Babcock marks 10 years of RAF Valley apprentices
A defence company operating in North Wales has marked ten years of its aerospace apprenticeship programme at RAF Valley as part of Apprenticeship Week Wales 2026.
Babcock International Group is celebrating a decade of investment in local talent through its Hawk Aerospace Apprenticeship Programme, delivered in partnership with the RAF, BAE Systems and the Regional Skills Partnership.
The programme supports full Hawk T2 airframe maintenance, along with forward and depth maintenance for the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows. It is based at RAF Valley.
Over two years, apprentices combine academic study with practical training.
The first year includes theoretical and workshop-based learning, followed by rotations across engineering departments at the Anglesey site.
The scheme leads to a nationally recognised qualification and is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Since launching in 2016, Babcock says it has welcomed nearly 80 apprentices and supported almost 200 apprenticeship and upskilling opportunities across RAF Valley.
The company has also worked with Grŵp Llandrillo Menai for more than a decade to co-develop a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering.
Welsh Government Minister for Skills Jack Sargeant said:
“Babcock’s decade-long commitment to apprenticeships at RAF Valley demonstrates exactly what we need to see across Wales.
“By investing in local talent and working closely with local colleges, they’re building a world-class workforce and strengthening communities in North Wales. This is apprenticeships at their best, creating opportunity, driving growth and securing our industrial future.”
David Lockwood, CEO of Babcock’s UK Aviation business, said:
“Apprenticeships bring fresh perspectives, ambition, and technical capability into a business. At Babcock, we truly value and nurture our apprentices so they can grow into the specialists we need to keep our industries moving forward.
“I am delighted that we are able to provide local career opportunities to those who are from this area and that we are also inspiring new generations to come and build their futures in North Wales too.”
Apprenticeship Week Wales runs from 9 to 15 February 2026 and aims to highlight the impact apprenticeship programmes have on learners, employers and the Welsh economy.
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