Job Description

Start your career with impact — join our specialist team at Spadeadam on our fantastic Engineering Apprenticeship programme, helping drive the Energy Transition!

Here at DNV, what we do matters. Whether it’s helping the Energy Industry transition to a more decarbonised and sustainable future or helping safeguard life, property and the environment, every day, what you do will make a difference. This is our shared purpose and one our people are proud to be part of.

Our Spadeadam Research and Testing site is one of the UK’s most unique and exciting places to start a career in safety, engineering, and future energy. For nearly 50 years, our site has been home to large scale research into fires, explosions, and new low carbon technologies like hydrogen. With an 80 hectare site near Brampton, Cumbria, set inside a protected MOD area, Spadeadam gives our apprentices the rare chance to contribute to real experiments, real engineering, and real safety challenges up close — the kind of work most people only ever see on TV.

Our Opportunity:

We have a truly unique opportunity for an Electrical and Mechanical Degree Apprentice to join our team here at our specialist research and testing centre at Spadeadam.

As a Degree Apprentice, you’ll learn alongside more than 100 specialists who work on everything from gas explosions and fire testing to hydrogen powered homes and next generation energy systems. Our site includes full scale test houses, hydrogen pipelines, specialist fire facilities, and the Lord Cullen Training Centre, where people from around the world come to learn about major hazards. This means you won’t just be developing practical skills and studying — you’ll be supporting real tests, hands on demonstrations, and the science behind keeping people and industries safe.

You’ll join us on a permanent contract during August, allowing you to settle in and get up to speed with your new role, before formally commencing your Degree Apprenticeship course. The entire programme will last approximately 60 months and upon completion you’ll be awarded the industry recognised Level 6 Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship standard

During your Degree Apprenticeship, you’ll study at our selected specialist training provider. This requires attendance on-site at the University for week-long block release sessions approximately every 6–8 weeks throughout the duration of your apprenticeship programme.

All additional travel and accommodation expenses are covered; however, these off-the-job block study sessions at University represent a vital component of your learning experience. Regular periods away from home may not suit everyone, so it is important to carefully assess whether you are able to commit to this requirement over the long term.

It is important to understand that the nature of our work means that whilst on-site at Spadeadam, you will spend significant time outdoors, in all weather conditions, collaborating with our delivery teams and witnessing our tests and research first hand. The projects you will support, the environment you will work in and the people you will engage with, make this role like no other. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but the opportunity to be part of making a real difference to people’s lives and the future of our planet is immense.

As you progress, you’ll have the opportunity to experience working across a mixture of larger and more complex projects here at our world-famous Spadeadam Research and Testing site in Cumbria.

Our Degree Apprenticeship programme is designed to challenge you while making sure you have strong support every step of the way. So don’t worry if some aspects of your role feel complex or unfamiliar at first, you’ll have a dedicated manager to provide pastoral care and ensure that your individual needs are recognised and supported to help you thrive. You’ll also be surrounded by a large team, committed to helping you learn and develop, providing you with everything you need to succeed, including opportunities to embark on further training and obtain additional specialist qualifications.

We value all our people and the contributions they make to our business, so it’s important that our rewards make us all feel valued here. That’s why we offer a flexible reward and benefits package, allowing you to choose the things that matter most to you, including;

• Starting salary of £20,000 based on a 37.5 hour working week
• £2k increment upon successful completion of each year of apprenticeship
• Annual performance and pay review
• Fully funded Apprenticeship Training programme, resulting in you achieving the industry recognised Level 6 Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship standard
• Non-contractual Profit Share Scheme
• Lifestyle benefits: 26 days annual leave + bank holidays, opportunity for up to 10 days unpaid leave
• Wellbeing benefits: (inc Private Medical, Dental Insurance, Health Assessments, Gym allowance). Company contribution towards eye tests and glasses (for computer/laptop users), and Flu Vaccinations. Also, our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provides free and confidential support for issues including work, family, relationships, money and health and we provide free fruit in our offices
• Financial Benefits: including a Pension Scheme with employer pension contributions up to 9%, Life Assurance and Income Protection
• Travel benefits: Season Ticket Loan, Cycle to Work Scheme, Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme (for personal use)
• Re-imbursement of relevant Professional Membership Fees (up to £570)
• Access to employee retail discount site for high street and on-line shopping
  

Next Steps:
We appreciate that applying for a Degree Apprenticeship opportunity, for some, can be a new or daunting experience, which is why we try to make our process as simple, transparent, and engaging as possible.

Step 1: Follow the link to apply and answer a few simple questions.
Step 2: Complete a fun, web-based, behavioural assessment.
Step 3: Learn more about the role via an informal online conversation with one of our team.
Step 4: Visit our Spadeadam site where you’ll have a tour, meet your future colleagues, have an interview and take part in an interactive team activity.
Step 5: Receive a decision and constructive feedback.

Our process really is as simple as that, so what are you waiting for? Good Luck!

For this particular role, the deadline for applications is Monday 4th May 2026 with interviews being held at the end of June/early July 2026

DNV is an Equal Opportunity Employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to gender, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, cultural background, social group, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age or political opinion. Diversity is fundamental to our culture and we invite you to be part of this diversity.

One of the best things about a Degree Apprenticeship, is that you don’t need to have previous experience. We do however, want people who share our genuine interest in engineering and our industry, demonstrating a desire to learn new skills and develop yourself within this exciting area.

• Qualification requirements –112 UCAS Points. Gained via either:
  • 3 A-Levels (or equivalent) Must include Maths and either Physics and/or Chemistry (with achievement/predicted A*-B Grades)
  • OR, Successful completion of a relevant Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship/BTEC Diploma
• Available to join the programme before the end August 2026. Also please note that due to the nature of this Apprenticeship, you must be at least 18 years old when you join our programme
• Self-motivated and organised – ability to plan and prioritise work and apprenticeship activities to ensure deadlines are met
• Strong safety and environmental awareness, demonstrating a focus on quality, attention to detail and accuracy at all times
• Good interpersonal, communication and team working skills, helping to create a positive and supportive work environment
• Ability to listen to and action and guidance, demonstrates initiative and problem-solving skills, but not afraid to ask questions or for assistance when required
• Willingness to travel and stay away from home – mainly for your study blocks and occasional travel within the UK
• You will also ideally possess a full clean UK driving license and your own transport, as this will make getting to our Spadeadam site and to your study blocks a little more convenient. If you don’t yet have a driving license, we will support you through a high intensity driving course to also enable you to use our vehicles whilst on site.

If you’re curious, hands on, and excited about engineering, science, or future energy, Spadeadam is the perfect place to start your journey. You’ll gain skills that are in high demand, help solve real world safety challenges, and play a part in major projects shaping the UK’s energy future. It’s a place where no two days look the same — and where you can make a real impact from day one.

Security and compliance with statutory requirements in the countries in which we operate is essential for DNV. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates as part of the offer process, in accordance with applicable country-specific laws and practices

About Energy Systems
We help customers navigate the complex transition to a decarbonized and more sustainable energy future. We do this by assuring that energy systems work safely and effectively, using solutions that are increasingly digital. We also help industries and governments to navigate the many complex, interrelated transitions taking place globally and regionally, in the energy industry.