About the job

Job summary

• Considering a career in engineering with a focus on automotive safety and compliance?
• Do you enjoy learning on the job, getting hands on experience to gain the skills and knowledge required to progress?
• Does the opportunity to earn a salary while studying and working in industry appeal to you?
• Thinking about joining an apprenticeship scheme where permanent employment is available and continued support to become an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer?

If you are looking for the first step in your career and professional development, our Apprenticeship Scheme could be for you.  

About Us

Our work is focused on improving vehicle safety and environmental protection by providing robust testing and certification to national and internationally recognised standards. We are a part of the Department of Transport as the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval Authority. With more than 40 years’ experience, we have become one of the largest and well-respected approval bodies around. This position has been built on a reputation for technical expertise and quality, which is at the heart of everything we do, and what you could be a part of.  

Why not see what one of our apprentices has to say about their experience and our scheme. You can also check out our apprenticeship candidate pack for more information about us, what we can offer you and why we are a great place to work.

Job description

We are proud to offer our Apprenticeship Scheme in partnership with the University of Nottingham. Combining on-campus study, delivered in weekly blocks, and on-the-job training from our engineers; you will work towards getting an Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree.

As well as gaining invaluable insight and training in the automotive industry, you will receive top standard lecturing where you can further expand your knowledge and skills in this field. As an apprentice Type Approval Engineer, you will be at the forefront of environmental and safety testing, working with global automotive brands and the latest technology.

You will spend twenty per cent of your contracted working hours dedicated to your apprenticeship. A mentor will be allocated to you who will regularly meet to discuss your development with your line manager, ensuring your learning needs are being met and keeping you on track to successfully complete your apprenticeship. There will be a clear progression path within the role. Opportunities to carry on learning will also be encouraged, as we support all engineers who wish to work towards gaining Incorporated or Charted Engineer status with the IMechE/IET.

On joining VCA, you will become a Civil Servant and a permanent member of our staff. You will have access to many benefits, including flexible working, family friendly policies, annual leave, a salary, and funded training throughout the scheme.

Person specification

To apply for our Apprenticeship scheme, you will need: 

• Enthusiasm to progress your academic and technical knowledge towards the application of real-world automotive testing.
• An interest in the technical developments in the automotive industry.
• The ability to work with others constructively, to explain ideas and proposals clearly and to discuss issues objectively and constructively.
• To show initiative in your ability to develop your technical and academic knowledge.

For more information, please see the role profile.

Additional Information

A minimum of 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace or on location testing.

Benefits

Your wellbeing is important to us, which is why we are pleased to offer a wide range of benefits to all our colleagues, inside and outside of work.  

Find out more about the ways you can benefit in our candidate pack.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

How to Apply 

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

We will assess the following experience indicators from your CV and personal statement so you should tailor both to clearly explain how you meet them:

• Provide an example of how you have applied engineering knowledge to a particular issue (This can be from any part of your life including work, studies, or interests).
• Provide an example of when you had to work in a team (This can be from any part of your life including work, studies, or interests).

Your personal statement should be a maximum of 1000 words and we recommend a minimum of 400 words for each of the bullet points above.

Some guidance to help you with your application can be found in the candidate pack below.

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.  

After the application, our selection process involves an in-person assessment, where selected candidates will be invited to visit our Midland Centre office to take part to the following,

• A presentation.
• An interview.

The sift is due to take place from 11th March 2024. 

Interviews are likely to be held week commencing 22nd March to 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. Interviews will be conducted Face to Face and you will receive further information prior to interviews.

You are encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.  

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.   

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.  

Please note that VCA are unable to offer VISA sponsorship.  

Merit List  

During your application, you should indicate which location(s) you wish to be considered for and, if successful, you will be placed on an individual list of candidates for each location. Candidates will be held on that list and drawn from it in merit order. We advise you to carefully consider which locations you wish to be considered for. If you decline an offer for a location, you have expressed a preference in or have expressed an interest in more than one location and accept an offer, you will be withdrawn from any lists you may be held on. We may also offer candidates a location that they have not expressed a preference for where we have the requirement to do so but this will again be done based on your place in the overall merit order and, in this event, you will not be removed from the list if you decline. 

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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 also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.