Exeter, South West England, EX1 3PB
Job Summary
The Met Office is delighted to open our advertising for a number of apprenticeships, which will commence in September 2025
We’re looking for a
Metrologist Technician Apprentice to help us make a difference to our planet.
As our Metrologist Technician Apprentice, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work.
Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week. Our people are at the heart of what we do and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.
World changing work
From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.
- We’re a force for good - focusing on our environmental and social impact
- We’re experts by nature - always learning and developing to do things better
- We live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision-making
- We’re better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater
- We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers
Job Description
Your world of expertise
This apprenticeship can offer you the support, training and industry recognised qualifications to get you on the path to a career in Metrology.
This is an exciting opportunity for a budding Engineer to get involved with measurement science. If you are keen to have a career in measurement science but university or full-time further education isn’t for you, this is a fantastic way to build a long-term career within a world-renowned scientific environment.
Our Metrology Technician Apprentice will support our Laboratory team with a wide range of measurement tasks, laboratory duties and scientific research within our Calibration Laboratory. The successful candidate will undertake a work-based training programme at our Headquarters in Exeter, including 30 days per year of training at the world leading National Physical Laboratory in Teddington which will form the core of the off-the-job training. It is organised into 6 compulsory blocks per year, each of five days duration. Apprentices will also have the opportunity to experience varied engineering disciplines within the wider Met Office.
Whilst this is a temporary position for up to 3 years, there is potential for it to develop into a permanent position on successful completion of your apprenticeship. Travel & Subsistence for the period of block release will be covered by the Met Office (in accordance with Met Office Policy).
Your Key Duties:
You will have the opportunity to use cutting edge technology to calibrate, test and maintain a wide variety of Meteorological sensors, allowing you to develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours in this occupation whilst contributing to Met Office aims.
We would look for you to join us in September 2025 with your apprenticeship training beginning shortly afterwards. You would have 1 day per week dedicated to your 20% off the job training. The training will mostly be delivered face-to-face via block release as well as self-study. Before applying, we recommend you consider if the delivery method suits your learner needs along with whether you feel you are committed to your own development and training as this element forms a significant aspect of a modern apprenticeship.
You will be managed by a line manager and have a mentor to offer further support. In addition to the formal training with a registered training provider, you will also have in house and on the job training.
Your world of expertise
This apprenticeship can offer you the support, training and industry recognised qualifications to get you on the path to a career in Metrology.
This is an exciting opportunity for a budding Engineer to get involved with measurement science. If you are keen to have a career in measurement science but university or full-time further education isn’t for you, this is a fantastic way to build a long-term career within a world-renowned scientific environment.
Our Metrology Technician Apprentice will support our Laboratory team with a wide range of measurement tasks, laboratory duties and scientific research within our Calibration Laboratory. The successful candidate will undertake a work-based training programme at our Headquarters in Exeter, including 30 days per year of training at the world leading National Physical Laboratory in Teddington which will form the core of the off-the-job training. It is organised into 6 compulsory blocks per year, each of five days duration. Apprentices will also have the opportunity to experience varied engineering disciplines within the wider Met Office.
Whilst this is a temporary position for up to 3 years, there is potential for it to develop into a permanent position on successful completion of your apprenticeship. Travel & Subsistence for the period of block release will be covered by the Met Office (in accordance with Met Office Policy).
Your Key Duties:
You will have the opportunity to use cutting edge technology to calibrate, test and maintain a wide variety of Meteorological sensors, allowing you to develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours in this occupation whilst contributing to Met Office aims.
We would look for you to join us in September 2025 with your apprenticeship training beginning shortly afterwards. You would have 1 day per week dedicated to your 20% off the job training. The training will mostly be delivered face-to-face via block release as well as self-study. Before applying, we recommend you consider if the delivery method suits your learner needs along with whether you feel you are committed to your own development and training as this element forms a significant aspect of a modern apprenticeship.
You will be managed by a line manager and have a mentor to offer further support. In addition to the formal training with a registered training provider, you will also have in house and on the job training.
Person specification
Essential Criteria, Skills And Experience:
- GCSE English, Maths and a Physical Science at Grade 6 or above.
- Excellent attention to detail and a desire to work accurately within a team of experienced Metrologists (Better Together).
- A strong interest in Programming and/or Instrumentation and Electronics (Expert by nature).
- A good understanding of IT / Software packages.
- Effective communication and presentation skills.
Am I eligible to apply?
In Addition To The Criteria Listed Above, You Must Also Be Eligible To Qualify For Apprenticeship Funding By Meeting The Following:
- Not be enrolled on another funded apprenticeship or another funded further education or higher education programme at the time you start this apprenticeship.
- Are applying for an apprenticeship that is unrelated to any qualifications you already hold at the same or higher level than this apprenticeship.
- Are living in England at the time the apprenticeship commences
Alongside your salary of £21,375, Met Office contributes £6,192 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Why join us
Our work is life-changing, often life-saving and always life-enhancing. The Met Office is Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their ‘Best Workplaces in Tech’ 2023 and 2024 lists, as well as their ’54 Best Workplaces for Women’ 2023 list.
As our Metrologist Technician Apprentice, your starting salary will be £21,375 and you will have the opportunity to progress to £22,096 over time.
Your total reward package is potentially worth up to £30,673 annually, which includes basic salary, potential corporate bonus and employer pension contributions.
We Also Offer:
- An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
- Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave
- Access to discounted shopping, inclusive of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands
Selection process details
How To Apply
If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.
Closing date 23/03/2025 at 23:59 with interviews completed by 02/05/2025 . You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.
How We Can Help
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact us at careers@metoffice.gov.uk.
If you’re considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch. You can request adjustments either within your application or by contacting us. Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which could include a presentation, written test or a scenario-based activity. You can select in your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.
We understand that great minds don’t always think alike and as an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code.
We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK - please refer to GOV.UK for information. We require Security clearance, for which you need to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years to be eligible. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
- Name : Resourcing Team
- Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk
