Engineering Design and Manufacture Graduate Apprenticeship - Welding Engineering in Limekilns

Programme title: Engineering Design and Manufacture Graduate Apprenticeship – Welding Engineering

Level: SCQF Level 10

Salary: Year 1: £18,819 Year 2: £22,857 Year 3: £26,884 Year 4: £32,261

Location: Rosyth, Scotland

Application closing date: 8th December 2026

Programme start date: September 2027

Our 4-year Engineering (Design and Manufacture) Graduate Apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to contribute to some of the UK’s most important defence programmes, all while working towards a BEng (Hons) degree and building a rewarding career in Welding Engineering.

About the programme

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a skilled team working on real-world projects, including the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates and the maintenance of Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. As a Graduate Apprentice, you'll specialise in Welding Engineering, developing your knowledge of welding processes, materials and metallurgy. You'll learn about the wider engineering context in which welding activities take place, including design constraints, material selection and quality requirements.

You'll work alongside experienced Welding Engineers, supporting a range of activities across the site. This will include assisting with the development and review of Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS), supporting welding coordination activities and contributing to inspection processes through visual inspections and exposure to Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques. You'll also support weld audits and compliance activities, helping to ensure work meets the required quality and regulatory standards.

Throughout the programme, you'll contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by supporting quality enhancements, identifying opportunities to reduce costs and assisting with the development of new procedures where required. You'll gain experience investigating weld issues, understanding root causes and helping implement solutions to prevent them from recurring. As your knowledge develops, you'll also be introduced to emerging technologies, including welding automation and robotics, gaining insight into the future of the profession.

Your education/training

As part of your apprenticeship, you’ll study for a BEng (Hons) in Engineering (Design and Manufacture) through Glasgow Caledonian University. Delivered through a blended learning model, the programme typically involves one to two days of study per week during term time. Co-designed with industry and accredited by the IET, IMechE, and InstMC, the degree provides a strong academic foundation and supports your journey toward professional recognition.

Alongside your degree studies, you'll benefit from structured workplace development through Babcock, allowing you to apply your academic learning to real engineering challenges while building your professional and technical capabilities. Throughout the programme, you'll develop and track your capability across key areas including welding processes (TIG, MIG, MMA, etc.), standards and compliance, materials and metallurgy, inspection and quality assurance, problem-solving and root cause analysis, and communication and stakeholder engagement.

By the end of your apprenticeship, you'll have developed the technical knowledge, practical experience and professional skills needed to begin a successful career in Welding Engineering.

Future prospects

Upon successful completion of the programme, you'll be ready to step into a Welding Engineering role with a competitive salary starting from £39,000. From there, your development doesn’t stop. 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.

What you’ll need

• UCAS Tariff: 96 points.
• Scottish Highers: BBCC or equivalent, including Maths and a science or technology subject.
• We also accept: Relevant Foundation Apprenticeships (counting as one Higher at grade B), in combination with SQA Highers.
• Modern Apprenticeship at SCQF Level 6 in a related subject (equivalent to two Highers at B), in combination with SQA Highers.
• HNC in Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing or Welding Engineering.

You must be resident in Scotland, as Graduate Apprenticeships are only available to individuals living and working in Scotland. This role requires on-site attendance. By your start date, you must be able to reliably commute to the site. This will normally require living within a reasonable commuting distance of Rosyth or relocating before you join us.

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) and Security Check (SC) security 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.

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 important information

Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, and if there’s a high level of interest in this programme, we may close applications earlier than advertised. To give yourself the best chance of being considered, we recommend submitting your application and completing any required online assessments as soon as possible. Please apply to one programme only. If we receive more than one application from you, we’ll assess the first one submitted. If your chosen programme becomes oversubscribed, we may contact you to discuss other programmes you could be eligible for.

We're a Disability Confident Employer. If you require additional support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply. Our team will contact you after receiving your application to discuss your requirements and the support available. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.