This groundbreaking programme enables apprentices to gain the vital space-specific and cross-sector skills that the UK space industry needs to maximise its commercial potential and extend its global influence.
About the Apprenticeship
The Level 4 Space Technician apprenticeship is a 48-month programme that provides your apprentices with the skills they need to thrive in your business. They are guaranteed to add real value from the first day of their course as they begin to learn the new advanced skills, critical for their development and the support of your organisation.
Apprentices spend the first three years on day release, working at their employer full time, visiting OAS one day a week.
Apprentices are based at their employer permanently throughout the final year. This ensures that they develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are most relevant to your business and allows you to develop your working relationship to its fullest potential as you become more familiar with your apprentice’s abilities and contributions.
Approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Training Education, the apprenticeship supports the development of manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing of complex, high value space hardware and ground-based equipment.
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Who is it for?
This apprenticeship is for any members of your team that are looking to develop their technical skills to support their progression within your business. It is designed for those that want to move on to higher level technical roles and senior leadership positions, with a clear focus on supporting the skills and expertise that can help propel their development and at the same time enable them to add more value back to your business.
Designed for those with relevant engineering experience or an existing level 3 qualification, the programme will give apprentices the skills and knowledge they need to advance in the space sector and to progress onto in-demand roles such as:
- Spacecraft Propulsion Engineering Technician
- Spacecraft Mechanical Engineering Technician
- Satellite Manufacturing
- Assembly, Control and Instrumentation Engineering Technician
Why OAS?
Originally established in 2016 to train apprentices on the latest hi-tech industrial equipment, OAS opened its purpose-built training centre in 2019. Since then, the cohort of apprentices in training has exceeded in over 300 engineering disciplines including mechanical, electrical, robotics and PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), vacuum, cryogenics, fluids and control instrumentation.
In November 2023, OAS opened a brand new £13 million extension, allowing us to broaden the training we offer to include four additional key industrial sectors: Automation and Controls, Space, Renewable Energy and Nuclear. The impressive facility provides over 2,000 square metres of floor space and houses state-of-the-art equipment as well as labs, workshops and training rooms fully equipped with the latest AV equipment, making it the perfect environment for your apprentice to develop their skills.
OAS was rated Good by Ofsted on 10th February 2023, with Outstanding ratings in both ‘Behaviour and Attitudes’ and ‘Personal Development’.
What apprentices learn
The apprenticeship is designed to deliver the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are in high demand within the space industry’s current and future workforce, such as spacecraft systems and assembly, testing equipment and problem solving.
During the 48-month programme, learners will develop the capabilities and experience required to successfully employ the advanced manufacturing technologies that are critical to the sector’s future success.
COURSE CONTENT
- Mathematical and scientific principles
- Electrical and electronic measurement and testing
- Adhesives, bonding, material lists and verification control documentation
- Thermal, vacuum, radiation, atomic oxygen and launch operations
- Handling in cleanliness and contained controlled environments
- Space system assembly, integration and test procedures
- Handling and application of space qualified materials and electromagnetic compatibility
- Space engineering process improvement plans
- Quality management systems
- Risk Assessments, compliance within applicable space industry processes and standards
- Assembly, integration and test readiness and non-conformance review, CAD
Funding
The Apprenticeship Levy means all UK employers with a payroll of more than £3 million per year are required to invest 0.5% of their annual salary bill into apprenticeships.
If you are a levy-paying employer, we can support you to maximise the return on your investment by using your levy to fund high-class training for your apprentices with OAS MTC Training.
If you have exhausted your Apprenticeship Levy, you can enter a co-investment agreement where you can still benefit from industry-leading apprenticeships with just a 5% contribution towards the training costs.
Funding for SMEs
If you are an SME that does not have to pay the levy, we can help you to cover the cost of your apprentice’s training through the Lloyds Bank Transfer Fund.
Set up by our partner Lloyds Bank, the fund is designed to help SMEs take on apprentices by covering the entire cost of training an apprentice with MTC Training.
Contact us to learn more about how we can help your business fund this apprenticeship and others.
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