Building Services Engineer Degree Apprenticeship
DEVONPORT ROYAL DOCKYARD LIMITED
Plymouth (PL1 4SG)
Closes on Monday 7 December 2026
Posted on 15 October 2026
Contents
Summary
Join Babcock as a Building Services Engineer Degree Apprentice and, over the course of our five-year programme, work towards a BEng (Hons) in Building Services Engineering while contributing to projects supporting national security. You'll learn from professionals, gain practical experience and help deliver work that creates a safer world.
- Wage
-
£27,381 a year
- Training course
- Building services engineer (level 6)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
35 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 1 September 2027
- Duration
-
5 years
- Positions available
-
2
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
- Based at Devonport, the largest naval base in Western Europe, you'll develop the skills and experience needed for a successful career in building services engineering
- As part of the Mechanical Building Services Group, you'll contribute to the design, maintenance and improvement of building services systems, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), cooling, plumbing, compressed air, fire protection and low-carbon energy systems
- Throughout the programme, you'll gain experience across a range of engineering activities, from design and technical analysis through to maintenance and operational support. As your skills develop, you'll contribute to engineering calculations, technical documentation and project delivery
- You'll also build an understanding of engineering standards, legislation and compliance requirements, helping to ensure systems are safe, reliable and fit for purpose in a highly regulated environment
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
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND, BRISTOL
Training course
Building services engineer (level 6)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Apply engineering principles to solve broadly defined engineering problems and contribute to continuous improvement: scientific, theoretical, and technical principles.
- Apply building services engineering techniques, procedures and methods, review and evaluate the results, including when measuring and testing, designing, installing, commissioning, maintaining or operating building services engineering systems or improving the performance of building services engineering components and systems.
- Employ mathematical, statistical and data interpretation tools, using analytical and computational methods, and apply an integrated or systems-based approach.
- Identify, interpret, and compare information in relation to materials, components or parts used in building services engineering.
- Research, collect, select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of data and information to address, analyse and evaluate building services engineering problems.
- Produce building services engineering technical solutions in accordance with relevant industry standards, policies, codes of practice, regulations, and legislation.
- Select and apply computational and analytical techniques to model building services engineering problems, recognising the limitations of the techniques employed.
- Contribute to the design, development and implementation of building services engineering solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness in the context of the whole project life cycle.
- Manage and comply with statutory health, safety and welfare policies, procedures and regulation, and contribute to improvements in health, safety and welfare, within their own area of responsibility.
- Complete risk assessments to identify, evaluate, manage and mitigate risks.
- Apply principles of sustainable development and evaluate their effectiveness on the whole project lifecycle of building services engineering solutions.
- Manage engineering activities that contribute to sustainable development and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
- Apply project management techniques, identifying, measuring, recording and reporting progress against building services engineering project performance criteria.
- Manage quality processes and contribute to quality improvements.
- Plans and manages resources, equipment and technology, to meet project requirements, specifications, costs and budgets and timescales, with an appreciation of statutory and commercial arrangements.
- Monitor and manage individual performance, and the input of others, recognising the need to adapt to, and communicate, changing demands.
- Comply with appropriate codes of practice and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) requirements.
- Communicate in verbal and written contexts using appropriate methods for the audience. Use appropriate engineering terminology and conventions.
- Apply teamwork and collaboration principles.
- Apply ethical principles, Identifying and analysing ethical concerns and making reasoned ethical choices.
- Plan, undertake and review their own professional competence, regularly updating, recording and reviewing their continuing professional development (CPD).
- Apply engineering principles to solve broadly defined engineering problems and contribute to continuous improvement: scientific, theoretical, and technical principles.
- Apply building services engineering techniques, procedures and methods, review and evaluate the results, including when measuring and testing, designing, installing, commissioning, maintaining or operating building services engineering systems or improving the performance of building services engineering components and systems.
- Employ mathematical, statistical and data interpretation tools, using analytical and computational methods, and apply an integrated or systems-based approach.
- Identify, interpret, and compare information in relation to materials, components or parts used in building services engineering.
- Research, collect, select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of data and information to address, analyse and evaluate building services engineering problems.
- Produce building services engineering technical solutions in accordance with relevant industry standards, policies, codes of practice, regulations, and legislation.
- Select and apply computational and analytical techniques to model building services engineering problems, recognising the limitations of the techniques employed.
- Contribute to the design, development and implementation of building services engineering solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness in the context of the whole project life cycle.
- Manage and comply with statutory health, safety and welfare policies, procedures and regulation, and contribute to improvements in health, safety and welfare, within their own area of responsibility.
- Complete risk assessments to identify, evaluate, manage and mitigate risks.
- Apply principles of sustainable development and evaluate their effectiveness on the whole project lifecycle of building services engineering solutions.
- Manage engineering activities that contribute to sustainable development and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
- Apply project management techniques, identifying, measuring, recording and reporting progress against building services engineering project performance criteria.
- Manage quality processes and contribute to quality improvements.
- Plans and manages resources, equipment and technology, to meet project requirements, specifications, costs and budgets and timescales, with an appreciation of statutory and commercial arrangements.
- Monitor and manage individual performance, and the input of others, recognising the need to adapt to, and communicate, changing demands.
- Comply with appropriate codes of practice and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) requirements.
- Communicate in verbal and written contexts using appropriate methods for the audience. Use appropriate engineering terminology and conventions.
- Apply teamwork and collaboration principles.
- Apply ethical principles, Identifying and analysing ethical concerns and making reasoned ethical choices.
- Plan, undertake and review their own professional competence, regularly updating, recording and reviewing their continuing professional development (CPD).
Training schedule
As part of your apprenticeship, you'll study for a BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering degree through the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).
Delivered through day-release study at UWE Bristol, the degree covers topics including construction technology, environmental physics, building services design, sustainability, energy management, procurement and contract practice, mechanical services, and building performance evaluation.
Alongside your studies, you'll complete placements across engineering teams at Devonport, applying your learning to real projects while benefiting from dedicated technical training, mentoring and support from experienced engineers.
You'll need to be able to work on site at Devonport for a minimum of three days per week and live within a reasonable commuting distance. As part of the programme, you'll attend UWE Bristol for one day each week on a day-release basis during term time.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
A Level in:
- Any Subject (grade C)
- Maths (grade C)
- STEM (science, technology, engineering or maths) (grade C)
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
- Problem solving skills
Other requirements
Many of our 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 and maintain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), Security Check (SC) and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme Information (NNPPI) clearance. For further details, visit GOV.UK and search ‘United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels’.
Under applicable national security legislation, this post may only be occupied by a sole UK national. This legal requirement is independent of our recruitment policies, and all eligible applicants will be assessed fairly and without discrimination.
About this employer
Babcock is an international defence, aerospace and security company operating in our focus countries of the UK, Australasia, Canada, France and South Africa, with exports to additional markets with potential to become focus countries. We meet our customers’ key requirements of affordability, availability, and capability by delivering engineering, support and critical systems to defence and civil markets.
Company benefits
Fully funded qualification
Personal development training and opportunities
28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays
Competitive pension scheme
Employee share scheme
Flexible benefits
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
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
By the end of your apprenticeship, you'll be equipped with the skills, knowledge and experience needed to progress into a Mechanical Building Services Engineer role within the Mechanical Building Services Group at Devonport.
You’ll also have the opportunity to build on your progress toward professional registration as an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer, a recognised benchmark of engineering competence, which can support your journey into more advanced roles, such as Senior Engineer.
As a global organisation, Babcock provides countless opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career. To support your growth, we’ve introduced the Babcock Role Framework, which outlines roles, career pathways, and development opportunities. With every job mapped to these frameworks, you’ll have a transparent view of the steps needed to reach Senior Engineer and beyond.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND, BRISTOL
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000058715.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 7 December 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.