699 new jobs at BAE Systems in Lancashire as company breaks £1bn record for skills investment

Almost 700 new apprentices and graduates are set to join BAE Systems in Lancashire as part of a jobs boost for the North of England.

The North region will benefit from record funding into education, training and skills as the company expects to eclipse £1bn in spending across the UK since the start of the decade.

In total, 699 will be employed by the business, with 651 taken on in Warton and Samlesbury and 48 in Preston. 

Apprentices in the region will have the chance to work on flagship programmes critical to national security, including the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) developing the UK’s next generation fighter as well as SSN-AUKUS which is a next-generation submarine.

The company is recruiting for more than 2,400 new apprentice, undergraduate and graduate roles in 2025, which will result in a record number of 6,500 in training, making up approximately 15 per cent of its UK workforce.

An anticipated £230m investment in education and skills next year will take the total amount spent on upskilling people across the UK since 2020 to beyond £1bn.

The funding, which has grown year-on-year since the Covid-19 pandemic, is spent primarily on UK apprentices, graduates and experienced employees, as well as education outreach, helping to build on the company’s reputation as a leader in growing the nation’s industrial skills base, whilst also contributing to local and national economic growth. 

The company's investments have enabled BAE Systems to open its third multi-million pound skills academy in Glasgow this year, which expands on its established academies in Barrow and Samlesbury.

The company also has a range of partnerships with colleges, universities and social mobility champions, like Movement to Work.

Charles Woodburn, chief executive, BAE Systems, said: “As the UK’s largest defence company, we rely on the skill and ingenuity of those who deliver our programmes, which is why it’s so crucial we continue to invest in our people.

“With thousands of roles open for application across the length and breadth of the country and our exciting high technology programmes, there has never been a better time to embark on a new career with us.”

John Healey, secretary of State for Defence, said: “BAE Systems are a leading light in the UK defence industry and play a crucial role in keeping the men and women of our Armed Forces equipped on the front line. 

“Defence offers exciting careers and this investment is a vote of confidence in the UK as a leader for cutting-edge employment, creating highly skilled jobs across the UK.

“National security is the foundation for national stability and growth. Our Defence Industrial Strategy will ensure our defence sector is an engine for jobs and growth, strengthening our security and our economy.”

Almost 1,300 apprentices are expected to join BAE Systems next year, with the majority of roles based in the North of England alongside opportunities across the South of England, Scotland and Wales.

BAE Systems also plans to hire more than 1,100 graduates and undergraduates, giving each cohort the chance to work on some of the world’s most advanced technology programmes including the Global Combat Air Programme and the UK’s next-generation submarines known as SSN-AUKUS.

The company’s award-winning early careers schemes are vital to developing the talent pipeline needed to deliver critical national security capability. They also help to build the next group of talented industrial leaders, with many former apprentices and graduates going on to become leaders in the Company.

Francesca Di Mascio, 27, first year electrical engineering apprentice at BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business, said: “I joined BAE Systems because job security is important to me and I wanted to work in a hands-on environment.

"The job was everything I’d hoped for plus the extra benefit of being part of the community in the shipyard gives me an extra sense of purpose.

“Doing an apprenticeship is a great opportunity to earn while you learn and this is the first time I’ve really felt valued after joining a business, I’d definitely recommend anyone thinking about applying to go for it!”

With more than 60 programmes available, there are opportunities at every level, from steelwork and engineering to cyber security, software development, finance and project management.

In order to maximise its talent pool, BAE Systems is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, which is vital in developing a future skills and talent pipeline. This year, 30 per cent of the company’s new apprentice starters are female, compared to 15 per cent in the UK engineering community. One in three of its new graduate starters this year came from ethnic minority backgrounds. 

The closing date for apprentice applications is 28 February 2025. There are multiple graduate intakes throughout the year, including January, April, July, August and September. Find out more and apply: baesystems.com/earlycareers

Early careers opportunities are just one part of the Company’s wider recruitment drive. BAE Systems is currently recruiting thousands of skilled workers from steelworkers to data scientists across the UK. Find out more and apply: baesystems.com/experiencedprofessionals