BAE Systems is looking for future leaders as it prepares to recruit 1,552 apprentices across the region, including roles available in Samlesbury, Warton, and Preston.

The aerospace giant, which has a major base in Samlesbury, is seeking potential recruits who can play a role in shaping some of the world’s most important services that help enable the UK’s armed forces and protect national security.

BAE Systems invested approximately £180m in education, skills and early careers activities in the UK last year and opened two multi-million-pound state of the art training academies for employees, with another under construction.

Their apprenticeship programmes aren’t just for school or college leavers either, as almost 20 per cent of BAE apprentices are over-25. This provides the chance for people to retrain in a sector which can offer long-term career opportunities.

Recruiting at apprenticeship, undergraduate, and graduate levels, roles are available across the North-West spanning air, digital intelligence, head office, land UK, share services, and submarines, based in the following locations:

  • Warton and Samlesbury
  • Manchester
  • Barrow
  • Radway Green
  • Preston

Richard Hamer, director for education and skills at BAE Systems, said: “National Apprenticeship Week is vital for companies such as ours with more than one thousand vacancies to raise awareness for the exciting opportunities on offer up and down the country.

“Whether you’re just starting out in your career journey or are thinking about a career switch, apprenticeships are a fantastic way to learn new skills and contribute in a meaningful way.

“It’s also a brilliant opportunity to recognise those apprentices up and down the country that are already on their career journey with us, developing their skillsets and helping to develop the technology that helps defend our national security, they are the backbone of our future workforce and as a company we’re proud of the work they do.”

The closing date for apprentice applications is February 28, 2024 with graduate intakes throughout the year, including April, June and September.

Cliona, who works for BAE Systems Submarine, said: "I applied to the degree apprenticeship scheme while in my final year of A-levels - my interest in nuclear technology started when I was completing my extended project qualification.

“The best part of the job is the varied work, no two days are the same and the workload is constantly adapting to the current build needs - I also really enjoy seeing the submarines progress through different build stages."

Izzie Banks, a craft apprentice for BAE Systems Air, said: “I knew I wanted to do an apprenticeship after watching my sister make a successful career out of her own apprentice journey.

“Doing a craft apprenticeship with BAE Systems was the right choice for me as I wanted to do more hands on work that was practical and tangible.

“Now I can earn while I learn and work in a supportive environment while also looking towards future opportunities such as working with robotics.”

Alina Eden, information management systems and technology (IMS&T) degree apprentice, BAE Systems maritime and land, said: "I was previously studying fashion marketing at university but left to improve my career prospects.

“I love the opportunity to take on new challenges and we’re always encouraged to take them. One of the best parts about the job is the people, all of our employees come from different walks of life and can help teach you valuable new lessons.

“I didn’t have any ‘typical’ qualifications but I had the enthusiasm and courage to make the jump and haven’t looked back.”

In the last five years, BAE Systems has more than doubled the number of apprenticeships and expects to welcome more than 2,700 trainees to apprentice and graduate programmes in 2024 – its largest ever intake.

As part of this intake, there will be more than 1,400 apprentices and 1,300 graduates across the UK.

BAE Systems apprenticeships are a key tool for social mobility – over a quarter of its last apprenticeship intake came from low socio-economic backgrounds and it invests heavily in regions across the UK.

Additionally, it supports the Department for Education by developing employer guides for T-Levels as part of efforts to provide more education opportunities for young people.

BAE has almost 5,500 apprentices and graduates currently in training – more than 10 per cent of its 39,000 strong UK workforce.

Thirty per cent of BAE new apprentices this year are female, compared with around 10 per cent of the engineering apprentice intake in England overall.