A second year Babcock apprentice has received a special recognition award for her work supporting one of the UK’s biggest engineering projects at Babcock’s Rosyth site in Fife.
Callie Brown, 20, from Rosyth, scooped an apprentice award for her work on the Type 31 programme which will deliver five frigates for the Royal Navy currently being designed and built by Babcock. Callie was presented with her recognition award at the recent first cut of steel event for the third ship in the Inspiration Class, HMS Formidable, which marks the start of production of the ship.
More than 200 apprentices currently work at the Fife facility, with a record 110 new apprentices recruited for the site in 2024 as the international engineering company grows its workforce.
The Royal Navy’s Senior Responsible Owner for the Type 31 Programme, Commodore Stephen Roberts, presented Callie with her award, with Babcock’s Chief Executive of Marine, Sir Nick Hine, remarking that Callie had gone above and beyond to support the Type 31 programme and exemplified not only the drive to build an outstanding career at Babcock but is a fantastic team mate to all who work with her.
In March this year, Babcock announced that it was recruiting 1,000 new roles, including 400 apprenticeships, 350 production support operatives, skilled engineers, tradespeople and graduates at the Fife facility, which undertakes design, build, support and decommissioning activity across major UK and international projects.
Callie, a Mechanical Apprentice, said:
“It was a real honour to receive the award and to be part of the steel cut ceremony for the third ship in the series. As an apprentice, it is a fantastic place to learn my trade and to get to work on world-class projects alongside the great team we have supporting us.”
Sir Nick Hine, Chief Executive of Marine, Babcock, added:
“Our apprentices play an essential role supporting not just our own customer’s programmes, but they contribute to the future success and prosperity of the wider industry and beyond. Attracting and retaining talent is critical to our business. Growing our links with local schools is important to us, allowing us to encourage people to consider a career in engineering. “Callie epitomises the talent that we have on our doorstep and we are excited to offer a range of opportunities to work with us.”
Helga Kitney, Type 31 Team Leader, Defence Equipment & Support, said:
"A huge congratulations to Callie on this well-deserved recognition. A key part of the Project’s prosperity strategy is to create apprentice opportunities in the development of the new Type 31 class of frigates for the Royal Navy. Callie’s achievement is a great example of this strategy and a demonstration of the opportunities that exist in Scotland delivering this programme, contributing to the security and prosperity of our nation."
Babcock will open applications for its 2025 apprentice intake on 4 November, which can be accessed via Apprenticeships · Babcock Early Careers (babcockinternational.com)