to obtain SC level security clearance (this includes but is not limited to identity, employment, financial and criminal record checks plus 5 years’ worth of UK residency).
We’re looking for people who can be part of our future. People who want to succeed and have the commitment and motivation to get there. People who ask questions and demand answers, who’ll be open to learning and work hard.
We’re looking for bright, enthusiastic achievers who’ll want to be part of our mission to grow the nuclear industry.
Main Responsibilities
For this apprenticeship (subject to pre-qualifications) you will follow the Higher National Diploma or a Foundation Degree as a Technician Scientist.
NNL is where your solutions solve real-world problems. As a laboratory technician scientific apprentice, you will be working at the forefront of the nuclear research and development programme that makes NNL one of the world leaders in nuclear energy. You will support our nuclear research and development by operating our process equipment, testing and calibration of equipment as well as undertaking investigations and analysis of samples.
You will learn about:
To welcome you into the business, your programme will start with a tailored induction. This will give you an understanding of the business, the programme you will follow and what we’ll expect from you during your apprenticeship. Following your induction, you’ll be supported through your apprenticeship journey focusing on personal development. This covers a range of skills from time management to team working. We’ll learn about you together.
We even have a dedicated apprentice advisor who is there to ensure that you are settling into your apprenticeship at NNL, both in the workplace and at college.
As part of the selection process for the apprenticeship programme you should expect to complete a short online assessment. Successful candidates will be invited to attend an assessment centre which will assess technical and behavioural competencies. The assessment centre for this role will be held in March 2025.
If successful you will receive a conditional offer of employment, you will also be required to achieve the appropriate security and medical clearances.
You will start your apprenticeship scheme in September 2025.You will be based at our Workington or Sellafield Laboratory.
Why join us?
NNL isn’t just a place where you can do career-defining work that makes a real-world impact. It’s also a place where you’ll feel appreciated and valued. We’re creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is free to be themselves and feel like they belong. We put your wellbeing first, we push you to reach your potential, and we do everything possible to help you feel safe, supported and inspired.
We also offer a range of employee benefits:
About The Company
NNL is an incredible place to work. A place where people do things that have never been done before. A place where people push boundaries to further themselves, the business and society as a whole.
This is a place where personal and professional opportunities are limitless. If you want to change the world, if you want to tackle climate change, if you want to help advance medical science, if you want to help put things in space, if you want to answer the big questions, if you want to work with extraordinary materials, if you want to meet great people, learn new skills, challenge yourself, work flexibly, and build a long successful career with the power to make a real impact… you can do it all here.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
NNL has a vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (ED&I) where NNL aims to be an inclusive workplace that attracts diverse talent through transparent and equal policies and procedures, providing reasonable adjustments as appropriate. We want you and the diverse mix of people that we employ, customers that we service and stakeholders that we influence to feel valued. We encourage a workplace culture where everyone can thrive with a sense of belonging and the ability to access to workplace in a way which works for you.
Recruitment Agency Notice
We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List (PSL) for the provision of recruitment services. Only agencies on our PSL may provide CVs and only when the role is released to them by our recruitment team. We will not accept unsolicited CVs from suppliers not currently on our PSL. We explicitly reserve the right to add candidate details from unsolicited CVs from non-PSL agencies into our own candidate database and to pursue/hire such candidate(s) without any obligation, financial or otherwise, to the agency concerned.
