Network Engineer Apprenticeship

Programme title: Network Engineer Apprenticeship
Level: 4
Salary: 
Year 1: £23,776
Year 2: £25,362
Year 3: £27,000
Location: Bordon, Hampshire 
Application closing date: March 2025
Programme start date: September 2025

If you’re passionate about technology and intrigued by how digital devices connect, our 3-year Network Engineer Apprenticeship offers the perfect foundation for your career. You’ll earn while you learn, with salary increases each year as you progress towards achieving the Level 4 Network Engineer Apprenticeship standard.

About the programme 

As an apprentice, you'll be part of Babcock's Skynet Service Delivery Wrap (SDW) program, which plays a crucial role in providing essential communication capabilities to the UK and NATO armed forces. The Skynet system ensures that service personnel can stay connected anytime, anywhere, in any environment on Earth. By joining this program, you won’t just acquire specialised network engineering skills - you’ll also contribute to projects that are critical to the security of the UK.

You will work four days a week at our Bordon location, where our teams help to maintain and modernise the UK’s sovereign space communications. One day each week will be spent training at Basingstoke ITEC. 

Throughout your apprenticeship, you will have the chance to rotate through different Skynet SDW Infrastructure teams, gaining valuable insights into their operations and taking on increasingly complex tasks as your experience and skills grow.

Typical tasks include:

• Troubleshooting and resolving network issues. 
• Providing technical support to customers and key stakeholders, addressing queries and delivering effective solutions.
• Interpreting technical information and aligning it with organisational requirements and expectations. 
• Learning and applying safe working practices in diverse environments, including working at height and in confined spaces.

Your education/training 

During your apprenticeship, you will study and learn in the role of a Network Engineer. 

The course includes a wide range of specialist modules designed to provide you with a strong theoretical foundation for your future career. 

You will also develop practical skills, including:

• Installing, configuring, and testing network components or devices (both physical and virtual).
• Collecting and analysing data to monitor network performance.
• Improving and maintaining network systems or services to meet set standards.
• Identifying and fixing network issues to restore operations, escalating issues if needed.
• Upgrading physical and virtual network systems.
• Interpreting written requirements and technical documents to deliver network systems and services effectively.
• Keeping accurate records in line with organisational policies.

Your apprenticeship will culminate in an End Point Assessment (EPA), where an independent assessor will evaluate your performance against the Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs) defined in the occupational standard. This final assessment allows you to demonstrate the expertise you have gained during the programme.

Future prospects  

The space industry is on a remarkable growth trajectory, with its global value projected to triple by 2035. As part of this booming sector, the skills and experience you’ll develop in network cabling will remain in high demand for years to come.

Completing the apprenticeship programme is just the start of an exciting career journey with us. We are dedicated to your continued professional growth, offering ongoing development opportunities at our Bordon site. After completing the programme, you can anticipate earning a competitive salary of over £30,000, depending on your role.

What you’ll need  

• GCSE Maths, English, and Science at grade C/4 or above. 
• If you are unsure if you have a suitable qualification, please get in touch with us at recruitment.earlycareers@babcockinternational.com. If you do not have an acceptable qualification, you will be required to take an additional assessment during the application process.
• Many of our early careers roles 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 roles you are eligible for. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). For our early careers roles, you must be able to achieve BPSS and be eligible for Security Clearance.

What you’ll get 

We’ll provide you with a supportive and engaging environment where you can grow your career. 

In addition, you’ll benefit from: 

• Fully funded qualification
• Personal development training and opportunities
• Minimum 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays
• Competitive pension scheme 
• Employee share scheme
• Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme and employee shopping savings portal

You’ll also have the chance to get involved in our STEM outreach activities and volunteering opportunities, which our apprentices find incredibly rewarding.

Your career development

It’s hard to beat the variety of fantastic opportunities and business experiences you’ll receive. You can expect real world encounters and exposure to exciting projects that will really help you navigate where you want to take your career.

Plus, when you join us, you’ll be automatically enrolled onto our Apprentice Development Programme. Through a series of digital and face to face sessions, presented by wellbeing and performance experts and our external partners, we will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to thrive and perform at your very best on your programme and beyond.
 

Closing dates   

Please be aware that if there is a high level of interest in this programme, applications may close earlier than advertised. To give yourself the best chance of being considered for a place on this programme, please submit your application as early as possible.