BAE Hires Record 2,600 Young People in Boost for North

Britain’s largest defense company is on the verge of a record hiring wave of apprentices and graduates.

BAE Systems expects to offer more than 2,600 roles in the coming year — a 40 percent increase, or nearly 800, from 2022 — as demand for its military equipment, from fighter jets to frigates, surges amid rising international tensions.

The group, which is listed in the FTSE 100, currently has 4,300 trainees and graduates in training. But it’s accelerating the program as outstanding orders climb to more than £50billion.

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“This reinforces our commitment to the next generation and hopefully we can equip young people across the UK with the skills they need to thrive in their careers,” BAE’s HR director Tania Gandamihardja told The Mail on Sunday.

“Anyone who comes to us as an apprentice or graduate will be working on some of the most advanced technology programs in the world,” she said.

That year, BAE took on 1,832 in such roles. They range from 16-year-olds to adults looking for a career change, with 15 percent of trainees being over 25 years old. Women accounted for 30 percent of trainees this year in a sector where they have traditionally been underrepresented.

Starting salaries range from £15,000 to £34,000.

Training is offered in more than 50 programs, from cybersecurity and software development to aerospace engineering and accounting. The options include dual training courses that offer practical work alongside studies. Gandamihardja said this presents an attractive alternative to university, as more than a quarter of recruits typically come from disadvantaged areas.

The reels are primarily based in the north of England but also in other locations including Portsmouth.

According to BAE, which employs 35,000 people in the UK, 95 per cent of those who start an apprenticeship complete it and go into permanent employment. It also offers older workers part-time contracts instead of retirement.

Skills Minister Robert Halfon said: “Apprenticeships are the catalyst for boosting the economy, building a skills nation and expanding opportunities for all.”