MORE than 200 new apprentices and graduates are to join BAE Systems in Scotland in 2025 as the company expects to pass £1 billion in spending on education, training, and skills in the UK since the start of the decade.
Glasgow saw the benefits of this funding earlier this year as BAE Systems opened a brand new Shipbuilding Academy in Glasgow dedicated to training new apprentices and graduates.
More than 200 new apprentices and graduates will join the company in Scotland with many having the chance to work on programmes critical to national security, including the building of Type-26 frigates for the Royal Navy.
BAE Systems 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 £230 million investment in education and skills next year will take the total amount spent on upskilling people across the UK since 2020 to beyond £1 billion. The funding, which has grown year-on-year since the Covid pandemic, is spent primarily on UK apprentices, graduates and experienced employees, as well as education outreach.
Theinvestments have enabled BAE Systems to open its third multi-million pound skills academy in Glasgow this year, which expands on its established academies in Barrow and Samlesbury.
Charles Woodburn, chief executive of BAE Systems, 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.”
With more than 60 programmes available, there are opportunities at every level – from steelwork and engineering to cyber security, software development, finance and project management.
In order to maximise its talent pool, BAE Systems said it is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, which is vital in developing a future skills and talent pipeline. This year, 30% of the company’s new apprentice starters are female, compared to 15% in the UK engineering community.
Francesca Di Mascio, 27, first year electrical engineering apprentice at BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business, added, “I joined BAE Systems because job security is important to me and I wanted to work in a hands-on environment. The job was everything I’d hoped for plus the extra benefit of being part of the community in the shipyard gives me an extra sense of purpose.
“Doing an apprenticeship is a great opportunity to earn while you learn and this is the first time I’ve really felt valued after joining a business, I’d definitely recommend anyone thinking about applying to go for it!”
The closing date for apprentice applications is February 28. To find out more, click here.
