Higher Level Engineering Apprenticeship

Babcock International

Plymouth (PL1 4SG)

Closes on Thursday 12 March 2026

Posted on 2 December 2025

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Summary

The Higher-Level Engineering Apprenticeship at Babcock is your opportunity to embark on a rewarding career in engineering. Our engineering apprentices are at the forefront of maintaining the Royal Navy's fleet and play an integral role in creating a safe and secure world.

Wage

£23,289 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Year 1: £23,289 Year 2: £29,685 Year 3: £34,955 Year 4: £36,839

Training course
Engineering manufacturing technician (level 4)
Hours
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

35 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

3 years 6 months

Positions available

31

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

Join our exciting 3.5-year Higher Level Engineering Apprenticeship programme, where you'll specialise in one of three distinct engineering disciplines: Mechanical, Electrical, or Naval Architecture.  
 
Whichever discipline you choose to specialise in, you’ll tend to have a multi-disciplinary understanding. You’ll be responsible for creating or updating technical documentation, reports, or specifications that include information on quality, reliability, production schedules, costing, and more. This could include setting out how a product must be designed, manufactured, tested, modified, maintained, stored, transported, commissioned, or decommissioned, all within a predominantly office-based role. 
 
As part of the interview, you will be asked to select your first and second preferred engineering discipline choices and explain your reasons for choosing them. This helps us understand your interests, motivations, and how your strengths align with the role.  

No matter which specialism you pursue, you'll be gathering, analysing and interpreting information and data to make impactful decisions and solve real-world problems.  

Along the way, you’ll gain skills that will set you up for the future which may include: 

  • Data analysis and interpretation – Extracting, analysing, and interpreting engineering and manufacturing data to draw accurate conclusions and make informed decisions.  
  • Project Management - Utilising project management tools for effective decision-making and risk assessment.
  • Problem-solving - Applying problem-solving techniques such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) and more, to identify root causes and enhance quality.
  • Lean tools and techniques - Utilising lean tools and techniques such as Six Sigma and 8 Wastes to drive efficiency and minimise waste.
  • Computer-based software system/packages – Utilising Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics, and Databases.
  • Documentation control - Ensuring compliance with quality standards through proper documentation and processes.
  • Financial planning – Undertaking financial planning, recording, and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control and cost forecasting.
  • Communication and stakeholder management - Communicating findings through various media, including presentations and reports. 
     
    Throughout the apprenticeship, you'll have the chance to work at various locations on our site, gaining valuable insights into all our operations. 
     
    It's a dynamic work environment where every day brings new opportunities. From conducting external supplier inspections to driving efficiencies on our production shop floor, or even overseeing internal and external audits, your day will be filled with meaningful contributions. 

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

Engineering manufacturing technician (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules,  drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
  • Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
  • Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
  • Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
  • Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
  • Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
  • Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
  • Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
  • Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
  • Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.
  • Read and extract relevant engineering and manufacturing related data and information (such as workplans or project plans, schedules,  drawings, specifications, production data, quality reports, costing data, statistical information) drawing accurate conclusions and making informed decisions.
  • Use project management tools, such as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), stakeholder matrices, risk mapping, radar chart and summary risk profiles.
  • Use problem solving tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Process Failure Modes Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Fishbone, Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
  • Analyse and interpret data and information in order to generate manufacturing engineering documentation such as Parts Per Million (PPM) quality adherence, cost analysis and test data.
  • Communicate using the appropriate method for the audience such as, formal and informal presentations, written reports, verbal, electronic, social media and incorporating relevant and appropriate data or metrics.
  • Use the approved process and quality compliance procedure to create or amend engineering or manufacturing documentation.
  • Use lean tools and techniques, such as Six Sigma, 8 Wastes, Workplace organisation such as 5S's (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), Kaizen and Poka-Yoke (Error proofing).
  • Apply documentation control processes and procedures such as format, location, access, authorisation.
  • Use financial planning, recording and review processes and documentation such as departmental budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
  • Use computer based software systems or packages such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Data Analytics and Databases.

Training schedule

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Any subject (grade 4/C or above)
  • Any subject (grade 4/C or above)
  • Any subject (grade 4/C or above)
  • English (grade 4/C or above)
  • Maths (grade 4/C or above)

A Level in:

  • Any subject (grade C or above)
  • Maths (grade C or above)
  • Science/Technology (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
  • Team working

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

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

Upon completing the programme, you’ll become a qualified Engineering Technician, specialising in your chosen field (mechanical, electrical or naval architecture).  

You’ll be expected to stay within this role for one year post completion to help you gain further experience, consolidate your skills, and contribute meaningfully to your team before applying for other roles within the organisation. 

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 VAC2000001805.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 12 March 2026

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