Babcock and STEM
Why STEM matters
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) can be found everywhere in the world around us, and in every part of our lives.
It is everywhere in Babcock too; from our naval architects and designers overhauling and maintaining warships, through to the finance teams ensuring that our complex and critical projects are delivering value to our customers.
Research shows that not enough young people are studying the STEM subjects which will equip them with the knowledge to pursue a career in this area. By engaging with young people, their parents and teachers through outreach and collaborative activities, we seek to spark an interest in studying STEM subjects and pursuing a rewarding career in the industry.
Our approach to STEM
We believe that igniting an interest in STEM subjects should start early. The 5E model, developed by Plymouth City Council and adopted by Babcock, below shows how we tailor our engagement to meet the needs of young people as they progress through the education system and towards employment.
Raise aspirations and inspire
EXPLORE
Age:
5-7
Growing skills:
- School visit
- Workshop
ENCOURAGE
Age:
7-11
Growing skills:
- School visit
- Workshops
- STEM Club (local competition)
Attracting local talent:
- Site visit
- Teacher in place industry placement
Critical age
EMPOWER
Age:
11-14
Growing skills:
- School visit
- Workshops
- STEM Club (regional competition)
Attracting local talent:
- Labour market information
- Workshops
- Careers advice
- Site visit
- Teacher in place industry placement
Keep engaged
EQUIP
Age:
14-16
Growing skills:
- Workshops
- STEM Club (regional competition)
- Careers fair
- Mock interviews
Attracting local talent:
- Careers advice
- Work experience
- Industry taster day
- Site visit
EMPLOY
Age:
16+
Growing skills:
- Careers fair
- Mock interviews
Attracting local talent:
- Work experience
- Mentoring in the workplace
- Networking opportunities for students, teachers and carers
Our STEM commitment
In the last year, our commitment to STEM and the communities in which we operate translates into:
800+
STEM Ambassadors
500
Employee days of STEM activity
270
Events attended
30,000
Students engaged in our STEM activities
Pursue a career in STEM
Students
An apprenticeship is a real job with real pay where you’ll gain the knowledge, the skills and, crucially, the industry experience necessary for a successful career in STEM.
Find out more
Graduates
No matter what you’ve studied at university, we have a programme to kick-start your STEM career.
Find out more
STEM Returners
Through paid employment placements and bespoke mentoring schemes the programme offers qualified, experienced candidates a supported route back to their STEM careers after a break.
Find out more
Women in engineering
Babcock is committed to recruiting women into STEM roles, and to closing the gender gap across the company.
We are delighted that our Chair, Ruth Cairnie, is Patron of the Women in Defence Charter, whilst Lyndsey Valentine, Cavendish Nuclear Strategy Director, is the President of Women in Nuclear. We are also part of the Women in Aviation Charter. This gives us a clear understanding and focus on what is required to attract women into STEM roles at Babcock.
“Experience shows that diverse teams mean better business decisions and more innovative solutions. This is particularly relevant in the defence sector, which thrives on collaboration as well as competition.”
Ruth Cairnie, Babcock International Group Chair and Patron of Women in Defence
To help inspire the next generation of young women to consider engineering as a career we recorded a Q&A with some of our engineering graduates and apprentices exploring how they discovered engineering and why they love it.
Our STEM friends
We work closely with a number of organisations to inspire and engage the next generation by making STEM accessible and exciting.
