Location: Crawley, 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.
2025 Bid Management Apprentice - Level 4 Project Management Associate Apprenticeship
Start Date: 01 September 2025
Salary: £22,500 per annum
Employee type: Permanent
Location: Crawley
Working Schedule: Monday – Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday – Thursday, 5 hours Friday)
Are you interested in the way that a business grows? Do you have a passion for new technologies? Are you intrigued by the way we help customers find new solutions to their problems? Most crucially, do you think you have a talent for organisation, a common sense approach and an eye for the detail to link these aspects together to create winning bids? If so, read on to see what Thales has to offer…
What the role has to offer:
- Earn while you learn
- Job specific training experience
- Recognised qualifications
- Permanent role from day one
Apprentices on the Bid Management scheme will join the business growth community of Bid Managers and Sales Managers, as we look to secure new business and open new markets for Thales products and technologies. Working with either the Electronic Warfare (EW) or Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) teams, Bid Apprentices will gain experience in:
- Understanding and responding to customer requests
- Knowledge in structuring and estimating new projects
- Methods for bidding, negotiating and ultimately winning new contracts
Bid Apprentices will join an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) bid team who are keen to work together, share ideas and develop their experiences. Bid Apprentices will be supported in their learning journey as they take on more responsibility through ownership of individual bids, specific customer relationships and communications with the ISR organisation including the senior management team.
The Programme:
Through our higher apprenticeship you’ll be making the most of your talents, getting to understand Bids and the Project Management Function from the ground up; and doing so with the help of one of the biggest and best names in the industry.
This is a 24 months programme, working towards the Level 4 Project Manager Associate Apprenticeship standard. The programme will be delivered via a virtual delivery model, with live virtual workshops and 1-2-1 coaching calls. Upon successful completion of your End Point Assessment, you will roll off into the Thales UK Bid and Project Management job family into a bid role.
Who we’re looking for:
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are motivated, committed and keen to learn. A self-starter who is able to manage their time, show initiative and has a genuine interest in project planning/controls and Thales. Successful candidates will show self-discipline and an aspiration to achieve the qualification.
Entry requirements:
You will also need 5 GCSEs grade 9-4 (A-C) including English and Maths (or equivalent), plus a Level 3 qualification to demonstrate the ability to learn at this level. Suitable Level 3 qualifications might include A Levels (Grade C or above), Highers, T Level (Merit or above), BTEC Diploma (Merit or above). Level 3 STEM based qualification would be advantageous.
Right to Work in the UK for the duration of the programme.
Closing date: Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 16 February 2025, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note we will be in contact by the end of February 2025 with details of next steps.
Please note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February and May 2025 Induction week for all Graduate and Apprentices will take place from Monday 01 September until Friday 05 September 2025.
Recruitment Process:
For further information on our Early Careers recruitment process or to speak to a member of the Early Careers Team or a Graduate or Apprentice, please visit Thales Future Talent - Connectr.
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks. As part of the vetting process you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, eligibility to work in the UK, time spent abroad over the last 5 years, as well as employment and/or educational history.
For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.
Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.
In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.
At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.
Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment,if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.
Great journeys start here, apply now!
