Project Management Graduate Programme
Programme title: Project Management Graduate Programme
Salary: Minimum £35,000. Salary is dependent on location, role and qualifications. Location: We offer placements in a variety of locations, including Plymouth, Bristol, Warrington and Staverton (Gloucestershire) in England, and HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland.
Application closing date: 20 October 2026
Programme start date: September 2027
Role ID: 74514
What will you do on the programme?
Project Management at Babcock is all about making things happen. Whether you're supporting the design and manufacture of cutting-edge technology, coordinating large-scale infrastructure upgrades or helping teams meet critical deadlines, you'll be right at the heart of it.
You’ll get to work on a wide variety of projects across different parts of the business. One month you could be helping to shape the delivery plan for a major defence programme, the next, you might be managing risks, supporting a bid, or gathering updates from colleagues in engineering, finance or procurement. All of which will help you build the confidence, awareness and practical skills needed to grow into a successful project manager.
Whatever the challenge, you’ll be learning how to keep complex work on track. You’ll also start building strong relationships with people across the business, developing the kind of network that will support you for years to come.
How is the programme structured?
This is a two-year programme built around four six-month placements across the UK. You’ll move between different sectors and locations, discover how each part of the business operates and see how it all connects. Over the course of your placements, you could find yourself working supporting teams in our Marine, Nuclear or Land sectors.
It’s a chance to see the bigger picture, build a broad skillset and find out where your strengths lie, giving you a great launchpad for your future career.
As you progress, you’ll take on more responsibility and work towards formal qualifications through the Association for Project Management. You’ll be supported to complete both your PFQ (Project Fundamentals Qualification) and your PMQ (Project Management Qualification) and apply what you learn directly to live projects.
How do we develop and support you?
From day one, you’ll receive structured support and dedicated mentorship to help you excel throughout your programme and beyond. You’ll join our Graduate Development Programme, featuring expert-led masterclasses on communication, personal branding, resilience, and wellbeing.
To help you progress toward Chartered status with the Association for Project Management, we offer full guidance and cover all associated fees.
What’s waiting for you after the programme?
Once you’ve completed the programme, you’ll move into a substantive role within our Project Management discipline, as an Assistant Project Manager – ready to take on new challenges and build on everything you’ve learned.
From there, your development doesn’t stop. We’ll support you as you grow into more senior roles and take on greater responsibility. Through the Babcock Role Framework, you’ll have a clear view of how your career can progress, with mapped-out pathways, development opportunities and the tools you need to get wherever you want to go.
What rewards and benefits will you get?
We want you to feel supported, valued and excited about what’s ahead. That’s why we offer a comprehensive package designed to support your development, your wellbeing and your life outside of work too.
In addition to a minimum starting salary of £35,000, you’ll benefit from:
- A minimum of 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays
- Generous pension and employee share schemes
- Flexible benefits, including cycle to work scheme, discounts
- Wellbeing support, covering mental, physical, financial, and social wellbeing, with services like our Employee Assistance Programme, digital GP service, and health checks.
You’ll also have the chance to get involved in our STEM outreach activities and volunteering opportunities.
What do you need to apply?
- You’ll need to have achieved, or be on track to achieve, a 2:2 or above in any degree. We’re particularly looking for graduates in project management, but we also welcome applicants with a strong interest in the field and transferable skills such as problem solving, leadership and teamwork.
- Many of our programmes are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold or have held may impact which programmes you are eligible for. For this programme, you must be able to achieve and maintain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), Security Check (SC) and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information clearance. For further details, visit GOV.UK and search ‘United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels’.
- Under applicable national security legislation, this post may only be occupied by a sole UK national. This legal requirement is independent of our recruitment policies, and all eligible applicants will be assessed fairly and without discrimination.
Where will you be based?
Our Project Management programme for September 2027 is part of our Group Graduate Programme. Over the course of the programme, you’ll complete four six-month placements across our business. Current placement locations include Plymouth, Bristol, Warrington and Staverton (Gloucestershire) in England, as well as HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland.
We’ll ask for your location preferences during the application process and we will do our best to balance your choices with the needs of the business.
Please note: the majority of Project Management placements and post-scheme roles are based in the South West. Due to the breadth of sectors at our Plymouth site, a small number of graduates may be based there for the full duration of the programme.
To help you understand where long-term opportunities are expected to be located, the anticipated distribution of substantive Project Management roles on successful completion of the programme is:
- Plymouth: 24 roles
- Bristol: 9 roles
- Warrington: 4 roles
- HM Naval Base Clyde: 2 roles
- Staverton, Gloucestershire: 1 role
We typically align our placement opportunities to the locations of our substantive roles to ensure you have the right experience to prepare for your future role
Application process and important information
Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, and if there’s a high level of interest in this programme, we may close applications earlier than advertised. To give yourself the best chance of being considered, we recommend submitting your application and completing any required online assessments as soon as possible.
Please apply to one programme only. If we receive more than one application from you, we’ll assess the first one submitted. If your chosen programme becomes oversubscribed, we may contact you to discuss other programmes you could be eligible for.
We're a Disability Confident Employer. If you require additional support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply. Our team will contact you after receiving your application to discuss your requirements and the support available.
We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.
