Scotland’s most senior Royal Navy officer, based at HM Naval Base Clyde the home of the UK Submarine Service, is calling on school leavers to take advantage of the navy’s new undergraduate apprenticeship scheme.

The Royal Navy’s new nuclear undergraduate programme will pay school leavers a salary and cover all of their course fees while they graduate as submarine watch keepers.

Young people between 18 and 29 years of age who are interested in state of the art nuclear engineering can apply now for entry to HMS Raleigh in Plymouth in September 2016.

The Royal Navy’s Nuclear Undergraduate Apprenticeship Scheme (NUGAS) is looking to recruit 15 apprentices to begin their eight year long programme.

NUGAS provides the apprentices with an engineering degree, but also their coveted dolphins badge which marks them out as fully qualified submariners. Rear Admiral Submarines John Weale, the Royal Navy’s most senior officer in Scotland, said: “Our new apprenticeship programme is designed to fast track academic achievers to the front line of one of the most demanding and exciting areas of the Royal Navy. Nuclear submarines play a huge role in UK military operations, from providing intelligence, to the deterrent, and supporting operations all around the world.” Apprentices can expect their starting salary of £14,600 to double in two years and to be earning over £40,000 as Petty Officers during their final year at university.

After graduation the submariners can either extend their term in the Royal Navy, apply to become Marine Engineering Officers, or walk away to pursue other career options. The candidates will receive three and a half years intensive training to qualify as Category B nuclear submarine watch keepers and technicians, before serving at sea as qualified Petty Officer Engineering Technicians for a further three years.

They will then complete a final year of university tuition before gaining their BEng (hons) degree.

Visit www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers for more details and entry requirements.