Almost 700 apprentice and graduate roles are being offered across Lancashire in BAE Systems’ latest recruitment drive.
The weapons manufacturer has announced a fresh £230 million investment in education and skills for 2025 with 2,400 new roles for apprentices, students and graduates on offer around the country.
In Lancashire, it has its air sites in Samlesbury and Warton, plus its head office in Preston, with 699 roles up for grabs across the three sites.
The bulk of these are split across Samlesbury and Warton, with 260 apprenticeships, 74 undergraduate positions, and 317 graduate roles on offer.
The Preston head office has one apprenticeship on offer while Shared Services, also based in the city, is offering 29 apprenticeships, eight undergraduate roles, and 10 graduate jobs.
The latest intake will mean around 15 per cent of BAE’s UK workforce are in training positions and the firm will have spent more than £1 billion on training its workforce since 2020.
BAE's recruitment is also creating a more representative workforce, with 30 per cent of new hires female - double the engineering industry average - and a third from ethnic minority backgrounds.
New hires will work on flagship national security projects including the Global Combat Air Programme developing fighter jets, and SSN-AUKUS, a next-generation submarine.
Charles Woodburn, chief executive, 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 country and our exciting high technology programmes, there has never been a better time to embark on a new career with us.”
“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.”
Programmes on offer cover a range of skills and departments, from engineering to cyber security to finance.
The closing date for apprenticeship applications is Friday, February 28, 2025, while there are multiple graduate intakes throughout the year.
For more information about roles on offer and to apply visit the early careers section of the BAE Systems website.
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