Business Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship in Stevenage

Salary: £23,000 plus a £3000 joining bonus

Duration: 4 years

Work location: MBDA Stevenage

Learning Provider: University of Hertfordshire

Due to the need to attend your MBDA site and the training provider as required for your apprenticeship, applicants need to ensure their home or rental location is appropriate, travel arrangements are manageable and travel time is minimised as required for your role.

The qualification: You'll study for a BSc Honours degree in Project Management as part of your Degree Apprenticeship.

Security clearance: British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship. Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

This role is scheduled to close for applications at midnight on 20th November 2026 but may close earlier depending on application volumes.

What we can offer you:

• Fully funded qualification starting September 2027
• Paid travel expenses to and from your place of study
• Annual pay reviews
• Healthcare Cash Plan: provides support with everyday health related costs – including medical, dental, optical, physio and health & wellbeing
• 25 days annual leave (plus holiday purchase) and up to 15 days flexi leave
• Study leave during exam periods

Programme structure - your work at MBDA:

You will attend university for one day a week and when you are not at university, you'll work within our business on rotational placements. This way of studying allows you to earn an academic and nationally recognised qualification as well as gain hands-on learning experience within a professional and friendly workplace.

Our Business Degree Apprenticeship is a rotational programme designed to give you a unique insight into various functions within MBDA. By the end of the four-year programme, you'll begin the next stage of your career in a part of the business that you have already experienced, and are keen to continue working in.

There are two streams within the Business Degree Apprenticeship that you may join. We will consider you for both unless you specify an interest in only one within your application.

In our Business stream you will experience placements in:

• Project Management – Work on a variety of projects and platforms to manage planning, costs and risk mitigation
• Commercial – Support the bidding, negotiation and management of contracts and commercial agreements to support the winning and delivering against the overall business objectives. With guidance and mentoring, develop an understanding of commercial strategy, risk mitigation and stakeholder relationships.
• Procurement – Manage business relationships with UK and/or overseas suppliers and gain experience of subcontract management ensuring on time, on cost, on quality supplier performance. Develop your negotiating and influencing skills and build your internal and external network as part of your placement.
• Supply Chain – Gain experience in managing and improving supplier performance through risk assessments, ensuring that risks are identified, collected and effectively mitigated.

Strategy and Sales & Business Development stream:

The Strategy and Sales & Business Development (SBD) stream offers apprentices the opportunity to support multi-national campaigns and support the development of MBDA’s strategies, whilst also engaging with the UK Ministry of Defence and International customers. Strategy and SBD Degree apprentices will experience placements in the following areas:

• Commercial Operations – Support Export Campaigns and provide bid and commercial management support that includes developing competitive propositions, proposal writing and negotiating.
• Cooperative Programmes – Develop product and international strategies for programmes with high levels of cooperation.
• Export Sales – Reinforce MBDA’s global presence by liaising with MBDA’s current and prospective Export customers and remain open to responding to the requests and requirements issued by our Export customers.
• UK Domestic/National Sales – Working with UK Government and Front Line Commands (Armed Forces) to deliver compelling offerings to enhance the existing capabilities of the UK Armed Forces.
• Technical Military Operations – Develop a technical understanding of MBDA products and their application within their relevant battlespace. Provide assistance to marketing opportunities such as trade shows and exhibitions that promote MBDA’s commitment to international Armed Forces.
• International Industrial Cooperation – Gain experience in international offset and industrial participation policies, and contribute to the competitiveness of sales offerings to our Export customers.
• Market Development – Work with UK Ministry of Defence to support UK Export opportunities and national prosperity.
• Strategy and Future Growth – Support in defining MBDA’s target positioning within global and innovative markets. Support to Future Business efforts in order to generate new, profitable and sustainable business through evolutions of existing products and the development of new products and capabilities.

In addition, you will spend each summer in one of MBDA’s international offices, subject to any restrictions. Previous SBD Degree Apprentices have spent their summers working in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Australia, gaining exposure into cross-national sales campaigns, different international cultures, and enhancing their linguistic skills.

What we’re looking for from you:

This role has specific qualification and subject criteria so please make sure you carefully check your eligibility against this criteria before applying otherwise your application will not be considered. If you are currently studying and predicted to meet these requirements by the start date you are welcome to apply.

GCSEs:

• A minimum of 5 GCSEs at minimum grade 4. This must include: English Language, Mathematics, Any Science or Technology subject.

After GCSEs:

Following your GCSEs you must have completed one of the following qualification routes, equivalent to a minimum of 120 UCAS Tariff points:

• A levels: Three A levels totalling 120 UCAS Tariff points, including at least one of the following; Business, Government and Politics, Economics, Finance, Accounting or Law subject, with no individual grade below C.
• BTECs: A single Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business at a minimum grade of DDM.
• T levels: T-Level in Business with a minimum Merit grade.

Please note: We look at entry criteria based on your top three full A Levels or equivalent qualifications (BTEC/T Level). We do not include UCAS points gained from an Extended Project Qualification. Additionally, as an employer we set our own entry criteria based on the requirements of this role. This means that the criteria above may differ from the university.

Our company:

Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given. MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.

We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more… We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), X (@MBDA_UK), Instagram (MBDA_UK) and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.

Advert end date: 21 November 2026