Engineering Design and Draughtsperson Apprentice
Location: Devonport, Plymouth, England
Sector/Business unit: Nuclear
My apprenticeship, why I chose it, and why I chose Babcock:
I am currently a Level 3 Engineering Design and Draughtsperson Apprentice, working as part of the Design Team within Engineering Services. Our role is to deliver timely and effective design support to Royal Navy platforms, ranging from submarines to the Carrier Strike Group. This includes providing detailed design solutions, supporting new-build projects, and offering waterfront support to help ensure operational readiness.
My inspiration for pursuing this career path comes from my mum, who is also a Designer. Growing up, hearing about and seeing the work she did sparked my interest in the field from an early age. Alongside this, I have always had a strong connection to the military, having been a member of the RAF Air Cadets when I was younger. Combined with my natural creativity and attention to detail, this made engineering design the perfect fit for me.
Working at Babcock allows me to bring all of these interests together. I can apply my creativity and technical skills to designing and modelling components while contributing to the very platforms that inspire and excite me.
My favourite part of the programme:
I feel incredibly fortunate to be in a role that I genuinely consider my dream job. The most rewarding part of the programme for me is simply being able to do something I’ve always aspired to. Every day, I have the opportunity to develop my skills, grow my career, and expand my professional network in a field that I am truly passionate about. That passion drives me to continuously learn, push myself further, and strive for improvement.
Because of this, I don’t see my work as just a job – I show up each day because I genuinely want to be here. For me, the best part of the apprenticeship is having a career that doesn’t just feel like a job, but something I genuinely enjoy and take pride in every day.
My most rewarding project/experience:
One of the most rewarding projects I have undertaken so far was modelling a component for a platform, which required me to interpret an engineering drawing. With my current level of skills and knowledge, I initially found this task very challenging. In fact, I felt quite defeated at the beginning, especially as the component itself was relatively simple within the wider scope of engineering.
To overcome this, I sought advice from several colleagues. I ended up restarting the model from scratch twice, which, although frustrating at the time, proved to be incredibly beneficial. This iterative process became a valuable trial-and-error learning experience, allowing me to develop modelling techniques and approaches that I had not previously been aware of. Even small pieces of advice had a significant impact on improving my overall modelling ability.
What made this experience particularly rewarding was the persistence it required. Over the course of two weeks, I worked through challenges, reconsidered my approach, sought constructive feedback, and continuously refined my work. By the time I reached the final result, I realised that the true value of the project was not just in completing the model, but in the skills and confidence I had gained throughout the process. Even if I had not achieved the final outcome, the knowledge and experience I developed would still have been highly beneficial for future projects.
My work-life balance:
The work-life balance promoted by Babcock is one of the key reasons that initially attracted me to apply for a role here. In my role at Devonport, being able to work 7:30–15:30 has had a hugely positive impact on my mental wellbeing, as it allows me to fulfil my responsibilities at work without compromising my personal life. It reinforces the idea that we work to live, rather than live to work. By supporting a healthy balance between professional and personal commitments, Babcock fosters a workforce that feels valued, listened to, and ultimately more fulfilled.
I also take advantage of the flexi-time system to avoid peak after-school traffic, enabling me to go to the gym before the usual evening rush. Additionally, the 12pm finish on Fridays has been a genuinely positive change. Although it only extends the weekend by half a day, it makes a noticeable difference and allows for a more relaxed start to the weekend.
Babcock is also very accommodating when it comes to managing other aspects of work-life balance. Whether it is attending medical appointments or needing to leave early for personal commitments, there is flexibility to make up the time later in the week. This level of understanding and support makes a significant difference and contributes to a more positive and sustainable working experience.
My development:
I have been consistently well supported, from the initial recruitment process through to the present day. During my previous role as a Project Administrator—also within Babcock—the Emerging Talent Team played a key role in helping me identify and pursue my chosen career path, ensuring I felt confident and supported when transitioning into my current apprenticeship.
Each apprentice is assigned an Apprentice Development Advisor, who provides ongoing guidance and support. This includes being readily available to answer questions, as well as conducting structured three-monthly reviews to discuss progress, identify areas for improvement, and help map out future career development.
In addition to this, I benefit from regular one-to-one support from a dedicated mentor. My mentor is an experienced and highly skilled Designer who has taken me under their wing, providing hands-on guidance, sharing valuable knowledge, and helping to develop me into a well-rounded professional. They continuously challenge and encourage me, exposing me to new experiences and ensuring I develop the skills and resilience needed to succeed.
Through their support, I am building the confidence and capability to approach every opportunity with determination and a commitment to excellence.
