Frequently Asked Questions

Graduate Programme

Who is eligible?
You must be a UK national and have resided in the UK for the previous five years. If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, you may be required to relinquish your non-British nationality if your application is successful. Some posts are not open to dual nationals. This is because of the sensitive nature of our work, and the need to deploy apprentices flexibly across a range of MBDA work and projects. If your application to MBDA is successful, we'll need to check your eligibility, which means seeing your birth certificate and/or passport and educational certificates. Security vetting will also be undertaken.

What vacancies are available at which location?
Both our Bristol and Stevenage sites hire graduates. Please choose your preferred location when asked to do so on the job selector, and remember to select 'either' if you don't have a preference. The more flexible you are in location, the easier it will be to find you a suitable role.

Where will I be working? Will I be required to move?
All of our Graduate trainees are based in either Bristol or Stevenage. As part of the Graduate programme you may be required to move to the other site for a placement, but you would receive help to do so.

How is the training scheme structured?
As a graduate within MBDA you will follow a two-year formal development programme, which will provide you with a series of challenging placement opportunities to develop your key technical skills. A placement will typically last between 3 and 9 months.

Will I be doing 'real work'?
Unlike some graduate schemes in other businesses where you would only be 'shadowing' a worker, you will be given real work. This will enable you to gain experience, but it also means that the company will gain some valid work from you in return.

What company benefits will be available?
Benefits include:

(Please see the Benefits section of the website for further details)

Will I receive any training?
Training and development of our graduates is very important to us at MBDA. Everyone who joins us as a graduate will follow our accredited professional development scheme with the aim of becoming accredited with the most appropriate professional body.
(Please see the Learning and Development section for more details)

Will I have the opportunity to work overseas?
We are a European company with customers all over the world and so some of our graduates do have the opportunity to spend a short time abroad, although this doesn't happen for everyone.

Can I make more than one application?
Yes. All applicants who use our online job selector tool will be informed of the business areas that are suitable for their degree subject. Applicants may then choose up to three areas to apply to in order of preference.

If I am rejected from one business area, will this affect my application to another area of the company?
No - business areas can look for different skill sets, so where one business area may reject a candidate, another may consider their experience and qualifications as suitable.

Will you help me to relocate when I join?
We offer information and guidance on local accommodation at most of our main sites, but no financial recompense.

What hours will I work?
Your contract will require you to work for 37 hours a week. The company operates a flexi time system, which allows you to vary your start and finish times.

What is the dress code?
Depends on where you work. This varies from casual to more standard class.

Are there any opportunities to work a secondment?
As part of the Graduate programme some graduates have the opportunity to undertake one placement in an external company. Graduate trainees have experienced placements with BAE Systems, some of our suppliers, and even the Royal United Services Institute.

Will you pay my expenses if I come to an assessment centre?
Yes – we will reimburse any reasonable travelling expenses.

How much will I get paid?
'The starting salary for 2009 is £23,500. We also provide all new graduates with a £2000 joining bonus when you start work with us, and because we recognise that your value to our business increases as your learning progresses, we review your salary twice a year whilst you remain on the graduate programme.

How many holidays will I get?
Your annual entitlement is 25 days a year plus 8 statutory and public holidays.

Will I be allowed to take holidays in my first 6 months with the company?
Yes of course. Holiday entitlement runs from January to December, so the amount of holidays you get will depend on when during the year you join.

Will I get a company car?
If we were paid for the number of times we've heard this one- we'd be very well off indeed! No, you won't get a company car starting as a trainee.

Will MBDA support me if I want to pursue additional qualifications?
MBDA encourages professional development and some of our employees are supported through higher education. Any request for support for further qualifications will be reviewed in the light of the business need, individual requirements and career development.

What is the closing date for applications?
The closing date for applications is Friday 27th March 2009.

I applied last year, but was unsuccessful, can I apply again?
There is no reason why you can't apply again if you were unsuccessful one year, as long as you can demonstrate that something within your application has changed.

Can I visit the company before I apply?
At present, we have no plans to make this a standard part of our offering to candidates. We do, however, attend many university career events.

How many people are you recruiting this year?
MBDA has approximately 40 vacancies in 2009 for graduates to join us.

Will I be expected to work overtime?
As a trainee, you will generally not be required to work over time. There may be occasions however, when a specific task or project requires you to work overtime.

I have not yet obtained my degree; can I still apply to your graduate scheme?
Yes. If you are successful in the interview process, you will receive a conditional offer, which will outline the minimum degree result you will need to take up the position.

I am a mature graduate. Can I still apply through the graduate scheme?
There are no age limits on our graduate programme. The main requirements are that you have the necessary degree qualification and the personal qualities we seek to add value to our business.