BAE Systems, the UK’s largest defense company, has announced plans to recruit a record 2,400 apprentices, undergraduates, and graduates next year, marking a major step in its commitment to workforce development. This new intake will bring the total number of trainees across the FTSE 100 company to 6,500, making up around 15% of its UK workforce.

Known for building the UK’s nuclear submarines and fighter jets, BAE Systems currently employs 100,000 people worldwide. The company has increased its investment in skills development each year since the Covid-19 pandemic, with next year’s £230 million spend on education initiatives pushing its total investment in training to over £1 billion since 2020.

The funding will support a range of programs, including apprenticeships, graduate schemes, and upskilling opportunities for current staff. Additionally, BAE will continue backing outreach efforts, such as its third skills academy, which recently opened in Glasgow.

Charles Woodburn, CEO of BAE Systems, emphasized the importance of investing in talent to maintain the company’s competitive edge. “With thousands of roles open across the country and our exciting high-technology programs, there has never been a better time to embark on a career with us,” he said.

The company’s recruitment drive has garnered praise from government officials, with Defense Secretary John Healey calling BAE’s early careers initiatives crucial for strengthening national security and nurturing future industrial leaders. “This investment is a vote of confidence in the UK as a hub for highly skilled jobs and cutting-edge employment,” Healey remarked.

Diversity continues to be a priority for BAE Systems. Nearly a third of this year’s new apprentices are women, and one in three new graduates comes from an ethnic minority background. Francesca Di Mascio, 27, an electrical engineering apprentice at BAE, shared her experience: “This apprenticeship is a great opportunity to earn while you learn. For the first time, I feel truly valued in a business.”

BAE’s recruitment plans reflect a strong commitment to building a skilled and diverse workforce capable of meeting the evolving demands of the UK’s defense sector and beyond. The company’s investment in training aims to ensure that the next generation of workers is ready to tackle the challenges posed by high-tech defense and engineering fields.

A construction industry awards ceremony has sparked controversy and widespread criticism following the appearance of female performers dressed in skin-tight, builder-themed outfits, leading to calls for change within the sector.

The event, organized by On The Tools, a prominent online community for builders, came under fire after photos circulated showing women dressed in tight-fitting costumes inspired by personal protective equipment (PPE) and performing on stilts. The display, intended to entertain the audience, quickly became the subject of heated debate.

Faye Allen, a diversity campaigner and former director at construction company Arcadis, expressed her frustration with the event. She was contacted by “horrified” attendees, including one woman who felt uncomfortable when she “literally walked into a crotch.” Allen, who has worked in the industry for 30 years, voiced her concerns about the ongoing struggles women face in construction, particularly regarding proper-fitting PPE. “To have people put on hi-vis colours and dress like that is frustrating,” she said. “We’ve been fighting really hard for PPE that fits women and other diverse groups. It has to change.”

Harriet Waley-Cohen, another advocate for diversity, took to LinkedIn to condemn the event, calling it a “regressive, sexist” display. She argued that those involved in organizing the event “decided that it’s OK to sexualise and devalue women in the industry.” Waley-Cohen pointed out that women in construction already face significant challenges, including shorter careers than their male counterparts. “What happened at the awards absolutely reinforces all of this,” she said, noting that incidents like this contribute to the unsafe and sexualized environment many women face in the field.

The controversy deepened after a photo from the event circulated on social media, showing a sign featuring a loading bar at 69% progress, with the caption “Getting drunk, please wait…” This further fueled outrage, with many critics arguing that it perpetuated toxic behavior within the industry. Allen remarked, “The industry will never be inclusive if this messaging carries on. Women don’t want tacky events or people getting drunk for the sake of it; we just want respect and to be able to do our jobs.”

In response to the backlash, Lee Wilcox, the chief executive of On The Tools, issued a public apology on LinkedIn. He acknowledged that the company had used an external contractor to plan the event but had failed to review the performers’ outfits beforehand. “This was a mess-up, and we’re sorry,” Wilcox wrote, adding that the company’s goal was always to empower women. He personally reached out to both Allen and Waley-Cohen to apologize for the incident.

The fallout from the awards ceremony comes at a time when research reveals the ongoing struggles women face in construction. According to Allen’s forthcoming book, Building Women: How Everyone in Construction Can Win, one in four women in the industry were sexually assaulted at work in 2023, equating to around 74,000 women in British construction.

The incident has highlighted the need for further reform in the construction sector, with many calling for a more inclusive and respectful culture for women in the industry.