International defence, aerospace and security company, Babcock, needed new Production Service Operators (PSOs) at its advance manufacturing and shipbuilding facility in Rosyth. As part of a wider recruitment exercise, Fife Council and Kingdom Works - the Kingdom Group’s employability project – helped Babcock deliver a bespoke pre-employment training academy.

This two-week programme gave unemployed individuals the chance to progress directly to the second stage of the application process with participants guaranteed a place at the Babcock assessment centre. As well as help to build their employability and interview skills, participants received top-quality, industry-recognised health and safety training from Raeburn Training,

The intensive course concluded with candidates undertaking a three-day hands-on project where they designed, planned, constructed and tested a working ground source heat pump.

All 14 people attending the academy were offered a place at the Babcock assessment centre and 10 were offered a job.

The pre-employment academy is part of the wider Babcock PSO Training Programme developed and delivered by Babcock in partnership with Fife College, Fife Council, Kingdom Works and Trade Unions to address skills shortages in the shipbuilding industry. The first of its kind in the UK, the programme is focused on attracting people from a range of backgrounds and experiences, including those not currently in education, employment or training and living in areas of higher deprivation.

Fife College’s key role in Babcock's award-winning training programme honoured | Fife College; Babcock wins Social Value category at MOD Sanctuary Awards - Babcock International