Babcock announced on 5 March 2024 that it is creating more than 1,000 new jobs at its shipbuilding facility in Rosyth, Scotland, to support upcoming work such as the delivery of projects like the Type 31 frigate design and build programme.
The new jobs, which will be generated over the next four years, will include 400 apprenticeships, 350 production support operatives, skilled engineers, tradespeople, and graduates.
“The production support operative initiative is focused on attracting people from a range of backgrounds and experience, including those not currently in education, employment, or training, with the role centred around supporting and learning from time-served tradespeople,” the company stated in a press release. “Our latest recruits will join our state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing and digitally enabled facility that in recent decades has seen investment of more than GBP 200 million [EUR 234 million].”
The company added that apprentice numbers are also increasing at its operation on the west coast of Scotland, supporting His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde and the UK Royal Navy’s submarine enterprise, meaning that its apprenticeship opportunities are expected to double in 2024.
“Attracting and retaining talent is essential to the future success of our business and directly benefits the local communities in which we operate,” Babcock International Group CEO David Lockwood was quoted as saying. “Continued investment in Babcock’s development programmes and facilities enables our apprentices, graduates and trainees to experience a mix of on-the-job learning in a modern, digitally led industrial environment, alongside academic training with further education partners and our own Babcock Skills Academy.
“Our apprentices play a really important role in our workforces across the UK, ensuring we can sustain the technical skills needed to continue to deliver critical national defence programmes,” Lockwood added.
