3 Déc 2024

Babcock creates 1,500 UK early career roles to secure next generation of skills

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We are pleased to announce we will create almost 1,500 new apprentice and graduate roles over the course of 2024 and 2025, underpinning our commitment to the development of the UK’s next generation of defence and engineering talent.

This announcement follows yesterday’s launch of the Government’s Defence Industrial Strategy by Defence Secretary, John Healey. The new strategy aims to drive economic growth, strengthen national security and boost British jobs, with the ambition to increase defence sector jobs throughout the UK. 

Following a record-breaking intake this year of more than 400 apprentices, we will welcome a further 500 apprentices into the Group through our recently launched recruitment programme. These early career hires will be further supplemented by 253 graduate roles in 2025, following on from the 285 graduates that joined us in September.

We have also launched an innovative new engineering pre-apprenticeship scheme near our Devonport site in Plymouth and our operations at HMNB Clyde, providing an additional, alternative route into Babcock, with those who successfully complete the year-long course guaranteed an interview for an apprenticeship with us the following year.

We’re committed to providing careers in support of the UK armed forces, its allies and security services. This year’s intake includes a range of key defence sector trades, from welders to mechanical and electrical fitters, who will further bolster our specialist engineering capability.

Babcock CEO, David Lockwood, said: “These 1,500 exciting, new early career roles will support the UK’s defence by providing the next generation of defence and engineering talent. This will be our largest ever combined intake and underlines Babcock’s commitment to invest in the skills that will significantly underpin the UK’s sovereign defence capability for decades to come.

“We look forward to welcoming the best and brightest recruits into our team and can promise them a career that makes a difference in the communities where they live, and a critical role in international defence.”

Applications for our 2025 apprentice intake are now open – find out more and apply.