Higher Level Commercial Apprenticeship

Babcock International

Plymouth (PL1 4SG)

Closes on Thursday 12 March 2026

Posted on 2 December 2025

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Summary

Our 2-year Higher Level Commercial Apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity to build a career in business and contract management while supporting some complex engineering projects in the UK. You’ll help shape and deliver contracts that keep the Royal Navy’s fleet operational, learning how to manage commercial relationships and support bids.

• Wage:

  £21,641 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Year 2: £27,412 Post apprenticeship: £30,000+

• Training course: Operations manager (level 5)
• Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

  35 hours a week

• Start date:

  Tuesday 1 September 2026

• Duration:

  2 years

• Positions available:

  1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• The Commercial function at Babcock plays a vital role in ensuring we deliver value and excellence for our customers. You’ll join a team that helps manage complex contracts across the Naval Nuclear business unit, supporting the safe and efficient delivery of major defence projects
• Over two years, you’ll complete four placements of around six months each, each offering the chance to experience a different part of the business. One rotation might focus on supporting live contracts and engaging with customers and suppliers, while another could involve developing bids for new opportunities or helping ensure compliance with governance and assurance processes
• As your experience grows, you’ll develop a broad skill set that covers everything from negotiating and managing terms and conditions to analysing commercial risks and supporting successful contract delivery. Collaboration will be a key part of your work as you partner with engineers, legal advisors and project managers to understand how commercial decisions shape project outcomes
• Throughout the programme, you’ll be supported by experienced mentors and managers who’ll help you build confidence, capability and sound professional judgement

Where you'll work

Devonport Royal Dockyard
Devonport
Plymouth
PL1 4SG

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

CITY COLLEGE PLYMOUTH

Training course

Operations manager (level 5)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Communicate and present information to stakeholders using different types of media.
• Identify problems and provide solutions.
• Manage and set goals and accountabilities for individuals and teams.
• Analyse performance data for individuals and teams to identify areas for improvement.
• Manage and influence project activity to deliver within budget and resource requirements.
• Lead and influence the team and individuals to support an inclusive culture of equity, diversity, and the promotion of well-being.
• Motivate team members and individuals through collaborative activities, for example one-to-one coaching and team meetings, to achieve organisational goals.
• Use digital tools to analyse information and monitor performance and budgets to drive the implementation and delivery of plans and projects.
• Research, interpret and analyse information to inform the implementation of business plans or projects.
• Evaluate the impact of outcomes from organisational plans or projects to drive the decision-making process.
• Interpret and implement the practical application of regulation, legislation and organisational policies for stakeholders.
• Manage continuous improvement and change for their team and organisation.
• Analyse and prioritise organisation activities in response to the operating environment.
• Implement business continuity plans, including risk assessment, contingency planning and disaster recovery, to ensure the uninterrupted operation of critical functions.
• Identify and respond to external factors that may influence the future landscape and evaluate their impact on the organisation.
• Influence and negotiate with stakeholders to shape and agree goals and outcomes.
• Manage relationships across multiple and diverse stakeholders.
• Deliver sustainable services and solutions which allow the organisation to respond to changes in social, economic and environmental factors.
• Manage and facilitate learning and continuous professional development for their team.
• Coach and mentor individuals within their team.
• Develop and implement operational plans that align with the strategic direction of the organisation.
• Communicate and present information to stakeholders using different types of media.
• Identify problems and provide solutions.
• Manage and set goals and accountabilities for individuals and teams.
• Analyse performance data for individuals and teams to identify areas for improvement.
• Manage and influence project activity to deliver within budget and resource requirements.
• Lead and influence the team and individuals to support an inclusive culture of equity, diversity, and the promotion of well-being.
• Motivate team members and individuals through collaborative activities, for example one-to-one coaching and team meetings, to achieve organisational goals.
• Use digital tools to analyse information and monitor performance and budgets to drive the implementation and delivery of plans and projects.
• Research, interpret and analyse information to inform the implementation of business plans or projects.
• Evaluate the impact of outcomes from organisational plans or projects to drive the decision-making process.
• Interpret and implement the practical application of regulation, legislation and organisational policies for stakeholders.
• Manage continuous improvement and change for their team and organisation.
• Analyse and prioritise organisation activities in response to the operating environment.
• Implement business continuity plans, including risk assessment, contingency planning and disaster recovery, to ensure the uninterrupted operation of critical functions.
• Identify and respond to external factors that may influence the future landscape and evaluate their impact on the organisation.
• Influence and negotiate with stakeholders to shape and agree goals and outcomes.
• Manage relationships across multiple and diverse stakeholders.
• Deliver sustainable services and solutions which allow the organisation to respond to changes in social, economic and environmental factors.
• Manage and facilitate learning and continuous professional development for their team.
• Coach and mentor individuals within their team.
• Develop and implement operational plans that align with the strategic direction of the organisation.

Training schedule

As part of your apprenticeship, you’ll study for the Level 5 Operations/Departmental Manager Apprenticeship Standard through City College Plymouth. 
 
You’ll attend college once a week and spend the rest of your time applying your learning in the workplace. This qualification is designed to develop your management and leadership skills, with modules covering business planning, finance, relationship management and operational delivery. 
 
We’ll also support you in working towards chartered status as a member of the World Commerce and Contracting (WorldCC) Association, giving you a recognised professional pathway in the field of commercial management. 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• Any subject (grade Grade C or above)
• Any subject (grade Grade C or above)
• Any subject (grade Grade C or above)
• English (grade Grade C or above)
• Maths (grade Grade C or above)

A Level in:

• Any subject (grade Grade C or above)
• Any subject (grade Grade C or above)
• Any subject (grade Grade C or above)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills

Other requirements

Many of our apprenticeship programmes are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold or have held may impact which programmes you are eligible for. For this programme, you must be able to achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) clearance. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

About this employer

Babcock is an international defence company providing support and product solutions to enhance our customers’ defence capabilities and critical assets. We provide through-life technical and engineering support for our customers’ assets, delivering improvements in performance, availability and programme cost. Our c27,700 employees deliver these critical services to defence and civil customers, including engineering support to naval, land, air and nuclear operations, frontline support, specialist training and asset management. We also design and manufacture a range of defence and civil specialist equipment, from naval ship and weapons handling systems to liquid gas handling systems. We also provide integrated, technology-enabled solutions to our defence customers in areas such as secure communications, electronic warfare and air defence.

https://earlycareers.babcockinternational.com/apprenticeships/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• Fully funded qualification • Personal development training and opportunities • Minimum 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays • Competitive pension scheme • Employee share scheme • Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

When you complete your apprenticeship, you’ll move into a permanent role as a Commercial Administrator, followed by progression to Commercial Support Advisor after your third year. 
 
Upon programme completion, you can expect to earn a competitive salary exceeding £30,000, with ongoing support to further your qualifications and continue your professional development. 
 
From there, your development doesn’t stop. Through the Babcock Role Framework, you’ll have a clear view of how your career can progress, with mapped-out pathways, development opportunities and the tools you need to get wherever you want to go. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CITY COLLEGE PLYMOUTH

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000001619.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 12 March 2026

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