A UK missile manufacturer with a large base in Bristol has announced plans to hire 500 staff in Britain in 2021.
Defence company MBDA, which is jointly owned by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%), employs more than 4,500 in the UK. It also has sites in Bolton and Stevenage.
Jobs on offer include software and systems engineering roles, with staff employed in these positions predominantly based in Bristol.
There will also be jobs in manufacturing, commercial, customer support, project management and procurement, according to the firm, which said there would be a mixture of apprenticeship and graduate positions, as well as roles for experienced professionals.
Chris Allam, MBDA UK managing director, said: “In the circumstances we all found ourselves in over the last year, we are very pleased that the strong business position we are in allows us to continue to recruit.
“Our work didn’t stop and neither did our people. They are at the heart of sustaining our business, especially as we adapted in response to the global pandemic. At MBDA, everyone has a role to play in delivering the capability that our armed forces need to defend our county and secure our freedoms.”
In January, MBDA won a £550m Ministry of Defence contract to develop an air-to-ground strike weapon for the UK F-35 combat aircraft, creating 190 highly skilled technology jobs.
As part of its hiring plans, MBDA is hosting a number of career sessions in 2021, including a virtual recruitment event on Thursday, March 4.
The event includes morning and afternoon sessions, with jobseekers able to “drop in and chat” on a one-on-one basis with managers from business areas where roles are available.
MBDA, which is a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and a Gold Award winner in its Employer Recognition Scheme, said that as a defence company it had an “understandable willingness” to recruit ex-service personnel.
It also said it is offering opportunities to school and university leavers to find out about early careers at the firm.
Aileen Randhawa, MBDA UK HR director, said: “Last year we successfully recruited over 500 people throughout an unprecedented period. Like many businesses, we adjusted many of our recruitment and new-starter processes, working dynamically to follow government guidelines and keep our people safe.
“From online applications to virtual interviews, assessments and inductions, our virtual careers events are our latest adaptation. We’re looking forward to being able to share what MBDA can offer prospective employees and help them find a career in defence that is right for them.”
The event on Thursday runs from 11:30am to 6pm.
