BAE Systems have launched their 2024 apprenticeship recruitment programme with the announcement that they are hiring up to 2,700 graduates and apprentices in roles across the country. The roles cover the full range of the company’s divisions, from air, naval and submarine manufacture to emerging sectors like life sciences and cybersecurity.
Reacting to the news, Mr Menzies explained “BAE Systems graduate, and apprenticeships are so important to helping young people from Fylde get onto the career ladder as well as attracting outside talent to our area. In showing their commitment to Lancashire, companies like BAE prove that opportunities are not limited to big cities.”
The company also provided an overview of their work to grow their investment in education, skills and early careers activities, which last year alone stood at £180 million. Recent investment has seen the size of their graduate and apprenticeship programme grow, with over one in ten employees at the company on one of these schemes. Significantly, three in ten of the 2023 intake were female, over double the nationwide average for the manufacturing sector.
Commenting on the growth in opportunities for young people, the Fylde MP said “I meet regularly with apprentices based at Warton and I am always impressed by their knowledge and passion. These apprentices are drawn from a diverse range of backgrounds, there is no one type of BAE apprentice, and I would encourage anyone interested in a career in manufacturing to apply”.
“The programmes offer the chance to some of the most advanced technologies, play a vital role in defending the UK and our allies, and gain skills that set the apprentices up for their career ahead.
With almost 500 apprenticeship opportunities available in the air division alone, Lancashire continues to benefit from BAE’s investment in future generations. The world leading work undertaken at Warton helps put Fylde on the map.”