Jobs for 15 apprentices will be created at British defence giant BAE Systems in Rochester.

The places are part of the highest intake of apprentices since the company was formed 14 years ago, with 568 apprenticeships being created across the country.

The new recruits will work at sixteen sites in the UK and join the company in September 2014.

The company’s electronic systems business in Marconi Way, Rochester, will take on 15 trainees.

While 272 roles will be available at the submarine yard in Barrow with two roles at a sister submarine design site in Weymouth, Dorset

94 apprentices are also required for the military aircraft design and production sites in Warton and Salmesbury in Lancashire, as well as 17 for the site in Brough in Yorkshire.

A further 48 trainees will join the Aircraft Maintenance Academy in Doncaster, Yorkshire
Also in Yorkshire, six roles are available to work on developing cyber security software at the Leeds office

In Portsmouth, Hampshire, 38 apprentices will be required to join the warship maintenance and servicing business, and one role is available with the radar programmes and manufacturing team in Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

In Scotland, 62 opportunities are available with BAE Systems’ shipbuilding business on the Clyde in Glasgow and three apprentices will join the Regional Aircraft business in Prestwick.

A further six apprentices will join the munitions productions site with two each required for the factories at Radway Green in Cheshire, Glascoed in Monmouthshire and in Washington, Tyne and Wear

Four apprentices will join the combat vehicles support business in Telford, Shropshire.

The announcement follows research by YouGov - commissioned by BAE Systems and the Royal Academy of Engineering in November - which revealed that public opinion regarding apprenticeships is changing rapidly, driving a boost in demand for places.

According to the research, almost half (46%) of British parents of children aged 11-18 would encourage their children to take an apprenticeship.

Forty-two per cent said that their perception of apprenticeships had changed positively in the last year, while over two-thirds (67%) were pleased that apprenticeships are now presented as an attractive option for young people.

"This is a win-win situation for our apprentices, our company and the wider economy” - BAE director Nigel Whitehead

Nigel Whitehead, group managing director, said: “Our additional intake of apprentices this year reflects workload requirements at the submarines business.

"The number also demonstrates the fantastic contribution and value that apprenticeships bring to BAE Systems.

"Apprentices are a vital part of our talent pool and we find that our training programmes really help young people develop their full potential and become financially stable at a relatively young age.

"This is a win-win situation for our apprentices, our company and the wider economy.”