Kickstart Your Engineering Career with the Nexus Apprenticeship Programme
We’re on the lookout for 8 motivated Engineering Apprentices to join the Nexus Apprenticeship Programme this year. If you're passionate about engineering, curious about how things work, and excited to make a real impact in your community, this could be the perfect start to your career.
As an apprentice, you’ll be part of the heartbeat of our Metro system—helping to maintain and develop the infrastructure that keeps our region moving every day.
What You’ll Get
* A 46–48 month apprenticeship designed to give you real skills, real experience, and a real future in engineering.
* A Level 3 Engineering Maintenance Technician qualification.
* Hands-on experience from day one, plus specialist in-house training tailored to your department.
* The chance to build a strong foundation in engineering while earning and learning.
Where You Could Be Working
As one of our 8 apprentices, you’ll be placed in one of the following departments:
Plant and Distribution
The P&D team look after a wide range of Electrical and Mechanical equipment across 60 metro stations, trackside locations, bus interchanges and offices. This can include Electrical and Mechanical plant, HV systems, lifts and escalators.
Infrastructure Works Delivery – CS&E
The infrastructure Works Delivery team are our internal project delivery team. Within the CS&E section you would be involved in projects involving Communications, Signalling and Electrical systems.
Signalling
Within Signalling, the team carry out the maintenance, repair and technical fault diagnosis of the Nexus signalling & point heating equipment, systems and associated Service Supply Infrastructure.
Whichever department you work within, you will find the roles varied, and you will come across challenges, and under guidance, will approach with a problem-solving attitude to keep our passengers moving. We are looking for individuals who enjoy a challenge, who thrive in a team environment and who will enjoy a hands-on role. At Nexus, you'll be part of a team that keeps the region moving. As you grow your expertise you will directly impact the daily lives of thousands of commuters, ensuring safe and reliable public transportation.
The Person
Through a combination of study and valuable on-the-job experience working in a railway environment, the successful candidates will assist in the tasks associated with their department. This could be the maintenance, repair and technical fault diagnosis of essential equipment or a new installation as part of a wider project. You will be a team player, and will be guided, until your knowledge develops, on all aspects of the role.
* You will hold a minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) graded between 4 and 9 (equivalent to previous grades A*-C), including English Language and Maths.
* You will have an interest in a hands-on, practical role and will be comfortable with small hand tools.
* You will show a willingness to learn and develop over time and listen well to instructions.
* A current full driving licence is also required in a full Engineering role; you must be committed to work towards and passing your driving test during your apprenticeship.
More information can be found in the Supporting Documents section.
What Can Nexus Offer You?
* Metro and the wider public transport network are the life blood of Northeast England. Nexus and the people who work for us are the heart of that network, keeping millions of customers on the move. We make sure our customers are at the heart of everything we do and we employ c.1100 employees to ensure they all have a great experience, no matter where their final destination.
* Although the programme can be demanding, it is also extremely rewarding and career progression for apprentices is excellent. Over 90% of our apprentices move into a higher apprenticeship or full employment on completion.
* Salary is age dependent (not less than apprentice minimum wage)
* 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and time off for volunteering too.
* You’ll work 36 hours per week
* You’ll be part of a generous pension scheme (Local Government Pension Scheme)
* A suite of work life balance policies
* Enjoy travelling for free in Tyne and Wear with our enhanced travel benefits for you and your family
* Free or discounted travel with Grand Central, LNER, Lumo, Northern Rail and TransPennine Express
* You will have the opportunity to contribute to a health cash plan that will contribute (and dependants if you have them) towards dental costs, optical, and lots more
* Access to our reward app with over 1000 plus high street discounts on groceries, holidays and days out.
* We like to grow our own colleagues (not literally of course!), so when you’re ready for the next step in your career, we can help develop you.
How to Apply
Please subit you application via North East Jobs.
You should complete the application form as fully as possible.
Closing date for application is 4th March 2026
If offered a position with Nexus, we will provide a conditional offer subject to passing a satisfactory medical assessment by a Nexus specified Medical Officer, satisfactory references and evidence of relevant qualifications. Where qualifications are predicted, the offer is conditional on attaining the minimum qualification requirements of the role. If the minimum requirements are not met the offer will be withdrawn.
What to Expect
Advert closes on 4th March 2026
Week commencing 8th March 2026 - Online Assessments - shortlisted candidates will be issued an online assessment. The invite will come from Talent Central / SHL. It is the candidate’s responsibility to check their emails including junk folders.
Week Commencing 23rd and 30th March 2026 - Assessment Centres will take place– if you pass the online assessment, you will be invited to an assessment session. The assessment session will involve a group exercise/basic task and a short interview.
Week commencing 13th April 2026 - Formal Interviews will be held if required.
Offer Stage – The successful candidates will be issued a conditional offer to commence employment on 1st September 2026
Successful candidates will be invited to attend a welcome evening on 25th August 2026.
Employment will commence on 1st September 2026 with an Induction event and 2-day Personal Track Safety Course to set you off on your journey with Nexus.
Please note: All communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered online with North East Jobs, this will include your invitation to any online assessment you are required to undertake and also your invite to interview if you are short-listed. Please ensure you check your email inbox after the closing date for notifications from North East Jobs as you will not be notified by any other means. Please also remember to check your junk email items as the notification may appear here.