Driven by high-demand for predominantly submarine engineers, UK defence specialist BAE Systems plans to hire a record number of apprentices.
The new recruits will work at sixteen of sites in the UK and join the Company in September 2014.
As reported by BAE, the increase can in part be attributed to a requirement for hundreds of highly skilled submarine manufacturing employees to meet the largest workload for two decades at the shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. The yard is currently working on delivering the five remaining Astute class attack submarines and is recruiting to develop the new ‘Successor’ submarines which are due to replace the Vanguard class from 2028.
Group Managing Director at BAE Systems, Nigel Whitehead, said: “Our additional intake of apprentices this year reflects workload requirements at the submarines business but the number also demonstrates the fantastic contribution and value that apprenticeships bring to BAE Systems. Apprentices are a vital part of our talent pool and we find that our training programmes really help young people develop their full potential and become financially stable at a relatively young age. This is a win-win situation for our apprentices, our Company and the wider economy.”
With a workforce set currently at circa 32,000 workers in Britain, BAE Systems will offer 568 apprenticeship places next year 181 more places than last year.
The move also comes as the public opinion on apprenticeship changes and gains positive feedback from both students and their parents.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, December 31, 2013; Image: BAE Systems