BAE Systems is set to add 300 more apprentices and graduates to its workforce in Scotland in 2024 as the company continues to increase its shipbuilding capacity.
This move is part of a broader strategy by BAE Systems to recruit almost 2,700 trainees across the UK, marking a notable increase in its commitment to developing young talent.
The Govan and Scotstoun sites in Glasgow, tasked with building the advanced Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy, will be major beneficiaries of this influx of new talent.
Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive, BAE Systems, said:
“As the UK’s largest manufacturer, we have sites located right across the country and we’re investing hundreds of millions of pounds to equip young people with the skills they need to achieve their full potential. Providing high quality apprenticeships and graduate programmes gives young people a route into long-term employment and helps to grow the talent we need to deliver vital national defence and security programmes, including future fighter jets, nuclear-powered submarines and low earth orbit satellites.”
Minister for Higher Education, Apprenticeships and Skills, Robert Halfon, said:
“We need big employers on side in our efforts to build a skills and apprenticeships nation and this record-breaking announcement from BAE Systems is fantastic to see. Apprenticeships provide a ladder of opportunity for people to get in-demand skills and really push on in their careers, and these roles offered by a top apprenticeship employer will transform lives and boost growth right around the UK.”
Megan Pearson, former Software Degree Apprentice, BAE Systems’ Air sector, said:
“Embarking on an apprenticeship with BAE Systems after I completed my A-Levels helped me become financially independent, which benefitted both me and my parents. I’ve had the chance to work on a range of exciting projects and the flexibility of my apprenticeship means that I’m experiencing lots of new things and not tying myself to any one profession. A lot of my friends struggled with the immediate mind-set shift from school to work, but my apprenticeship provided a complete package with helpful support and guidance. It’s the ideal route for bridging the gap between school and the workplace.”
In 2023, BAE Systems invested about £180m in education and skills in the UK. The company currently trains over 5,500 apprentices and graduates, a figure that represents more than 10% of its nearly 40,000-strong UK workforce. Notably, almost a third of the apprentice joiners to the business’ early careers programmes were female in 2023, outperforming the industry average.
Region | Business | Apprentice roles | Undergraduate roles | Graduate roles | Total |
Scotland | Air – Prestwick | – | 1 | 13 | 14 |
| Air – Hillend | – | 2 | – | 2 | |
| Land UK – Glasgow | 1 | – | – | 1 | |
| Maritime Services – Hillend | 3 | – | – | 3 | |
| Naval Ships – Glasgow | 198 | 26 | 53 | 277 | |
| Shared Services – Glasgow | – | 1 | – | 1 | |
| Scotland total | 202 | 30 | 66 | 298 | |
North West England | Air – Warton & Samlesbury | 222 | 66 | 206 | 494 |
| Digital Intelligence – Manchester | – | – | 2 | 2 | |
| Head Office – Barrow, Warton & Samlesbury | 1 | – | – | 1 | |
| Land UK – Barrow | 8 | 3 | – | 11 | |
| Land UK – Radway Green | 9 | 2 | – | 11 | |
| Shared Services – Preston | 27 | 5 | 8 | 40 | |
| Submarines – Barrow | 649 | 100 | 244 | 989 | |
| NW England total | 916 | 176 | 460 | 1552 | |
North East England / Yorkshire and the Humber | Land UK – Washington & Ridsdale | 5 | – | – | 5 |
| Air – Brough & Humberside | 53 | 6 | 37 | 96 | |
| Digital Intelligence – Leeds | – | 3 | 5 | 8 | |
| NE England / Yorks & Humber total | 58 | 9 | 42 | 109 | |
South East England | Digital Intelligence – London, Guildford & Chelmsford | 9 | 24 | 66 | 99 |
| Electronic Systems – Rochester | 30 | 34 | 29 | 93 | |
| Head Office – Frimley & Portsmouth | 2 | – | – | 2 | |
| Maritime Services – Chelmsford | – | 3 | 5 | 8 | |
| Maritime Services – Portsmouth & Cowes | 109 | 34 | 40 | 183 | |
| Naval Ships – Hampshire (some roles also available in London and Filton) | 13 | 1 | 7 | 21 | |
| Shared Services – Frimley | – | 1 | – | 1 | |
| Shared Services – Guildford | 2 | – | – | 2 | |
| Submarines – Hampshire (some roles also available in the South West – Dorset) | 17 | – | 17 | 34 | |
| SE England total | 182 | 97 | 164 | 443 | |
South West England and Wales | Air – Christchurch & Yeovil | 14 | 2 | – | 16 |
| Air – Filton | – | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
| Digital Intelligence – Gloucester | – | 8 | 4 | 12 | |
| Maritime Services – Filton | – | – | 1 | 1 | |
| Naval Ships – Filton & Dorchester | – | 3 | 4 | 7 | |
| Submarines – Filton & Weymouth | 15 | – | 59 | 74 | |
| SW England total | 29 | 17 | 70 | 116 | |
| Land UK – Glascoed | 16 | 1 | 6 | 23 | |
| Shared Services – Glascoed | 3 | – | – | 3 | |
| Wales total | 19 | 1 | 6 | 26 | |
Other roles with flexible or TBC locations | Head Office | – | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Maritime Services | – | 3 | 16 | 19 | |
| Naval Ships | – | 11 | 47 | 58 | |
| Shared Services | – | – | 21 | 21 | |
| Submarines | 11 | 11 | 31 | 53 | |
| Other total | 11 | 26 | 116 | 153 | |
| Total | 1417 | 356 | 924 | 2697 | |
The closing date for apprentice applications is 28 February 2024, with graduate intakes throughout the year.
For more information and to apply, visit: baesystems.com/earlycareers and baesystems.com/experiencedprofessionals.
Always good news to have apprentices taken on in defence industries or any other industry for that matter.
👍
Yes
Totally agree
Can somebody tell me what is happening at Brough?
96 total intake this year
A few years ago I was worried with the Hawk orders running down that this site was vulnerable
BAE are maintaining present skilled workforce and investing in future
Sorry, can’t help you on this one.
Storing long lead items for submarines, last I heard.
They don’t just do hawk there, a lot of simulation stuff as well as work on tempest alongside the Wharton/samlesbury lot
Excellent news. Many of the delays to projects like T45 and Astute were due to the lack of new engineers coming up through the training pipeline and skill fade after big gaps between class building. Mistakes that should never be repeated.
Great news. One of the worst things to happen to uk was the dismantling of the apprentice system, the downplaying of skilled manual labour and the pushing of university for all.
Glad to see the uptake. Best of luck to these young people
Yep they could all have gone to uni and learned sod all😉
Good news: appies are the future workforce.