I chose the Supportability Engineering Graduate Programme because it offered a broad and varied introduction to engineering. Supportability Engineering focuses on ensuring that complex assets remain reliable, maintainable and available throughout their service life, helping to keep critical capabilities safe, effective and ready for use. The opportunity to gain exposure to different engineering disciplines while contributing to this work was something that particularly appealed to me.
As for why I chose Babcock in particular, it felt like a company where graduates are genuinely supported and encouraged to develop. The opportunities for training, mentoring and trying different placements stood out to me, and the flexible approach to hybrid working and work-life balance made it an even more appealing choice.
Since joining, I’ve also gained a greater appreciation for the importance of the work we support. The UK’s nuclear submarine fleet plays a vital role in national security, and it’s rewarding to contribute to helping ensure those submarines are ready and available to perform their missions safely.
The freedom to choose our rotational placements during the first two years is probably my favourite aspect of the programme.
I enjoy the fact that we’re encouraged to take ownership of our own development by speaking with managers across the business, seeking recommendations from colleagues, and identifying placements that align with our interests and career goals.
One thing that particularly appeals to me is the flexibility to explore opportunities outside of my own discipline. I’ve found that the programme encourages us to be curious and open-minded, whether that’s considering placements in other areas of the business or opportunities at sites beyond our home office.
Finding placements and managing transitions requires some forward planning and initiative, but I’ve found mentors, line managers and the Emerging Talent team to be very supportive throughout the process. They’re always willing to offer guidance, share advice, and help make transitions between placements as smooth as possible.
One of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had so far was attending a Maritime Maintenance Fundamentals training course, which covered Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM), its history, and its application within the maritime industry.
I found the course particularly rewarding because it gave me a much deeper understanding of RCM. Although I was already familiar with the basics, learning about the process in detail and understanding the reasoning behind its development helped put it into context and brought the subject to life.
Perhaps most importantly, the course highlighted the collaborative nature of the maritime sector. Alongside Babcock employees, there were attendees from both the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Royal Navy. It was interesting to see how people from different organisations, all contributing to the same programmes, shared similar experiences and challenges. Seeing these interactions first-hand highlighted the scale of the programmes we support, and the level of collaboration required to deliver them successfully.
The course also gave me a deeper appreciation of the complexity involved in supporting the submarine fleet. Seeing how different organisations collaborate to manage such large and technically demanding programmes highlighted the importance of effective communication, shared expertise and long-term planning.
While it varies between placements, the placements I’ve been on so far have allowed for two or three days of home working each week. I’ve found this really useful for balancing work with day-to-day responsibilities, whether that’s being at home to receive a delivery or to provide access to contractors doing work on your flat. It also makes it easier to coordinate office days with colleagues so we can spend time working together in person when it makes the most sense.
Alongside hybrid working, there’s also a lot of flexibility in how I structure my working day. We’re expected to be available during core hours, but outside of that I have plenty of freedom to choose when I start and finish work. As long as I complete my contracted hours, I can generally organise my week in a way that suits me.
Personally, I enjoy starting early when I’m going into the office, as it allows me to head home at around 3:30pm or 4pm and make the most of the rest of the evening. For me, that flexibility has made it much easier to maintain a healthy balance between work and life outside of it.
Curiosity and continuous learning are strongly encouraged at Babcock. Throughout my time here, I’ve found colleagues to be approachable and willing to help me develop my skills and understanding by answering questions and sharing their experience.
When moving between placements, I’ve been encouraged to engage with the wider team to learn about different roles, projects and functions across the business. This has helped me build a broader understanding of the organisation and the wide range of opportunities available within it.
I’ve also appreciated the support available for professional accreditation. As an engineer, I’m currently working towards Chartered Engineer status through the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). Babcock supports this journey by reimbursing professional registration costs and providing opportunities to develop the competencies required under the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).
Upon joining the graduate scheme, I was assigned a mentor who is a Chartered Engineer and can provide guidance throughout the process. Placement managers have also been very supportive and willing to align objectives and development opportunities with the competencies needed for professional registration.
