Work on exciting, cutting-edge engineering projects. Enjoy fully funded, well-respected training by supportive experts. Have impact that’s rare to find anywhere else. It’s all yours as an Apprentice Technical Engineer at FCDO Services, where you’ll help to keep people safe and information secure, right around the world.

Whether you’re a school-leaver, a career-changer, or just looking to enhance your current skills, this is a chance to do meaningful work for incredible customers. In fact, this is a chance to make your future a whole lot bigger.

Let’s introduce ourselves
We are FCDO Services, and our work is as varied and vital as it gets. A trusted government partner for over 75 years, we provide a range of secure services to help support diplomacy, international development and defence for UK government departments at home and abroad. We operate in over 250 destinations, across 168 countries. We design and construct secure government buildings. We help earthquake-proof embassies. We courier diplomatic packages over land, sea and air. We keep complex projects on track, and on budget. We store visa applications securely in the Cloud. And a whole lot more besides.

So what will you do?
You’ll get a real feel for lots of different engineering teams and how they design, install and maintain the electronic systems that keep our government-level customers secure. Maybe you’ll work on CCTV systems, intruder detection systems, or a digital radio installation in one of the UK’s embassies. Perhaps you’ll prevent and detect technical eavesdropping attacks, or help design the next generation of security products. The work is incredibly varied – and each project and team placement will help you build skills to be deeply proud of. Plus, it’s likely that you’ll get to do some overseas travel too.

But that’s not all. We’ll also support you to study for a variety of technical qualifications that will give you the knowledge and skills to start rising to the top of your field. That starts with spending the first nine months studying full-time at a local college, learning theoretical and practical elements of engineering. At the end of the programme, you’ll have gained a Level 3 apprenticeship qualification in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, and there’s a strong chance we’ll offer you a permanent position. You could find yourself in our Technical Services Centre, based in the UK but travelling overseas on a project by project basis to install a range of protective systems. Or you might join one of our Regional Technical Support Services Teams, based in one of our overseas hubs for up to four years. Or Work as part of our National Authority for Counter-Eavesdropping (UK NACE) preventing and detecting technical eavesdropping attacks.

So to sum up: join us, and you’ll build your specialist skills, have far-reaching impact and widen your options – all with the benefits of a career in the Civil Service. It’s why we think it’s fair to say, your future just got bigger.

What we look for
This apprenticeship is open to everyone, but you must:

• Be a British citizen who’s lived in the UK for the last three years before the first day of your apprenticeship (aiming to start September 2023), and for at least five of the last ten years
• Be at least 16 years old by 30 April 2023 so you can complete Security Check (SC) clearance before your start date
• Have a minimum of four GCSEs (or equivalent e.g. O levels) grade 9-4 (A*-C) including Maths, English and Science, preferably Physics, or a technical-based subject such as Engineering or Product Design
• Have good communication skills
• Be IT literate and proficient in the Microsoft Office suite – Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Show us you’re genuinely interested in engineering and technology
• Ideally, have some experience of using tools such as drills and saws
• Be interested in overseas travel
• Be reliable, responsive, easy to work with and able to build relationships

Please note: if you already have a qualification at the same (or a higher level) in a similar discipline, you may not be able to apply unless the apprenticeship qualification provides learning and skills that are materially different to what you’ve studied before. If your qualification is in a different field, then you are eligible to apply.

Vetting
Because of the secure nature of what we do for our government-level customers, all our employees have to be security cleared before joining us. That’s why, if you’re successful in your application, you’ll need to go through a vetting process. This role will require you to undergo Security Check (SC) clearance before joining, and Developed Vetting (DV) clearance shortly after joining. It’s important information to know, so make sure you read the details before applying. You can find out more about vetting on our careers site or by visiting: www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-applicant

Colour Blindness
Candidates invited to the assessment centre will be asked to undertake a colour blindness test, since distinguishing between different colours of electrical wire will be a critical part of your role.

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world
The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And Employers for Carers. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.

Step into our Virtual Embassy
Want to take a closer look at what we do? Our Virtual Embassy will give you lots of different insights about our world, and the impact you could have here. To get exploring, visit: https://virtual-embassy.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/

Hear from an apprentice
There’s nothing better than hearing from people in the team you could be joining. So for a first-hand account of being an apprentice in Technical Engineering, head over to: https://www.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/our-people/technical-engineering-apprentice-2/

FCDO Services are regulated by the Civil Service Commission.

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