Job Info
- Apply Before: 08/03/2026
- Job Shift: Day
- Hours: Full Time
Job Description
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £23,493 per annum
Contract Type: Fixed Term – 12 weeks
Hours: Full-time
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX
Closing date: 8th March 2026
Interview: Virtually via Microsoft Teams in April 2026
Start date: June 2026
The NQCC is the UK’s national centre for quantum computing, dedicated to accelerating its development by addressing the challenges of scaling up the technology. Our vision is to enable the UK to solve some of the most complex and challenging problems facing society by harnessing the potential of quantum computing. The centre is working with businesses, government and the research community to deliver quantum computing capabilities for the UK and support the growth of the emerging industry. The NQCC’s programme represents a £93m investment and is being delivered jointly by the research councils, EPSRC and STFC, as part of UK Research and Innovation.
As an Events Assistant placement student within our organisation, you will play a pivotal role in planning and executing events that showcase cutting-edge advancements in quantum technologies. This dynamic position provides a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the exciting world of quantum computing, gaining hands-on experience in event management. Collaborating with the events assistant, you will acquire practical experience in event planning, coordination, and execution, as well as exposure to managing databases, coordinating resources, and providing guest services.
You will join the NQCC’s innovation team, supporting our innovation and engagement activities. The role will involve engaging with staff across the NQCC to enable the communication of our science and innovation through supporting the delivery of events. There will be a variety of opportunities to learn about quantum computing and to present your work throughout the placement.
Summer Placements at STFC
STFC’s incredibly diverse range of placements allow you to work alongside world leading engineers, scientists, and technicians in highly collaborative environments. Whichever you choose, you will become a critical member of the team in which you will be exposed to exciting projects and challenges from the start. You will also be supported every step of the way by our dedicated Early Careers Development Team
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- In liaison with the Communications Manager and Events Assistant, participate in on-site event support, overseeing set-up activities, and addressing participant needs
- Provide administrative assistance in tasks related to event preparation, including documentation and correspondence
- In liaison with the Events Assistant, assist in coordinating with vendors, suppliers, and stakeholders
- Contribute to logistical arrangements, ensuring all elements are in place for a successful event
- Responsible for creating and managing comprehensive databases, aiding in vendor selection, supplier coordination, and guest communication
- Contribute to the post-event evaluation process by gathering feedback from participants
- Assist in analysing feedback to identify areas for improvement and success
- Assist in maintaining organized event files, tracking progress, and managing event-related documentation.
Person Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
In order to apply for the role we are looking for the following:
Essential:
- You are in full time education at university, and will be returning to university/your studies to complete your undergraduate degree once the summer placement has concluded (S)
- You have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement (S)
- Strong organisational and multitasking abilities (S&I)
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (S&I)
- Ability to work well under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances (S&I)
- Attention to detail to ensure accurate and flawless event execution. (S&I)
Desirable:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite is advantageous (S&I)
Employee Benefits
We are offering a fixed term position with a whole host of benefits including:
- 30 days holiday pro rata
- Flexible working hours.
- Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
- Excellent learning and development opportunities.
Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/
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
Application Guidance
Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.
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!
About Us
UKRI – UK Research and Innovation
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.
About the Team
The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity-driven, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.
One of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake cutting-edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving ground-breaking advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/