Vessel Master Apprentice – Level 3 Boatmaster

Position: 2026 Vessel Master Apprentice – Level 3 Boat master
Location:

turnchapel, united kingdomthales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including above and sonar, electronic combat, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us.

At thales uk, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of aerospace, defence, security and space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you;

whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.
** 2026 vessel master apprentice – level 3 boat master
**** start date:
** 07 september 2026
** salary:** £24,000 per annum
** employee type:
** permanent
* * location:
** turnchapel
* * working schedule:*
* * 37 hours a week,
* * monday – thursday 8 hours a day, friday 5 hours (0800 to 1700 with 1 hr for lunch)
*** what the role has to offer:
*** earn while you learn
* job specific training experience
* recognised qualifications
* permanent role from day one
* tuition fees for university or approved training providers are fully coveredas a vessel master apprentice you will support our high-tech marine operations s is a unique opportunity to develop hands-on skill and gain specialist knowledge while working alongside expert engineering and vessel operations teams. Key responsibilities will include:
* support both harbour and sea integration testing on thales uk vessels, assisting with setup, monitoring, and test activities
* assist the engineering team with basic vessel maintenance tasks such as equipment checks, repairs, and routine upkeep
* provide support during ad-hoc water-based trials conducted out of turnchapel, including vessel preparation and data collection
* gain a working knowledge of maritime autonomous systems used at turnchapel through hands-on experience and training
** apprentice programme
** you will be working towards the boat master level 3 apprenticeship over a 2 year period with our training partner searegs. This covers a wide range of commercial activity on inland tidal and non-tidal waterways in the uk. The training will take place in one and two-week blocks over the programme duration. The rest of the time you will be working in the business, applying your learning and gaining experience.to

operate lawfully all apprentices will be required to obtain a boat master licence from the maritime coastguard agency – the apprenticeship will help to prepare you to obtain this. Apprentices will also gain a commercial skippers licence for vessels up to 20 miles out to sea.  Training will lead to a practical and theory-based end point assessment, in which apprentices will gain the sqa qualification and will be put forward to sit the mca boat master tier 1 level 2 qualification.
** requirements:
*** 5 gcses grade 9-4 (a-c) including english and maths
** benefits:
*** 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays)
* company pension
* health care cash plan
* life insurance
* discount portal
* performance-related pay uplifts
* 80 hours volunteering (first two years)
** please note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between february - may 2026.  Induction week for all graduates and apprentices will take place from monday 7 september - friday 11 september 2026.
**** closing date:
** our applications will close at
** 11.59pm
** on
** thursday 12 february 2026**, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note, we will be in contact by the end of
** february 2026
** with details of next steps.
** please note that roles may close earlier than the…