Control and Instrumentation Degree Apprentice (Warwick)

Based in Warwick
Course: Degree Apprenticeship BEng Hons
Programme Length: 4 years
Provider: Aston University 

Join us and help be the energy behind the change.

National Gas is the backbone of Britain's energy system. We're responsible for securing the UK's energy, whilst leading the way to a net-zero future. 

We keep gas moving safely and reliably to power stations, industry and over 23 million homes. As the UK transitions toward a net-zero future, we’re also pioneering new solutions such as hydrogen transmission to help decarbonise the energy sector.

As a Control & Instrumentation Degree Apprentice in our Major Programmes team, you’ll be based in our Warwick office while travelling to sites across the country to see major engineering projects in action. You’ll study for your degree at Aston University while gaining hands on experience supporting the upgrades, construction and innovation that keep our network running. It’s an environment where your work will directly contribute to keeping the nation’s energy secure today and shaping a cleaner, more sustainable system for tomorrow.

What you’ll be doing

A degree apprenticeship is a great choice if you want to earn a degree while gaining real experience on major engineering projects. As a Control & Instrumentation Degree Apprentice, you’ll split your time between studying at Aston University and working within our Major Programmes team, where you’ll get involved in some of the UK’s biggest and most important energy projects.

Instead of being based on one operational site, you’ll work from our Warwick office and travel to different project locations across the country. You’ll be supporting the planning and delivery of large scale work such as new compressor stations, control system upgrades, pipeline diversions and future focused projects like hydrogen and carbon capture infrastructure. This means your work will play a part in helping the UK move towards a cleaner, net zero energy system.

Alongside experienced engineers and project specialists, you’ll learn how complex control and instrumentation systems are designed, installed and upgraded on major infrastructure projects. You’ll gain insight into how new technology is brought into the gas network, how big engineering programmes are delivered safely, and how decisions are made on projects worth millions of pounds.

Throughout your apprenticeship, you’ll build a wide range of skills, from technical engineering knowledge to project management, planning, problem solving and communication. At university you’ll study subjects like:

• Professional engineering practice and engineering management
• Digital engineering
• Engineering mathematics and mathematical methods in engineering
• Industrial plant engineering
• Computer Aided Design
• Thermo-fluid sciences
• Sustainable Engineering
• Control systems and instrumentation
• Elective modules specific to Control & Instrumentation

We’ll work closely with Aston University to review your progress regularly, give you feedback and support your development. You’ll follow a personalised training plan, combining on the job learning, dedicated training days and one to one coaching. Your apprenticeship will finish with a dissertation and an End Point Assessment, giving you a professionally recognised qualification and real experience to launch your career.

About You

This apprenticeship is a great fit for someone who’s motivated, enjoys learning new things and isn’t afraid to get stuck in. You’ll need to be comfortable speaking to different people across the business, as you’ll be working with a mix of engineers, project teams and specialists on real projects.

To thrive on the programme, you’ll need to be curious and keen to understand how things work, asking questions, wanting to understand the “why” behind what we do, whilst also enjoying the problem-solving aspect of the role.

The Essentials

This is a 4-year fixed-term degree apprenticeship. To be considered for this scheme, you’ll need:

•    Three A Levels at CCC or above including a Mathematics based subject and a STEM subject, or equivalent BTECs.
•    Have a minimum of five GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above including Mathematics, English and a science, technology or engineering related subject.
•    A cover letter is essential to help us understand why you're a great fit for the role. Check out our guidance below!
•    Our sites are located across the UK, so you’ll need to be comfortable with travel and overnight stays. This means that you’ll need to have a driving license by the time you would be joining us (September 2026!).
•    You'll need to have permanent right to work in the UK for the entirety of this programme, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. 
•    As you’ll be working on Critical National Infrastructure, you’ll also need to pass enhanced National Security Vetting, meaning you’ll need to be able to provide a 5-year UK address history. Your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Studies suggest that women tend to apply only if they meet 100% of the criteria. If you resonate with our mission, the role excites you and your skills align, we encourage you to apply.

What should you include in your cover letter?

A cover letter is a chance for us to get to know you as a person – we understand you may not have workplace experience yet, and that’s absolutely fine! Let us know about your personal qualities and interests. Your cover letter should be no more than one A4 page. Make sure it includes:

•    Why you’re interested in working at National Gas
•    What personal skills and qualities you have that would make you a great apprentice
•    Why you want to become a Control and Instrumentation Apprentice. This could be anything from an interest in engineering or practical, hands‑on activities to enjoying science and how things work.

What you can expect from us

You’ll receive a range of benefits that reward your great work.  

•    Starting annual salary of £30,717, with annual performance-based increases 
•    A generous holiday allowance of 26 days plus statutory bank holidays, with the option to buy and sell additional days (capped at 5 days) 
•    2 paid days each financial year to volunteer for a worthwhile cause
•    A generous pension scheme with a double-match contribution – if you contribute 6%, we’ll contribute 12%, helping you build a strong financial future 
•    Professional development and career progression 
•    Employee assistance programme offering free confidential professional counselling 24 hours per day 

At National Gas, we pride ourselves on a supportive and collaborative work environment. We understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and support our employees in achieving it.  We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone can perform at their best. Whether you’re starting out after school or looking to build on your existing experience, you’ll find an apprenticeship where you’re valued, supported, and encouraged from the moment you join.

You'll be mentored by experienced professionals and have opportunities to work on impactful projects. We ensure that you gain hands-on experience, with opportunities for career advancement and professional development.

 
We encourage all apprentices to take ownership of their journey. You'll strive to grow and develop, taking advantage of all that National Gas has to offer. 

The 'nice to knows'

You'll start in a large cohort of other graduates and apprentices, where you'll attend an in-person induction in early September 2026, fostering strong workplace relationships that will build the foundation of your future networks.

Your next steps…

You'll be offered additional support and guidance throughout the application process by our Early Careers team. Eligible applications will be reviewed by a human, every step of the way.
You’re only able to apply for one of our apprenticeship schemes, so please consider this carefully. When reviewing your application, if we feel you might be a good fit for something else, we'll be sure to let you know.

If your online application is successful, you’ll be invited to complete a virtual solo-interview. The final stage is then an in-person Assessment with the team you’ll be joining, so please keep this in mind. Support is available towards travel costs if required.

Applications close on Sunday 8th March 2026.  Each year, we receive a large volume of applications, so we'd encourage you to apply early.

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At National Gas we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives. If you require reasonable adjustments to complete the application process, please contact us at earlycareers@nationalgas.com