Following on from a record-breaking apprentice intake in 2024, Babcock International Group has opened applications for its training programme for 2025 applicants, alongside delivery of an innovative new pre-apprenticeship engineering programme.

The company, which delivers critical support to the entire UK nuclear submarine fleet, is recruiting over 200 talented individuals to support the delivery of world-class programmes.

The main apprenticeship programme is open to anyone of any age, and the site is seeking apprentices across a range of roles in engineering, skilled trades and business for its 2025 intake. Those welcomed onto the scheme will gain additional skills and set themselves up for a career supporting nationally important programmes, including the maintenance and refurbishment of Royal Navy submarines.

For those that might not currently meet the apprenticeship requirements, Babcock has launched an innovative new engineering pre-apprenticeship scheme with City College Plymouth.

This programme, which saw its first cohort of 18 start in September, provides an alternative route into Babcock for a broader range of talented people that just need some additional support to start their career. At the end of the year-long programme those that complete it successfully are guaranteed a place on our apprenticeship programme the following year.

To open up the Engineering Pre-apprenticeship opportunity to as many people as possible, Babcock has piloted the use of gamification as a modern, inclusive recruitment tool, which allows players to demonstrate various skills through a fun platform with some mini games contained within it.

This inclusive approach allows us to assess a candidate’s suitability for our programme through a selection tool aimed at a different demographic than our usual apprenticeship recruits.

Building on the success of the pre-apprenticeship programmes to date, we are looking at expanding the programmes further across our other sites.

Harry Holt, Babcock Chief Executive Officer, Nuclear, said: “These programmes form part of a number of approaches across the UK that we are spearheading to secure the skills needed to deliver our nationally important defence programmes now, and in the future.

“At the heart of this is Babcock’s ongoing commitment to creating new opportunities for a broader range of people. Giving them the chance to experience a successful long-term career in defence and nuclear, and the unique opportunities and skilled technical training that comes with this.”

Application for its 2025 apprentice intake can be accessed via Apprenticeships – Babcock Early Careers (babcockinternational.com)