Pipefitting Apprentice
Location: Rosyth, Scotland
Sector/Business unit: Marine
My apprenticeship, why I chose it, and why I chose Babcock:
I’m a Pipefitting Apprentice at Babcock. I chose this apprenticeship because engineering has always appealed to me, and I wanted a hands-on role that offered more than just the usual cycle of work, weekend, repeat. I knew Babcock was an international company with opportunities to travel, which has always been a dream of mine. I’m really interested in different countries and cultures, and working here has already given me the chance to meet people from a variety of backgrounds, which I’ve found really interesting.
I didn’t have any friends or family working at Babcock, but my dad suggested applying after hearing great things about the company from people he knew. My family had always encouraged me to get a trade because it’s a reliable and valuable skill to have. I also wanted the opportunity to continue my education, since I didn’t leave school with the qualifications I hoped for. Through my apprenticeship with Babcock, I’m now working towards a Level 6 qualification – the highest I’ll have achieved so far – and I’m really proud of that progress.
My journey so far has been amazing. Coming from school with few qualifications, I feel like I owe a lot to the company. They’ve given me the best year of my life so far, allowed me to meet a great group of people, and given me the chance to do something I genuinely enjoy.
My favourite part of the programme:
My favourite part has been learning such a wide range of skills – from four different welding processes to oxy-acetylene cutting and hand fitting. I’ve also had the chance to meet lots of new people, including my lecturer and college classmates.
There have been great opportunities outside of the workshop too, like taking part in photoshoots, visiting schools, and working on board different ships. Being able to explore the ships is really interesting – especially knowing that not everyone gets that opportunity.
I also really appreciate that everything I do ties into one trade. Everything I’m learning is helping me grow as a pipefitter and improve my skills for the future.
My most rewarding project/experience:
One of the most rewarding parts of my apprenticeship has been meeting my targets at college. Whether it’s completing a final weld or cut, or finishing a section of written work, each milestone gives me a real sense of achievement.
I’ve also had the opportunity to board ships and contribute to real projects – like carrying out pipework repairs and replacements. One highlight was working on the RRS Sir David Attenborough research vessel. These experiences were especially rewarding because I was genuinely interested in the ships and proud to be part of something so significant. Seeing the impact of my work up close made me realise just how exciting and meaningful this apprenticeship really is.
My development:
My development at Babcock has been really well supported. My manager is always enthusiastic and helpful, and the college lecturers on-site are supportive and willing to lend a hand whenever needed.
The tradespeople in the pipe shop are also great – they’re always happy to explain things and walk you through the steps of a job. We have regular review meetings to track our progress, which helps us stay on top of what we’ve completed and what still needs to be done.
Babcock and the college also make sure we have everything we need – from tools to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – which helps us get our work done efficiently and safely.
