Plymouth

HMNB Devonport in Plymouth, is the largest naval base in Western Europe. A cornerstone of the UK’s defence infrastructure, it features 14 dry docks, 25 tidal berths five basins, and is the only UK site licensed to carry out deep maintenance and the refuelling and defuelling of nuclear-powered submarines.

With a workforce of around 6,500, HMNB Devonport is not only the largest industrial and engineering employer in the region, but it’s also our largest site in the UK.


We’re also developing a new Capability Centre in the heart of Plymouth city centre, relocating over 2,000 of our colleagues to improve our operational delivery and to contribute to the long-term prosperity of the city.

Find out how Babcock is contributing to the growth of Plymouth and the wider region through the Team Plymouth initiative.

Address

HM Dockyard, Plymouth, PL1 4SG

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Emerging talent

Whether you’re into engineering, science, business, or project management, at Babcock you’ll be part of something bigger. Your work as a graduate, undergraduate or apprentice will see you support products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure.

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What you could be working on

Our Devonport facility has a long-standing heritage as a hub for maintenance and refitting work on both Royal Navy frigates and nuclear submarines. With the region chosen as a national defence growth area and the dockyard part of Plymouth and South Devon Freeport, the scope and variety of work on-site has increased to include manufacturing and production for the Armed Forces.

With so much important work taking place, you’ll have the stability, scale and opportunity to see your career thrive.

Our programmes sustaining the entirety of the UK’s submarine fleet have been supporting the Continuous At Sea Deterrent for over 50 years. Devonport is uniquely licensed to perform deep maintenance on Vanguard and Astute Class submarines, including refits and nuclear fuel handling.

Find out about our Submarine Commissioning work

Find out about Submarine Support Engineering

We’re delivering a £2 billion infrastructure investment at the site over the next decade, including modern berths and docks to support future Royal Navy capabilities. A key milestone in this programme includes the reopening of 9 Dock in 2024 after a £200 million refurbishment to accelerate submarine maintenance cycles.

We’re also upgrading 14 Dock to support the safe defuelling of 12 legacy Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class submarines, using modern low-level fuel handling systems.

We extend the operational life of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates, ensuring they remain mission-ready until their successors – the Type 31 and Type 26 – enter service.

Devonport hosts a new facility producing Jackal 3 High Mobility Transporters for the British Army in partnership with Supacat. This advanced production line delivers one vehicle per day and leverages data-driven innovation for continuous improvement.

Relocating to Plymouth

Relocating to Plymouth offers a unique blend of coastal beauty, rich history and modern amenities that make it an attractive destination for individuals and families. Known as Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth boasts stunning waterfront views, a vibrant cultural scene and a strong sense of community. With excellent transport links, affordable housing and proximity to natural attractions like Dartmoor National Park – Plymouth provides a high quality of life.

Whether you’re drawn to its maritime heritage, green spaces or educational opportunities, Plymouth has something to offer everyone. In fact, the city was recently ranked second in the TotalJobs ‘Quality of Life Index’.

Quality of life index: The best UK cities to live and work in 2023 | Totaljobs

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