Babcock International Group is calling on automotive technicians to transfer their skills to military vehicle maintenance, as the defence company looks to recruit qualified mechanics to support the British Army’s operational fleet.
As a strategic support partner to the Army, Babcock is responsible for maintaining more than 30,000 military vehicles, ranging from quad bikes and Land Rovers to Challenger tanks, ensuring they are ready for deployment when required.
The company says many of the skills developed in civilian automotive workshops are directly transferable to military applications, despite the specialist nature of the vehicles involved.
According to Babcock, technicians working at its Bovington site in Dorset could find themselves carrying out routine servicing on military vehicles one day and undertaking complex repairs on 62-tonne Challenger 2 tanks the next.
Damien Harding, head of site at Bovington, said there is a common misconception that military experience is needed to work on Army vehicles.
“There’s often a misconception that you need a military background to work on the British Army fleet but that’s not the case,” he said.
“If you can service an SUV, you can apply the same fundamentals to a Challenger 2 tank.
“Our team plays a critical role ensuring the British Army’s ‘green’ fleet is mission-ready – and they take pride knowing that they’re playing their part in protecting national security.”
Damien Harding, head of site at Bovington
The recruitment drive comes as employers across the automotive sector continue to report challenges in attracting and retaining skilled technicians, with an ageing workforce and increasing vehicle complexity placing additional pressure on talent pipelines.
Babcock highlighted the career progression opportunities available within its military vehicle maintenance operations. Workshop manager Guy Elliott joined the company from a car dealership two decades ago and has since progressed through the business while gaining specialist qualifications, including training to drive tanks.
“I’ve found it a rewarding experience progressing through the business – and the work our team does makes a genuine difference,” said Elliott.
“Conducting maintenance on armoured, tracked vehicles never gets dull and it’s great being able to sign off a ‘ready-to-go’ tank after putting it through its paces on the proving ground.”
Babcock will showcase career opportunities at Tankfest, taking place at the Bovington Tank Museum from 26-28 June, where it is a main event sponsor.
Interested parties can find out more about vehicle technician roles at Babcock.
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