BAE Systems expects to employ 100 graduates next year as its $35 billion frigates program ramps up

BAE Systems has recruited 80 graduates this year, with plans to increase the number to 100 next year as its $35 billion future frigates program ramps up.

BAE graduates Matthew Majewski, Aleisha Thomas and Kieran Carter at the Osborne shipyard. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

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BAE Systems is ramping up its graduate recruitment program as the company progresses the early phases of its $35 billion future frigates program.

Around 80 graduates joined the company earlier this year, with 50 of the most recent graduates taking a tour this week of the Osborne shipyard where the company will build nine Hunter-class frigates for the Australian Navy.

Around 400 BAE employees across Australia and the UK are currently working on the mobilisation and design phases of the future frigates program, including 14 graduates.

The company expects to employ an additional 100 graduates next year as the project ramps up.

BAE shipbuilding director Jim Cuthill expects many of the current graduates to remain with BAE for the duration of the 30-year program.

“It’s an exciting program and I think the numbers that we’re looking at, through our graduate and apprentice schemes, by the end of this program - which is three decades’ time - 75 per cent of our workforce will have come through those two pathways,” he said.

“We’ve obviously got an increased demand for graduates, and I think with a program the size of the Hunter-class program, it’s more attractive for graduates.

“Before, shipbuilding has been very cyclical in nature, and now with the continuous naval shipbuilding strategy, people see it as a potential career for life and you can actually develop your career within a program.”

A $535 million upgrade of the Osborne shipyard is well underway, with BAE expecting to take over control of the site in July next year, when the Hunter project team will relocate from Flinders St in the CBD and other sites to the new Osborne project hub.

Prototyping will commence at the upgraded facility in December next year, before first production starts in 2022.

“During prototyping we are looking to really establish and test facilities, systems, processes and also competencies right across the shipbuilding business,” Mr Cuthill said.

“We want to actually test them almost to the point of breaking, just to make sure that they’re mature and strong before we start cutting steel on the first ship two years later.”

Each year BAE recruits graduate engineers, project managers, HR, IT, finance, commercial and other specialists, offering a two-year rotation across a range of programs and business areas.

HR graduate Aleisha Thomas, 21, started in February and said it was an exciting time to join BAE during a time of international growth.

“I like the fact that I get to see a bit of everything and then decide my next move,” she said.

“The opportunity for growth, and the fact that it is a large business, and there's opportunities to go overseas on secondments and things like that.”

Second year graduate project manager Matthew Majewski, 23, said the future frigates program offered opportunities for graduates working across the business.

“It’s going to be quite exciting for the future - and the ability to deliver that continuous naval shipbuilding capability to the Commonwealth will be excellent,” he said.