Defence giant making major investment to support apprentice and graduate schemes
Defence giant, BAE Systems, is recruiting more than 1,500 apprentices and graduates across its North of England sites, including Barrow, Brough, Samlesbury, Washington and Warton.
It says the region will benefit from record funding into education, training and skills as the company expects to eclipse £1bn in spending across the UK since the start of the decade.
Apprentices in the region will have the chance to work on flagship programmes critical to national security, including the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) developing the UK’s next generation fighter as well as SSN-AUKUS which is a next-generation submarine.
The company is recruiting for more than 2,400 new apprentice, undergraduate and graduate roles in 2025, which will result in a record number of 6,500 in training, making up approximately 15% of its UK workforce.
An anticipated £230m investment in education and skills next year will take the total amount spent on upskilling people across the UK since 2020 to beyond £1bn.
The funding, which has grown year-on-year since the Covid-19 pandemic, is spent primarily on UK apprentices, graduates and experienced employees, as well as education outreach, helping to build on the company’s reputation as a leader in growing the nation’s industrial skills base, while also contributing to local and national economic growth.
Investments have enabled BAE Systems to open its third multimillion-pound skills academy in Glasgow this year, which expands on its established academies in Barrow and Samlesbury.
The company also has a range of partnerships with colleges, universities and social mobility champions, like Movement to Work.
Chief executive, Charles Woodburn, said: “As the UK’s largest defence company, we rely on the skill and ingenuity of those who deliver our programmes, which is why it’s so crucial we continue to invest in our people.
“With thousands of roles open for application across the length and breadth of the country and our exciting high technology programmes, there has never been a better time to embark on a new career with us.”
John Healey, Secretary of State for Defence, said: “BAE Systems are a leading light in the UK defence industry and play a crucial role in keeping the men and women of our Armed Forces equipped on the front line.
“Defence offers exciting careers and this investment is a vote of confidence in the UK as a leader for cutting edge employment, creating highly skilled jobs across the UK.”
Almost 1,300 apprentices are expected to join BAE Systems next year, with the majority of roles based in the North of England alongside opportunities across the South of England, Scotland and Wales.
BAE Systems also plans to hire more than 1,100 graduates and undergraduates.
The closing date for apprentice applications is February 28, 2025. There are multiple graduate intakes throughout the year, including January, April, July, August and September.