Hull Surveying Apprenticeship in Helensburgh

Programme title: Hull Surveying Apprenticeship

Level: SCQF Level 7

Salary: £16,000 rising annually to c.£38,461 post apprenticeship

Location: HM Naval Base Clyde, Scotland

Application closing date: 12th March 2026

Programme start date: August 2026

Kickstart your career as a Marine Surveyor with the 4‑year Hull Surveying Apprenticeship at Babcock. Gain hands‑on experience and professional qualifications while supporting the Royal Navy’s fleet.

About the programme

Our Marine Surveying team plays a vital role at HM Naval Base Clyde, conducting detailed structural surveys on submarines, surface ships, and visiting vessels, ensuring safety, quality, and compliance with industry standards and specifications. As an apprentice, you’ll gain a mix of office‑based and site‑based experience. In the early stages, you’ll shadow experienced surveyors to learn key responsibilities, such as:

• Conducting visual inspections of submarines and ships, including in tanks and confined spaces.
• Supporting divers during underwater surveys.
• Supervising contractors to ensure work complies with established standards.
• Preparing detailed reports and technical drawings for submission to the Design Authority.

As you progress, you’ll take on more responsibility, directly contributing to the team’s work and playing an increasingly important role in inspections and report preparation.

Your education / training

As part of your apprenticeship, you will receive training both on‑site and at West College Scotland. You will complete essential courses covering safety practices, submarine awareness, confined space protocols, radiological awareness, and more. Your formal qualifications will be achieved progressively over the course of the programme, as outlined below:

• Year 1: Full‑time at West College Scotland
  SVQ Level 2 (SCQF Level 5) Performing Engineering Operations NC Welding and Fabrication – Year 1
• Year 2: 3 days per week on site at HMNB Clyde and 1 day per week at West College Scotland
  SVQ Diploma Technical Services in Engineering (SCQF Level 7) NC Welding and Fabrication – Year 2
• Year 3‑4: 3 days per week on site at HMNB Clyde (if progressing to HNC) and 1 day per week at West College Scotland
  SVQ Diploma Technical Services in Engineering (SCQF Level 7) HNC Welding and Fabrication

Future prospects

Once fully qualified and experienced, you will be ready to step into a Marine Surveyor role at Babcock. In this position, you will conduct detailed structural surveys of submarines, surface ships, and visiting vessels at HMNB Clyde to meet the requirements of the design authorities. This role currently offers a competitive salary of £38,461 with a clear and structured career path leading to senior roles.

What you’ll need

National Level 5 qualifications (or equivalent) in Mathematics, English, and a Science or technical subject, with grades A–C. Two additional qualifications at National Level 4 or 5 (or above), with grades A–C. 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.

What you’ll get

We’ll provide you with a supportive and engaging environment where you can grow your career. In addition, you’ll benefit from:

• 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 and employee shopping savings portal

You’ll also have the chance to get involved in our STEM outreach activities and volunteering opportunities, which our apprentices find incredibly rewarding.

Your career development

It’s hard to beat the variety of fantastic opportunities and business experiences you’ll receive. You can expect real world encounters and exposure to exciting projects that will really help you navigate where you want to take your career. Plus, when you join us, you’ll be automatically enrolled onto our Apprentice Development Programme. Through a series of digital and face‑to‑face sessions, presented by wellbeing and performance experts and our external partners, we will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to thrive and perform at your very best on your programme and beyond.

Application process and closing dates

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the programme may close early if we receive a high volume of interest. To give yourself the best chance of being considered, we strongly recommend submitting your application and completing any required online assessments as soon as possible.