In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, we’re shining a spotlight on three talented colleagues from our General Dynamics Mission Systems team. Meet Jake, one of our current apprentices; Luca, who began his career with us as an apprentice and is now a qualified Systems Engineer; and Kirsten, who started as an Apprentice Production Planner and is now a Senior Project Manager.

Jake – apprentice engineer

Jake joined our Mission Systems team as a first-year apprentice in 2025 – and he didn’t come straight out of the classroom. At 24, Jake already brought several years of working experience from manufacturing and retail roles before deciding to return to college to retrain as an engineer.

“I wanted a route that balanced work and learning,” Jake says. “Full-time education is intense, and the apprenticeship felt like a better structure for me. You’re learning the fundamentals, but you’re also getting real experience – and getting paid to do it rather than paying to do it.”

Jake was introduced to the General Dynamics Mission Systems through his college and then applied for an apprenticeship. After speaking with our colleagues in HR, he was invited to interview for the Apprentice Engineer role. While he’d also applied for a few roles elsewhere, it was the electronic and software-based nature of the work here that stood out. “It just felt more like me,” he explains.

The first few months of the apprenticeship were college-based, giving Jake and his fellow apprentices time to build strong foundations before fully joining the Oakdale team in 2026. He’s now starting to get hands-on with real tasks – from wiring diagrams to working directly with the Lab Support Team.

One thing that’s stood out is the culture. “It’s really supportive, and you’re trusted to manage your own time and your work, which makes you feel valued.”

Mentorship has been a big part of settling in. “Our manager and the rest of the team have helped us massively with training and just understanding how everything works,” Jake says. “Even little things like knowing who to speak to about what – that stuff matters when you’re new.”

Coming into defence with no background in the industry, Jake admits there’s been a lot to take in – from learning all of the acronyms to getting used to understanding the sensitivity of the work we do. But the small wins already feel big. “Getting good feedback on assignments and being praised for work we’ve done feels good. It makes you feel like you’re making an impact on the business.”

So far, it’s the people that have made the biggest impression. “Everyone’s been really welcoming, and going through the apprenticeship programme with other people makes it a lot easier. You’re learning together, helping each other out. I can definitely see myself building a future here.”

Kirsten – Senior Project Manager & Former Apprentice

Kirsten joined our Mission Systems team as an Apprentice Production Planner in 2017 after studying business at college. She was keen to turn her classroom knowledge into real-world experience.

“Having the opportunity to learn new on-the-job skills, with plenty of room for progression, was a big influence in applying for the apprenticeship,” she recalls.

Her two-year apprenticeship at our Manufacturing site in Hastings was a true hands-on learning experience. While working full-time, Kirsten also received regular support from her college, ensuring she could balance work and study successfully. Her role was varied – from finance and project support to meeting and presentations – all alongside practical tasks like monitoring production schedules and supporting colleagues on the shop floor.

“I really enjoyed getting exposure across multiple departments,” she says. “Manufacturing, development, engineering, finance, testing – the variety gave me a broad understanding of how the business actually works.”

For Kirsten, the apprenticeship offered the perfect mix of earning while learning, all while building a career. “The programme allows you to grow and even progress up to degree-level qualifications. You get to do something unique, in a role that not many people have heard of,” she explains.

Kirsten’s career within Mission Systems has progressed steadily, moving from Product Delivery Lead to Manufacturing Project Manager, drawing on the skills and experiences she gained during her apprenticeship.

Now a Senior Project Manager, she applies those same skills every day – leading complex projects to support the delivery of key programmes that enhance operational capability for domestic and allied forces.

Looking back, she reflects on the lasting impact of her apprenticeship: “The apprenticeship gave me the confidence and experience to take on new challenges – it really kickstarted my career.”

LUCA – SYSTEMS ENGINEER & FORMER APPRENTICE

Luca joined the Mission Systems team in 2018 as an apprentice, fresh from completing his A-levels. While he had always been interested in engineering, Luca knew he wanted to take a different pathway than university. Instead, he was drawn to the idea of learning on the job – gaining real-world experience while working towards formal qualifications.

“I wanted the best of both worlds,” he explains. “To actually be in a working environment, learning how things work day to day, rather than just sitting in lectures.”

Starting out in the Lab Support Team gave Luca a front-row seat to the world of defence engineering. “You walk into the lab and there’s loads of impressive kit everywhere, but you’ve got no idea what half of it does,” he laughs. “That first role was great because you learn what’s what before you’re thrown into the more technical side of things.”

Over his apprenticeship, Luca split his time between working on site with his team in Oakdale and attending college, choosing to further his qualifications by completing both a Higher National Certificate and a Higher National Diploma. Balancing coursework with work wasn’t always easy. “The college workload is challenging,” he admits. “There were definitely some late nights trying to get assignments over the line.”

One of Luca’s biggest surprises when he started was how quickly he was empowered to own his outcomes and drive real results. “You think you’ll be shadowing someone constantly, but actually, if you can do the work, they let you take ownership of your tasks and responsibilities,” he says. “You’re emailing people across the business and making decisions pretty early on. It’s a steep learning curve – but in a good way.”

That trust came with plenty of support. Luca credits his manager and the apprentices who came before him for helping him find his feet. “There was always someone to ask questions to – whether it was about the work, college, or just how things actually run day to day here.”

Now a seasoned Systems Engineer, Luca works on writing and running tests for new capabilities and equipment that support British Army programmes, making sure everything does what it’s supposed to before it goes out in service.

His advice for anyone thinking about an apprenticeship? “Be curious from day one. Ask questions – loads of them. There are so many people here who know their stuff, and tapping into that will help you learn fast.”