Apprenticeship

Jibs bost at start of National Apprenticeship Week

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After concerns from the government on the number of apprentices being taken on by companies, it has been revealed BAE Systems is recruiting more than 250 – some of which will be at Rochester.

Group Managing Director Nigel Whitehead has announced it is employing 265 engineering and business apprentices across its UK business.

That includes 136 to work at its submarine building business in Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria - the highest intake at the yard for five years.

But there are more starting at its operation in the Medway Towns.

Mr Whitehead made the announcement at the start of National Apprenticeship Week, which is a national initiative to raise the profile of apprenticeships.

BAE has around 1,000 apprentices in training in its three year apprenticeship programme, which has one of the highest completion rates in the engineering sector and was rated Grade 1 – ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED in July 2010. BAE Systems also currently holds the National Apprentice Award for the Macro Employer of the Year.

The other 129 apprenticeship roles at BAE Systems are located in the Company’s military aircraft business based in Lancashire, its maritime businesses at Portsmouth, Hampshire and Glasgow, Scotland and also at its electronics business in Rochester, Kent.

Mr Whitehead said: “Our apprenticeship programme creates a pipeline of exceptionally talented young engineers who are critical to the long term future of BAE Systems. In tough economic times it is even more important that businesses plan for the long term and continue to invest in skills and developing talent in the workplace.”

Apprentice training is a key element of BAE Systems Skills 2020 programme, which represents the Company’s commitment to ensuring it has the right skills to remain competitive and operate successfully in the UK over the next decade, into 2020 and beyond. BAE Systems invests more than £79M per annum in the UK in education and schools activity, university partnerships and training and development for employees.