Responsibilities
Duties and responsibilities will include:
- Be a crucial part of one of our most respected and highly-trained teams
- As a Marine Engineer Submariner (MESM) you'll be supporting your boat's nuclear reactor, ensuring its safe operation, and maintaining all the support systems that are vital to submarine missions
- As a Weapon Engineer Submariner (WESM) you could be guaranteeing the efficiency of Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles, or providing the nation's nuclear deterrent
- Work on board a Vanguard Class submarine, ensuring the nation's nuclear deterrent is operational, or an Astute Class vessel where you'll be part of some highly-classified hunter killer operations. Operate at the highest levels of the industry as you complete an accelerated scheme to become a nuclear engineer
- After that you can extend your service, apply to become a commissioned officer, or transfer your new skills to a career in the civilian sector
Future Prospects
- You’ll start your naval career as a Probationary Leading Hand. With experience and further training, you could be promoted to Petty Officer and beyond
- If you show the right commitment, skills and academic ability, you could become a Commissioned Officer
- Members of the Royal Navy are promoted on merit
- Work hard and you can rise through the ranks
Reality Check
You’ll be embarking on one of the world’s top apprenticeship schemes, which means training will be a constant feature of your time with us. As well as helping you develop your Royal Navy career, everything you achieve will be valued by a future civilian employer.
It will also be recognised by Professional Institutions, so you can take a streamlined route to registering as an EngTech or an IEng. It takes place in two distinct environments: at onshore training facilities and on board operational submarines. When you join you complete 10 weeks of basic naval training, followed by specialist engineering training, as a MESM focussing on:
- Learning how machinery works
- Repairing equipment
- Making components
- Using essential tools and techniques
- Safety procedures
and as a WESM focussing on:
- Weapon systems
- Safety procedures
- Electrical and electronic repair techniques
- Hydraulics and pneumatics
- Essential tools and techniques
There are many benefits of undertaking an Apprenticeship within the Royal Navy, such as:
- Start on a salary of over £33,000. As your career progresses you have the potential to earn in excess of £51,000
- An excellent non-contributory pension scheme – we pay into it for you, so you don’t have to sacrifice any salary
- Six weeks of paid holiday every year
- A £5,000 bonus on being awarded your Dolphins – the mark of a qualified submariner
- Additional Submariner pay for every day at sea once you’re fully qualified.
- Free gym and sports, from football to kayaking to kite-surfing
- Forces Help to Buy scheme – a 0% loan to get you on, or further up, the housing ladder
- Subsidised travel, accommodation and food
Skills Required
- The Royal Navy will give you skills
- We’ll develop your abilities, train you to be the best, show you how to achieve your goals and give you recognised qualifications
Qualities Required
- A quick thinker, with a passion for working with the latest equipment and technology
- A problem-solver who can work well as part of a team
- A real sense of adventure, with a high level of physical and mental fitness
- Enthusiasm for fixing and maintaining electronic and mechanical systems
Qualifications Required
A minimum of three GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade 4 or above including English Language, mathematics and at least one science
There are 2 options for acceptable qualifications required in addition to the basic academic criteria above:
Option 1
- A National Qualifications Framework Level 3 Diploma (with a minimum of a Merit Pass) in Engineering discipline
Option 2
- At least 48 UCAS points in A-levels (or equivalent) in Mathematics and STEM subject
Training Provided
At the end of your Apprenticeship training you will have achieved:
Advanced Apprenticeship - Engineering Technician comprising of:
- Level 2 Diploma in Maritime Defence (Foundation Competence)
- Level 2 Diploma in Maritime Defence (Foundation Knowledge)
- Level 3 Diploma in Maritime Defence (Development Competence)
- Level 3 Diploma in Maritime Defence (Development Knowledge)
You can also gain academic qualifications such as GCSEs, A-levels, even a degree. As well as helping you develop your Royal Navy career, everything you achieve will be recognised and valued by future civilian employers.
