Work Experience

Experience our world

Work Experience

Are you a student and looking at work experience options?

Held at each of our main UK sites, come in and experience our world for a week. With varied and interesting tasks to complete, and a range of people to shadow, you’ll see what our people see – and hopefully learn something about yourself in the process.

Each of our sites offers a slightly different experience and are available at different times of the year:

The Bristol work experience scheme is a week long programme during which you will be exposed to a real-life engineering problem and taught how to solve this as a team with guidance from a range of engineers throughout the business. 

You will have numerous opportunities to interact with our current graduates and apprentices who will provide fantastic advice and insight on their work here as well as possible career paths in the engineering industry.

We have two work experience programmes at our Stevenage site; Engineering and Software. Both options are week long programmes and give an insight into what life is like working in the defence industry.

On our Bolton work experience, you will have the opportunity to see different aspects of our manufacturing site by completing 5 different one-day placements. There will be a mix of practical and office based work.

Example placements could include; Test Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Cables, Seekers and RF Clean room.

This is a perfect opportunity to experience life at MBDA, including working with some of our current apprentices who can give you an insight into our early careers programmes.

Locations: Stevenage, Bristol and Bolton

Application process: Applications are currently OPEN for our 2025 programme in Bristol - click here to see more details and access the application form.

Applications for our Stevenage and Bolton programmes for 2025 are now CLOSED.

Dates: Work experience dates vary at each of our locations and are at the discretion of the business; full details of the available dates are listed on the advert. Please note that we cannot accommodate all requests/applications and we are unable to offer work experience on any dates not listed on the advert.

Eligibility: This programme is designed for students studying at school. There are specific requirements for each location, which are detailed on the advert. We cannot consider candidates that do not meet the criteria advertised.

Need to contact us? Please use the following email addresses, should you have a query relating to work experience:

For Stevenage: ftn.StevenageWorkExperience@mbda.co.uk

For Bristol: ftn.BristolWorkExperience@mbda.co.uk

For Bolton: ftn.BoltonWorkExperience@mbda.co.uk

Movement to Work

Are you, or is someone you know, aged 18-30? Are you unsure of your next steps now that you have finished school or college and are interested in finding out more about apprenticeships? Do you want some help to gain the tools in order to kick start your career?

If so, Movement to Work could be for you!

The MBDA Movement to Work programme is an in-person, FREE, 3 week programme for young adults, wanting to set their career in motion and find out more about future apprenticeship opportunities.

The programme is jam-packed and full of professional development activities which will help you to kick start your career! 

In Week 1 you will get to know the group you will be working alongside for the next 3 weeks. You will start to develop your soft skills, build your confidence, meet your Buddy/mentor and discover what a workplace like MBDA can offer.

Week 2 will allow you to discover careers at MBDA. You will gain valuable work experience from a range of different departments around the business. Here you will discover your strengths, learn new skills and develop your knowledge!

The final week will see you practice interview techniques, brush up your CV, reflect on what you have learnt over the course of the programme and think about your next steps in setting your career into motion. On the final day, we will recognise your achievements by hosting an uplifting celebration event!

During the 3 weeks at MBDA, you will receive mentoring and support from MBDA professionals whilst experiencing every day in a friendly and welcoming workplace.

Locations: Stevenage and Bolton

Dates: Details of our 2025 programme will be available soon

Eligibility: At MBDA we respect new perspectives and experiences. We are committed to supporting diversity and ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to reach their potential. This course is designed for people that meet the following eligibility:

• you are not currently in education, training or full-time employment
• you are aged between 18 – 25
• you live within a 20 mile radius to participating MBDA site
• you have the right to work in the UK
• you may be in receipt of benefits. (Universal credit, Job Seekers Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance).