Engineering Design and Manufacture Graduate Apprenticeship Engineering

Programme title:Engineering Design and Manufacture Graduate Apprenticeship – Fleet Engineering
Level: SCQF Level 10

Salary:

Year 1: £24,550

Year 2: £27,650

Year 3: £29,800

Year 4: £32,150

Location:HM Naval Base Clyde, Scotland

Final date to receive applications:8th December 2026

Programme start date: September 2027

Role

Our 4-year Engineering (Design and Manufacture) Graduate Apprenticeship is your opportunity to start an engineering career with purpose. You’ll contribute to some of the UK’s most important defence programmes while working towards a BEng (Hons) degree and building a rewarding career in Fleet Engineering.

This is an exciting opportunity to build a career at the heart of the UK's submarine enterprise. Based at HM Naval Base Clyde, you'll work within the Fleet Engineering team, supporting the maintenance, operation and continuous improvement of the Royal Navy's submarine fleet.

You'll gain practical experience across a range of engineering disciplines, contributing to activities that ensure submarines remain safe, reliable and ready to meet operational demands. Working alongside experienced engineers and technical specialists, you'll develop your understanding of complex engineering systems, asset management, defect resolution, maintenance planning and engineering assurance within a highly regulated defence environment.

By the end of the programme, you'll have developed a strong foundation in engineering principles and their application within the submarine enterprise, opening the door to a rewarding career supporting the operational effectiveness of the Royal Navy's fleet.

As a Graduate Apprentice, you will undertake a degree programme in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), combining degree-level learning with practical workplace experience.

The programme typically involves three days per week in the workplace and one day per week dedicated to university study, allowing you to apply academic learning directly to real engineering challenges.

Throughout the programme, you will develop knowledge and skills in engineering design, maintenance management, systems engineering, asset integrity, technical problem-solving, engineering assurance and continuous improvement.

As your studies progress, you'll take on increasing responsibility within live engineering activities and continuous improvement projects, developing the professional and technical expertise required to support the Royal Navy's submarine fleet.

On successful completion of the programme, you'll achieve a BEng (Hons) Graduate Apprenticeship in Engineering (Design and Manufacture), gaining a nationally recognised qualification alongside valuable industry experience.

Upon successful completion of the programme, you'll be ready to take the next step into a Fleet Engineering role, supporting the maintenance, operational availability and continuous improvement of some of the UK's most complex and critical defence assets.

As your career develops, the Babcock Role Framework will help you navigate a range of engineering career pathways, providing access to technical, leadership and professional development opportunities. You'll be supported to build your expertise, gain professional registration and progress towards senior engineering positions.

• Scottish Highers: BBCC or equivalent, including Maths and a science or technology subject.
• We also accept:

• Selected Engineering Foundation Apprenticeships (counting as one Higher at grade
  
  B), in combination with SQA Highers.
• Modern Apprenticeship at SCQF Level 6 in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (equivalent to two Highers at
  
  B), in combination with SQA Highers.

• You must be resident in Scotland, as Graduate…