INFORMATION

A great career choice with plenty of opportunity

23 Apr 2009

BAE Systems is one of the UK’s biggest employers of engineering apprentices – we have over 1,000 already in training and we plan to take on 300 more this year. Some of our senior executives started out as apprentices, too: there’s plenty of opportunity.

We invest over £70,000 in every one of our apprentices, making sure they get the best training around – and 82 per cent of them complete the course, one of the highest success rates in the country. Virtually all go on to full time jobs in the company and many even opt to continue their studies at a higher level alongside work.

From day one, apprentices at BAE Systems get the chance to work on some of the UK’s most exciting engineering projects, including the Astute class submarines, the world’s most advanced fighter jets, advanced unmanned systems for land, sea and air and technologies to protect national and personal security.

19-year-old Jenny Westworth kick-started her career in September 2007, joining the apprenticeship scheme in our Military Air Solutions business. She currently works at Warton in Lancashire.

Jenny has already worked on the Tornado aircraft and is now involved with the Eurofighter Typhoon, one of the world's most advanced and capable combat aircraft which will form a cornerstone of NATO's defence capabilities for the next 30 years.

She says: “I completed my A-Levels and originally planned to do an engineering degree at university. But then I heard about the apprenticeship scheme at BAE Systems and thought it would be perfect for me. Instead of spending three years in a classroom, I get hands-on experience every day with qualified engineers working on the world’s most cutting-edge fighter jets.

“I love the variety of my job. On one placement I could be on the shop floor testing parts of the Typhoon and on another I’ll be in the office working alongside our partners across Europe, making sure the right parts are delivered at the right time.

“It’s always amazing to see a Typhoon in flight for the first time, knowing I played a part in getting it there.”

We offer a three year apprenticeship scheme to NVQ level 3 and apprentices spend one day a week at a nearby college. They have the option to continue to further education and degree level, or to enter a full time job with great career prospects.

Apprentices are well paid and positions are in high demand, with 10 applicants on average for every place. For more details about careers at BAE Systems, go to www.baesystems.com/careers