Early Careers: Find an apprenticeship at BAE Systems Portsmouth – deadline looming for applications
He’s one of many people who have discovered the advantages of an apprenticeship, an increasingly popular choice as people starting out on careers opt to learn while they earn.
Spanish-born Jak moved to Portsmouth when he was six. His role with BAE Systems Maritime Services sees him working as a ‘slinger’ enabling heavy loads to be craned safely on and off Royal Navy Ships.
"Without a slinger you can't get the equipment on board,” he says. “It's a cool job maintaining Royal Navy ships.”
Jak is in his third year of a four-year apprenticeship and has found he enjoys earning on the job and has been able to complete his Maths GCSE with company support.
He says his job is different every day.
Jak said: "It's a very enjoyable place to work. There is plenty of variety and I really do look forward to it. Most of my friends work in retail so what I do is quite different to that. It can take a bit of time to explain my job to them.
"Doing an apprenticeship makes you feel more independent and more grown up. It opens your eyes from being 16 at school to being in a work environment with more responsibilities."
He wants to finish his apprenticeship and stay on as a slinger, and he’s hoping to take on more responsibility and work towards becoming a team leader.
Another apprentice, 27-year-old Mohammed Rahman, was interested in IT, and he secured an apprenticeship in data analysis with the firm.
He’s working and studying for a degree in digital and technology solutions as part of his apprenticeship, which he started last September.
He does this through weekly online sessions and physical classes once a month. He says he enjoys the practical application of the theory he learns at university.
“This is the best way to learn for me,” said Mohammed, who came to Portsmouth from London to take up the role.
"People underestimate how valuable apprenticeships are – you are not making teas and coffees but doing meaningful work. A lot of the people I know who went to university are not using what they learned at university in their jobs, but with the apprenticeship, everything I learn at university is tailored to my role."
He described the job as “challenging but fun,” and continued, “I’m also getting a lot of support and guidance, while gaining a lot of practical skills and knowledge. It’s a perfect blend of theory and practical.
More roles on offer - apply by February 28
This year BAE Systems’ Maritime Services business, which is one of Portsmouth’s main employers, is looking for another 251 people to join its Early Careers programmes, and although 78 of them will be for graduates, the other 173 are split between those with GCSEs and A Levels. The deadline for applying for these roles is February 28.
The business supports the Royal Navy and other navies around the world, but its base is at Portsmouth Naval Base and Broad Oak in Hilsea.
Its people deliver end-to-end support to the Royal Navy’s Portsmouth based surface ships, including the two Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers, as well as product development and training.
For more information about the BAE Systems' Early Careers opportunities, visit baesystems.com/earlycareers
The Company is also recruiting for experienced hires across a range of trades and specialisms. See baesystems.com/experiencedprofessionals for more information.