BAE Systems, Britain’s largest defense company, will recruit a record 2,400 apprentices, students and graduates next year, marking a major milestone in its continued investment in workforce development.
This intake will bring the total number of trainees within the FTSE 100 group to 6,500 – approximately 15% of the UK workforce.
The defense giant, known for building the country’s nuclear submarines and fighter jets, employs 100,000 people worldwide. Its commitment to skills development has seen an annual acceleration in investment since the Covid-19 pandemic. The £230 million spent on education initiatives next year will bring BAE’s total investment in skills since 2020 to more than £1 billion.
The funding will support apprenticeships, graduate programs and upskilling existing staff, while also supporting outreach projects such as the company’s third skills academy, which recently opened in Glasgow.
Charles Woodburn, CEO of BAE, highlighted the importance of investing in talent to deliver ground-breaking programmes: “With thousands of open positions across the country and our exciting high-tech programmes, there has never been a better time to start a career with us .”
John Healey, the defense secretary, praised BAE’s early career programs as vital to maintaining national security capabilities and nurturing the next generation of industrial leaders. “This investment is a vote of confidence in Britain as a hub for highly skilled and breakthrough employment,” he added.
Diversity remains a priority for BAE Systems. Of the new students this year, almost a third are women, and one in three starter graduates has an immigrant background. Francesca Di Mascio, 27, an electrical engineering student, shared her experience: “This internship is a great opportunity to earn money while you learn. For the first time I really feel appreciated in a company.”
BAE’s recruitment drive signals a strong commitment to building a skilled and diverse workforce to meet the demands of the UK defense industry and beyond.