Commercial Graduate Programme

weServed; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Pension scheme

Cycle to work

Discounts

Wellbeing support

Employee assistance programme

Digital GP service

Health checks

Job summary

Babcock is offering a two-year Commercial Graduate Programme with four six-month placements across UK sites, including Plymouth, Bristol, Warrington, Walsall and Cheltenham, plus Scotland. You will join the Commercial team to learn contract management, bid support, and negotiations while gaining real-world experience.

Starting September 2027, with a minimum salary of £35,000 and a structured development path, including mentorship, professional membership, and opportunities to progress into

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in any subject.
• Ability to achieve BPSS and Security Check (SC) clearance.
• Willingness to relocate across the UK for placements.

Responsibilities

• Support commercial aspects of multi-million-pound bids and manage contracts.
• Analyse opportunities and shape proposals across UK and overseas.
• Negotiate terms and ensure compliance with legal teams.
• Contribute to bids in Civil Nuclear, aviation services, and Marine sectors.

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in any subject

Job description

Commercial Graduate Programme

Programme title: Commercial Graduate Programme

Salary: Minimum £35,000. Salary is dependent on location, role and qualifications.

Location: We offer placements in a variety of locations, including Plymouth, Bristol, Warrington, Walsall and Cheltenham in England, and HM Naval Base Clyde and Rosyth in Scotland.

Application closing date: 20 October 2026

Programme start date: September 2027

Role ID: 74516

What will you do on the programme?

Join our Commercial Graduate Programme and help shape the contracts and relationships that keep our business running - and growing. Whether its supporting the commercial aspects of multi-million-pound bids or managing ongoing contracts, you'll be at the heart of securing and delivering some of the most critical engineering projects in the UK and overseas.

You can expect real world encounters and exposure to exciting projects that will really help you navigate where you want to take your career.

Across your placements, you'll work through the full Babcock Lifecycle - from analysing opportunities and shaping proposals, through negotiating terms and managing contracts, to ensuring compliance and working closely with legal teams. Whether you're contributing to bids in Civil Nuclear, managing contracts for essential aviation services, or supporting long-term capability in our Marine sector, every project will offer fresh perspectives and valuable skills.

How is the programme structured?

This is a two-year programme made up of four placements, each lasting six months. You'll move between different areas of the business, exploring how our Commercial teams operate across various sectors and locations.

As a Group programme, you'll get the chance to see the bigger picture, experiencing the different ways we support customers and contracts across Babcock.

You'll need to be flexible about your location, as your placements could take you anywhere in the UK. But wherever you go, you'll find yourself supported by a close-knit team, gaining real-world experience and exposure that will fast-track your development.

By the end of the programme, you'll have a strong foundation for an exciting and accelerated career - and a clearer view of where you want to take it.

How do we develop and support you?

From day one, you'll receive structured support, training, and dedicated mentorship to help you be your best throughout your programme and beyond. You'll join our Graduate Development Programme, featuring expert-led masterclasses on communication, personal branding, resilience, and wellbeing.

We'll also support you in working towards professional membership and chartered status with the World Commerce and Contracting (WorldCC) Association - providing funding, guidance and mentoring throughout your career journey.

What’s waiting for you after the programme?

When you complete the programme, you'll move into a permanent role within our Commercial team. From there, your development doesn't stop. We'll support you as you grow into more senior roles and take on greater responsibility. Through the Babcock Role Framework, you'll have a clear view of how your career can progress, with mapped-out pathways, development opportunities and the tools you need to get wherever you want to go.

What rewards and benefits will you get?

We want you to feel supported, valued and excited about what's ahead. That's why we offer a comprehensive package designed to support your development, your wellbeing and your life outside of work too.

In addition to a minimum starting salary of £35,000, you'll benefit from:

• A minimum of 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays
• Generous pension and employee share schemes
• Flexible benefits, including cycle to work scheme, discounts
• Wellbeing support, covering mental, physical, financial, and social wellbeing, with services like our Employee Assistance Programme, digital GP service, and health checks.

You'll also have the chance to get involved in our STEM outreach activities and volunteering opportunities.

What do you need to apply?

You'll need to have achieved, or be on track to achieve, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in any subject and demonstrable interest in a career in Commercial.

Many of our programmes 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 programmes you are eligible for. For this programme, you must be able to achieve and maintain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) security clearance. For further details, visit GOV.UK and search 'United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels'.

Where will you be based?

Our Commercial programme for September 2027 is part of our Group Graduate Programme.

Your placements in Commercial could take you to a number of our sites across the UK, including Plymouth, Bristol, Warrington, Walsall and Cheltenham in England, as well as HM Naval Base Clyde and Rosyth in Scotland.

We ask all our graduates to be open to relocating during the programme. This flexibility helps you get the most out of your placements and allows us to match you with the right opportunities across the business. We'll always do our best to understand your preferences and balance them with business needs.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you require additional support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply. Our team will contact you after receiving your application to discuss your requirements and the support available.

We are committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone's free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working - please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.