Surface ships
Surface Ships has a 7,000 strong team working out of Bristol, Glasgow and Portsmouth—all helping to design, manufacture and support the most advanced warships in the world.
These include fast, agile 9.5 metre boats fit for Special Forces, the Type 45 Destroyers and the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy—the biggest ships ever to be built in the UK.
For overseas customers, we're building ships for the Trinidad & Tobago Coast Guard to track down pirates off the Caribbean and we're constructing Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Royal Navy of Oman—not to mention the new joint venture we have set up in the Middle East and Fast Attack Craft being built in partnership for the Hellenic Navy in Greece.
And we don't stop there. Another important part of what we do is “through-life support” for these complex warships. That means giving our customers expert help to maintain, repair and modernise their ships throughout their service life, as well as fit new systems onboard and provide vital training and naval facilities management.
Surface Ships Apprenticeship at Glasgow/Portsmouth
We offer craft and technician engineering apprenticeships at Glasgow and Portsmouth, where you’ll gain an unbeatable mix of hands-on experience and academic learning while you earn.
Providing you with the technical knowledge to excel in your chosen profession is at the heart of our apprenticeship scheme, but it's only the start. You'll gain functional skills such as team working, communication, IT and problem solving—everything you need to succeed at work.
Health and Safety is a vital part of your training, to protect you and your colleagues, helping to keep your working environment safe throughout your career at BAE Systems.
Craft Apprentice
Train to become an electrician, engineer, joiner, painter, plumber/pipe worker, steel worker or welder.
- The qualifications you need
You'll need five GCSEs at grades A to E (or UK equivalent) including English, Maths and a Science subject.
- The length of the apprenticeship
A craft apprenticeship lasts for a minimum of three years.
- What the programme entails
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During year one you'll enjoy a mixture of work experience and college study, where you'll gain a Performing Engineering Operations (PEO) qualification.
Years two and three will be spent in our operations team, working towards an S/NVQ 3 in your chosen trade. Plus you'll attend college on day release to gain a Technical Certificate to underpin your knowledge.
- Progressing to further education
This is the foundation of your career with BAE Systems, and there are opportunities to study up to degree level and onto Chartered status in your chosen profession.
- How to apply
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Portsmouth: Click here to apply for an apprenticeship at our Portsmouth site. Glasgow: Click here to apply for an apprenticeship at our yards on the Clyde.
Technical Apprentice
Train to become a detail design engineer, a combat systems engineer or a test and commissioning engineer.
- The qualifications you need
You'll need six GCSEs at grades A to C (or UK equivalent) including English, Maths and Physics, plus three A Levels (or UK equivalent) at grade C or above in English, Maths and Physics.
- The length of the apprenticeship
A technician apprenticeship lasts a minimum of four years.
- What the programme entails
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During year one you'll study full-time at a local college, gaining a Performing Engineering Operations (PEO) qualification and a Higher National Certificate in Electrical / Mechanical Engineering.
During the second year you'll complete four placements across the engineering function, whilst studying for the first year of a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Engineering Systems.
In your third year you'll consolidate your engineering experiential learning in your appointed role, complete the HND and start S/NVQ 3 in Technical Support, which you'll complete in your fourth year.
- Progressing to further education
This is the foundation of your career with BAE Systems, and there are opportunities to study up to degree level and onto Chartered status in your chosen profession.
- How to apply
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Portsmouth: Click here to apply for an apprenticeship at our Portsmouth site. Glasgow: Click here to apply for an apprenticeship at our yards on the Clyde.
PDF Downloads
Here you can find out more about particular roles in the BAE Surface Ships Solutions Apprenticeship. The links are all pdfs so you can download them to keep.
- Welder Programme
- Driller Programme
- Electrical Programme
- Fitter Programme
- Logistics Programme
- Pipe Fabrication Programme
- Sheet Metal Programme
- Steel Worker Programme
- Non Destructive Examination Technician
- Dimensional Capability Technician
- Designer Technician
- Profile - Thomas Kinley
- Profile - Liam Bibby
- Profile - Sam Hilton
- Profile - Stephanie Park
Useful Links
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BAE Systems
Find out more about BAE Systems Apprenticeships at the main BAE Systems website.
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Apprenticeships
Find out more about apprenticeships and search and apply for vacancies in England—on the national Appenticeships website.
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Engineering Connection
The website for engineer apprentice recruitment, where engineering employers and apprentices meet.
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