Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) 
Salary: £19,514 per annum (rising annually throughout the apprenticeship)
Contract Type: Fixed-Term, 24 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 
 

Are you someone who enjoys working with people, likes solving problems, and has a real interest in computing? Join us as an IT Support Apprentice and build the skills to help maintain the IT systems that power world class scientific research and innovation. If you’re a problem solver, value customer service and are eager to learn and develop your digital skills, we’d love to hear from you.  

About an Apprenticeship at STFC

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

You’ll 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, you’ll have access to workshops, a peer network, and career development support, helping you feel confident and prepared for new challenges.  

Why join the RAL Space IT team at STFC?

You’ll be based in the RAL Space department, working alongside experienced IT professionals who support some of the most exciting and innovative projects in UK Space Science. This placement gives you the chance to step straight into a real-world IT environment, gaining hands-on experience that directly supports cutting-edge scientific work. 

Your main role will be within the IT Helpdesk team, where you’ll handle a wide variety of support requests and get a genuine insight into how IT underpins the work of engineers, scientists and operational staff across the department. You’ll develop practical skills, learn how large-scale systems are run, and become a key part of a friendly and supportive team. 

We’re looking for an apprentice with strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work well in a team, and a proactive, can-do approach to solving problems. Some basic IT knowledge is helpful but not essential — enthusiasm, curiosity and a willingness to learn are what matter most. 

This apprenticeship is a fantastic way to launch a career in IT. You’ll build a strong technical foundation, gain exposure to enterprise-level tools and systems, and develop the confidence and experience needed to move into future roles across the industry. It’s a unique opportunity to start your journey in a  world-class organisation doing work that truly makes a difference. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI5upWGrSVSir9t5A08tVQQ 

Qualifications gained  

Level 3 Information Communication Technician Apprenticeship 

Information communications technician / Skills England 

What you’ll learn: 

Through your training you will learn to:

• provide technical support to  internal and external customers through a range of communication channels 
• establish, diagnose and resolve ICT problem and faults 
• interpret technical specifications 
• apply appropriate security approaches in line with organisational requirements 
• test methodologies for hardware, software or cabling 
• communicate with all levels of stakeholders  

Training provider

Estio – Part of the BPP Education Group 

The course will be delivered via online teaching, remote 121 coaching and workplace development.  

Information Communications Technician Apprenticeship | Estio 

What You’ll Be Doing – Day-to-day responsibilities   

• Providing first-line support to users — in person, over the phone, and via email — helping staff resolve everyday IT issues. 
• Getting involved in new and ongoing IT projects, giving you the chance to contribute and learn from real technical work. 
• Using our ticketing system to investigate and troubleshoot software, hardware and networking problems. 
• Installing and upgrading PCs and laptops as part of our hardware refresh and support activities. 
• Assisting with onboarding new starters, helping them get set up and ready to work from day one. 
• Offering general support across Windows, Mac, mobile devices and printers, giving you a broad foundation across multiple platforms. 

Entry Requirements

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

We are looking for the following:

Essential

• 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)
• Excellent communication skills, as demonstrated in your CV, covering letter and interview (S&I) 
• Demonstrable knowledge of - or enthusiasm for – various aspects of computing. Your CV and cover letter should give example(s) of any personal, school or work-based projects that involved learning about and using IT and/or hardware, and what you enjoyed (S&I) 
• A team player who’s also confident working independently (S&I) 
• Good at keeping things on track and getting tasks done on time (S&I) 
• Enjoys solving problems, thinking things through, and coming up with ideas that work (I) 

Desirable

• Some knowledge of PC/Mac computer hardware (I) 
• Some knowledge of Microsoft Desktop Products (I) 
• Some knowledge of Apple products (I) 
• Some knowledge of Smartphones (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 [email protected] if you have any questions. 

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 visit here.

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: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y 

How to apply 

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 Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible! 

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.