Advanced Manufacturing Graduate Programme
Location: Rosyth, Scotland
Sector/Business unit: Marine
My graduate programme, why I chose it, and why I chose Babcock:
I’m currently in my second year of the Advanced Manufacturing Graduate Programme and on my fourth and final placement rotation as a Production Engineer. So far, I’ve gained experience working as a Production Engineer, Design Engineer, and Project Manager.
What attracted me most to the programme was the opportunity to rotate through different placements, allowing me to explore a variety of roles and projects across the company. This range of experiences has helped me build a broad skill set within Advanced Manufacturing and build strong working relationships with colleagues across multiple teams.
As I prepare to move into my permanent role, I’ll carry with me a deeper understanding of the wider business and how it operates – insights that will be invaluable as I take on future responsibilities.
Working across multiple disciplines has also given me a broader perspective and a deeper appreciation for the demands of each role, as well as the complexity involved in delivering successful, large-scale projects.
My favourite part of the programme:
I enjoy the balance between engineering design work and supporting production on the shop floor. The mix of early-phase manufacturing enablement and ongoing production support has helped me develop a wide range of practical and technical skills.
Rotating across placements has been the highlight for me. Working with different teams and gaining insight into a range of disciplines and projects across the business has been hugely beneficial and interesting.
My most rewarding project/experience:
The most rewarding project I’ve worked on was the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) project, where I took on the role of Project Manager during my third placement. It was a unique and exciting opportunity to lead and support a multidisciplinary team, including specialists in quality, manufacturing engineering, planning, and cost.
I was also responsible for client engagement, acting as a key point of contact to support my team’s technical queries and information requests. Over the course of the project, we built a great team spirit – we held a Christmas lunch, created an employee of the month scheme, took lunchtime walks, and introduced “Bab-cake Mondays”.
Our collective efforts paid off: the client praised our work, we submitted all deliverables on time, and our success helped strengthen the client relationship. Being able to lead, contribute, learn from, and rely on my team made the experience highly rewarding – and every effort, big and small, was truly valued.
My work-life balance:
Working at Babcock comes with several benefits that really support a healthy work-life balance. One of the biggest is the flexibility around working hours – as long as I work within core hours, I can start earlier or later and finish to suit. This kind of flexibility makes it easier to manage personal commitments and maintain work-life balance.
Occasional home working is also supported, which helps when plans change or when a bit of extra flexibility is needed during the week.
My development:
From day one, I’ve had a professional mentor at Babcock who has guided me through my journey toward professional registration and supported my goal of becoming a Chartered Engineer.
The variety of placements has allowed me to meet key competencies and tailor my experiences to align with my development needs. Babcock’s culture is very supportive – I’ve never had anyone turn me down when I’ve asked for help. If they’re unable to assist directly, they always point me in the right direction.
Since joining the programme, I’ve had the chance to take on leadership roles. I started as STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths) Lead for Rosyth, organising outreach sessions, mock interviews, and STEM activities in local schools. I also led the Activities Team for the Festival of Engineering – a two-day event for over 300 local primary school pupils. Over eight months, I managed a team of graduates, developed the festival schedule, and designed the core and side activities.
More recently, I became the Formula Student Programme Lead. I’ve supported Babcock’s sponsorship of Formula Student university teams and organised the company’s attendance at this year’s competition at Silverstone Circuit. Giving back to the Formula Student community I was part of at university has been incredibly fulfilling, and my role as Programme Lead has also given me the opportunity to learn more about what Babcock does and gain a greater appreciation for the company’s breadth of work.
