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Practical Apprenticeships

Together, we’ll pioneer the power that matters.

When you’re building, manufacturing, inspecting or repairing some of the most advanced engines in the world, the margin for error is, quite literally, microscopic. That’s why we invest so much in training our Practical Apprentices, and offer the sort of exciting, real-world exposure you simply can’t get anywhere else.

As well as the outstanding career support you'll enjoy from day one, and the debt-free qualifications you'll have at the end of it, you’ll have the chance to build your engineering career with trainees from lots of different backgrounds - in an environment where you can be yourself and be your best.

What you'll need

England: Four GCSE’s (or equivalent), including Maths at a grade 5/B, and English Language, Science (excluding GCSE in Biology) plus at least one other subject at a grade 4/C (obtained or predicted).

Scotland: Thurso (Scotland) based roles: Minimum three National 5s (or equivalent) in Maths and English, plus either Engineering Science or Physics, all at grade C or above (obtained or predicted).

You’ll also need

A genuine interest in the practical side of engineering, making and creating
To be open-minded and curious and
Adaptability and
A love of learning and applying new skills

What you’ll get

Starting salary: £12,302 a year

Qualifications gained depend on the role you are aligned to.

How long?

4 years

Where?

Derby, Birmingham (Solihull), Thurso (Scotland)

What you’ll do

In your first year, you’ll gain a strong foundation in the practical skills you need – either at our Apprentice Academy in Derby, or with one of our approved training providers across the UK. Over the following three years, you’ll broaden and deepen your knowledge through a range of attachments within a defined business, all the while working towards completing your Apprenticeship standard and gaining relevant engineering qualifications.

This is hands-on work. And whether you’re producing, building or maintaining Rolls-Royce products, or making and maintaining the tools we need to a high standard, you’ll be making a big impact. Throughout your apprenticeship you can expect to train on state-of-the-art products, equipment and machinery. All while being guided and supported by engineering experts.

What we look for

A PASSION FOR HANDS-ON ENGINEERING

Beyond your qualifications, we want to see evidence that you're genuinely interested in developing a career in engineering. For instance, we'd like to hear about how you tinker with cars, bicycles or motorbikes; or about an engineering project you've done at school or work, or a club you've been involved with. Whatever it is, we need to know you've thought things through and are fairly sure that this career direction is right for you.

TEAM SKILLS, AND GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT

We all enjoy working as part of a close-knit team. So, we'll be interested in how you've worked well in a group - this could be at school, at work, with your family, in a sports team, in voluntary organisations, such as the Guides, Scouts or Cadets, or as part of religious or community activities. You'll also need to be good at organising your time, as you'll need to manage both studying and getting on and doing your job.

DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DIFFERENT WAYS OF THINKING

We support each other to learn and to grow across our communities and teams. However you identify, whatever your experiences, you belong at Rolls-Royce. Our STEM activities give you the chance to share your experiences with the next generation of apprentices, and our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are an important part of building and inclusive culture and include the African and Caribbean Pioneers Network (ACPN), EAST - for everyone to share the diversity and culture of Asia, Multi-Faith Network (MFN), OPEN - for employees affected by disabilities or underlying health conditions, Prism - a network for our LGBT+ employees and their allies and the UK Gender Diversity Network (UK GDN), a network for men and women which aims to develop a gender agnostic culture.

Meet Kacper

Practical Apprentice

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Roles

Machinist

Machinists in the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering sector are predominantly involved in highly skilled, complex and precision work, machining components from specialist materials using conventional and/or CNC machine tools such as centre lathes, vertical and horizontal milling machines, horizontal and cylindrical grinding machines, electro discharge machines, single and multi- axis CNC machine tools centres. They will be expected to be able set up, operate and adjust/edit equipment settings as applicable to the machine tool being used. When using CNC equipment they will be expected to be able to produce, prove and/or edit programmes. During and on completion of the machining operations they will be expected to measure and check the components being produced and make adjustments to the equipment/programme to ensure components meet the required specification.

This will begin in training – either in our Apprentice Academy or a local provider - while completing a relevant Level 2 engineering qualification. You’ll then move into the business you’ve been assigned to and concentrate on loading & proving CNC machine programmes, setting CNC machines for production and machining components using CNC machines to complete your Level 3 qualification. This is underpinned with a knowledge qualification studied for at a local college, either one day per week or block release, depending on your programme and location. You’ll also be trained in a variety of supporting skills whilst on programme.

Maintenance Technician

Maintenance Technicians mechanically and electronically maintain and service a range of machine tools, plant and equipment. They deal with various internal manufacturing and assembly departments, delivering scheduled and planned maintenance operations and responding to machine tool breakdowns. Programmes. Typically, work would cover a broad range of activities include installation, testing, fault finding and the on-going planned maintenance of complex automated equipment. This requires the application of a complex blend of skills, knowledge and occupational behaviours across the electrical, electronic, mechanical, fluid power and control systems disciplines.

Sheet Metal Workers

Sheet Metal is one of the most varied and diversified of all the trades and you’ll belong to a skilled, technical craft working with other engineering technicians to produce components, and on projects involving aero engine assemblies and fabricated components. You’ll learn how to read plans and determine the type and amount of materials needed and then measure, mark out, bend, cut, shape, and attach pieces of sheet metal to make products, before checking for accuracy and performing any necessary adjustments. You’ll get to grips with specialised fastening devices such as bolts, rivets, screws and solder, hand and power tools and equipment including shears, breaks, punches and forming presses, edging and crimping machines, hammers and grinders. You’ll learn how to weld on all types of materials using varied disciplines such as MIG, MAG and TIG, and to create 3D drawings to support your work.

Aerospace Manufacturing Fitters – Defence Bristol

Working within Defence Aerospace Operations you’ll be trained in three key areas. Assembly is where Fitters either assemble new engines starting with individual modules and bring these together to build the full engine, or working on repairing engines that have been returned from service. Development is a research and design operation where Fitters strip and build existing engines to try out various changes to determine improvements. It also ensures that new engine introduction complies with all Aviation Authority and other regulatory requirements. Test requires Fitters to test a range of engines in our test beds to ensure compliance

Aerospace Manufacturing Fitters – Derby

Working within the Assembly and Test business apprentices will be trained within three key areas, Production, is where fitters assemble new engines starting with the individual modules and then bringing these together to build the full engine, with a standard engine containing 20,000 parts this is a major assembly operation. Experimental, is a research and design operation where fitters strip and build existing engines to try out various changes to determine improvements. It also ensures that new engine introduction complies with all Civil Aviation Authority and other regulatory requirements. Test, whether a new engine has been assembled in Production or an existing or new engine type has been assembled in Experimental they will need testing, fitters are required to test a range of engines in the companies test beds to determine compliance.

Welders

The role of a Welder is mainly to join metals by heating their surfaces and fusing them together with pressure and is used in the production of aero engine assemblies at Rolls-Royce. Metal joining is a skill that has been in demand for thousands of years but technology has ushered in the requirement for new skills along with old ones. New technology now allows the metal to be heated by a variety of methods including gas flame, laser, ultrasound and electron beam although arc welding is still the most common method. Welders are always in demand and are used to reinforce weak joints, fix stress cracks, build sculptures, and cut and shape raw metals. You’ll learn how to lay out, fit, and fabricate metal components to assemble structural forms, such as machinery frames, bridge parts, and pressure vessels, using the knowledge you’ve gained of welding techniques, metallurgy, and engineering requirements. You’ll welding on all types of materials, using varied disciplines such as MIG, MAG and TIG.

Assessment information

We assess candidates throughout the year, so you may find there is some time between submitting an application and your assessment centre. These will be run between January 2021 and May 2021, subject to availability.