Radiation Protection Apprentice

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Salary: 19514 per annum(rising annually throughout the apprenticeship)
Contract Type: Fixed-Term 30 months
Hours: Full-time 37 hours
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell Campus Didcot OX11 0QX
Closing Date: Sunday 2nd February 2026
Interview Date: Feb 2026 / Mar 2026
Start Date: September 2026

The Health Physics & Facility Safety Group supports the radiation protection function and the radioactive waste the workplace the Radiation Protection Apprentice will develop the technical skills and competencies required to provide health physics monitoring support and assistance to staff and users at ISIS. The apprentice will also gain the knowledge and skills required for the safe characterisation and processing of radioactive waste prior to its safe disposal.

About an Apprenticeship at STFC

Were looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals ready to develop their skills through formal training and hands-on experience. As an apprentice youll gain real-world experience build technical and professional skills and contribute to cutting-edge research and innovation in a dynamic supportive environment.

Youll be fully supported throughout the programme with regular check-ins from a dedicated Apprenticeship Coordinator structured training practical experience and mentorship from industry professionals. Plus youll have access to workshops a peer network and career development support helping you feel confident and prepared for new challenges.

Why join the Health Physics & Facility Group at the STFC

As an apprentice in our Health Physics Group youll combine technical expertise with problem-solving to support cutting-edge experiments. Youll gain specialist training collaborate with passionate professionals and learn from experienced experts who keep world-class research facilities safe and operational. This is your chance to develop highly valued skills contribute to ground-breaking projects and build a strong foundation for an exciting future.

Qualifications gained

Level 2 Nuclear Health Physics Monitor Apprenticeship.

Nuclear health physics monitor / Skills England

What Youll Learn

• Compliance with health and safety regulations
• Use of radiological protection monitoring instruments
• Conducting functional tests and numerical calculations for radiological data
• Emergency response and contingency planning
• Effective communication and documentation skills
• Radiological measurement and protection
• Technical documentation interpretation
• Minor maintenance and plant equipment operations
• Problem-solving and team working skills
• Communication and documentation skills

Training provider

MTC Training: Level 2 Nuclear Apprenticeships

Block training at Manufacturing Training Centre (MTC) based at Oxford Advanced Skills (OAS) in Culham Oxfordshire

What Youll Be Doing Day-to-day responsibilities

• Taking readings of surface air and personal contamination
• Detecting radiation dose rates using various detectors
• Performing calculations to assess exposure risks
• Testing and calibrating monitoring equipment
• Recording and communicating results to teams
• Supporting emergency response.
• Using overhead travelling cranes and forklift truck

Entry Requirements

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S) Interview (I) or both (S&I).

We are looking for the following:

• GCSEs in Maths and English (Grade 4/C or above) (S)
• An awareness of basic health and safety (I)
• Enthusiastic and motivated to learn both in the workplace and through formal training (I)
• Ability to work in controlled environments and adhere to strict safety standards. (S&I)
• Interest in radiation safety (S&I)
• Able to work as an effective member of a multidisciplinary team(S&I)
• Experience of using Microsoft Office; including working knowledge of MS Word Excel and PowerPoint (S&I)

• Interest in and enthusiasm for science (S&I)

Important Information

• To complete the apprenticeship you will need to evidence passes at 9-4 or A*-C in GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English. For those sitting their GSCEs in Summer 2026 we would need evidence of your predicted grades.
• When applying for an apprenticeship there is a set residency eligibility criteria that must be met by the applicant. To check your eligibility please click here.
• The training provider will also ask you to complete an initial assessment during the application process. If you already have a qualification in this subject area or similar please include as an attachment your transcript outlining the grade/s achieved and modules covered. By applying for this apprenticeship you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider.

We will be in touch after the closing date however please reach out on if you have any questions.

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

Employee Benefits

• Your salary will increase annually as you progress through your apprenticeship in line with policy.
• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Cycle to work scheme.

For a list of our full benefits please visithere.

As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: to apply

Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.

Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together our scientists technologists engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europes largest research organisations by your side Join us and discover whats possible!