Investing in tomorrow’s workforce with the Babcock Skills Academy

At a time when national security has never been more important or complex to deliver, we remain committed to ensuring the UK has the critical nuclear skills it needs to deliver national security and energy resilience.

In 2023 we launched the Babcock Skills Academy at our UK Devonport facility, to rapidly get our employees ready to deliver the critical capabilities our customers need, both now and in the future.

With the largest nuclear qualified workforce in the UK, and our vast experience of supporting the UK submarine enterprise across the submarine lifecycle, we are uniquely placed to apply this extensive knowledge to our training programmes and deliver the pipeline of talent required by our customers.

Collaboration through skills

The Babcock Skills Academy uses a modern hybrid teaching model that combines cutting-edge digital resources and hands-on training to ensure we continue to deliver the critical capabilities needed by our customers. Open to all employees and new recruits, the Skills Academy operates in partnership with local education establishments, complementing our award-winning early careers programmes.

Recognising the need for collaboration from the outset, an emphasis was placed on the importance of engaging various stakeholders to achieve accelerated outcomes. The traditional methods of upskilling, such as informal mentoring or generic course attendance, are insufficient in replicating the specific operational nuances required for submarine maintenance.

Our Skills Academy is more than just a training solution, it’s a commitment to our people, our industry and our customers – their mission is our mission.

Highlighted by the Institute for Collaborative Working

The Babcock Skills Academy has been featured in this year’s edition of the Institute for Collaborative Working’s Partner magazine. The article discusses how the Skills Academy represents a shift in the approach to training but also a challenge in driving innovation through collaboration.

Read the full article on pages 33-35 of the 2024 Partner magazine.