Skilled trades
Skilled trades – the beating heart of Babcock
Our skilled trades teams keep the UK’s most critical assets moving – from submarines and warships to specialist vehicles and infrastructure.
Whether you’re fabricating steel for a frigate, maintaining Hawk jets, or fitting complex piping systems, you’ll be contributing to projects that matter. With opportunities across major sites like Clyde, Rosyth, Devonport, Hinkley Point C and beyond, you’ll find a career built on craftsmanship, collaboration and impact.
Search for skilled trades roles
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What we can offer you
We make sure your contribution is valued. You’ll enjoy competitive pay, overtime opportunities, and benefits designed to support your life inside and outside of work – from generous leave and pension schemes to wellbeing resources and agile working where possible. Add to that world-class training and clear pathways for progression, and you’ll have everything you need to build a career with purpose and pride.
4 or 4.5 working days a week
Buy and sell annual leave
Shift or enhanced overtime rates
PPE, tools and equipment provided
Long term job security
Competitive pay and rewards
Emerging talent
Ready to learn a skilled trade?
Our engineering trades apprenticeships offer the chance to develop specialist engineering trade skills while gaining hands-on experience working on the Royal Navy’s fleet. Whether you’re helping to build new vessels or maintaining those already in service, you’ll be part of a team that plays a vital role in supporting naval operations.
Find out more
Our roles
Maintain and repair the Army’s fleet of 30,000+ vehicles or help build specialist platforms like the Jackal and GLV. Your skills keep our forces moving.
Support military aviation through-life – from Hawk jets to airfield systems. Join a team that ensures aircraft are ready for every mission.
Typical sites include:
- RAF Cosford
- RAF Valley
- RAF Halton
- RAF High Wycombe
- RAF Northolt
- RAF Shawbury
Install and maintain electrical systems on submarines, frigates and major facilities. Your expertise powers projects of national importance.
Typical sites include:
Shape the steel behind our defence assets. Cut, bend, weld and assemble components for submarines, warships and critical infrastructure.
Typical sites include:
- HMNB Clyde
- Plymouth
- Warminster
- Rosyth
Repair and maintain mechanical systems – from pumps and motors to complex assemblies – on submarines, frigates and nuclear projects.
Typical sites include:
- HMNB Clyde
- Plymouth
- Rosyth
- Hinkley Point C
Install and maintain piping systems for fuel, steam, water and more. Work on submarines, warships and major nuclear facilities.
Typical sites include:
- HMNB Clyde
- Plymouth
- Rosyth
- Hinkley Point C
Turn engineering plans into reality. Cut, shape and assemble steel plates for structural components that meet exacting standards.
Typical sites include:
- Hinkley Point C
- Bristol
Plan and execute complex lifting operations, from overhead cranes to heavy-lift projects. Precision and safety are your craft.
Typical sites include:
- Hinkley Point C
- HMNB Clyde
Support lifting operations on submarines and warships. Prepare lift plans, establish safe zones and ensure equipment compliance.
Typical sites include:
Join the team that welds metals and alloys of all shapes and sizes using advanced techniques and equipment. From hand-welding to robotic systems, your work keeps critical defence assets mission-ready.
Typical sites include:
- HMNB Clyde
- Plymouth
- Rosyth
- Bristol
- Hinkley Point C
Keep operations moving by driving HGVs and specialist vehicles to support logistics across our sites. Your role ensures critical equipment and materials are where they need to be.
Typical sites include:
- Bovington
- Chatham
- RAF Cranwell
- Plymouth
- Ashchurch
- Minley
- RAF Cosford
- RAF Halton
- RAF High Wycombe
- RAF Northolt
- RAF Shawbury
- Rutherglen
Lead and support skilled teams on major projects. Oversee work quality, safety and schedules to keep complex operations running smoothly.
Typical sites include:
- Andover, Cadder Yard
- HMNB Clyde
- Ashchurch
- Bovington
- Warminster
- Hinkley
- Catterick
- RAF Northolt
- Rosyth
- RAF Valley
- Walsall
Assist qualified tradespeople with essential tasks, from preparing materials to maintaining safe work areas. Be part of the team that delivers projects of national importance.
Typical sites include:
Professional development
At Babcock, professional development and career opportunities are transparent.
Every job is mapped to one of 11 skilled trades disciplines, 100 role types, and nine levels of seniority – from apprentice all the way up to director. Within our role framework, you’ll know what the next steps on the pathway are, what those roles involve, and what experience you need to attain it. Thanks to the overlapping and interconnected nature of our work, you will have opportunities to move between disciplines and connect with a larger network to round out your experience.
Once you know where you want to go, we’ll help you get there. Within our business we have Capability Managers who develop, maintain, and enhance the technical capabilities of our teams. As well as the support of your manager and colleagues, there are a range of resources and programmes in place to fuel your development.
We have the scale to realise your ambitions.
