Babcock Defence Services is part of Babcock International Group PLC and a shareholder of the Holdfast Consortium. Babcock International Group PLC is a highly experienced support services company with a wide range of technical skills and these are combined with commercial know-how, innovative ideas and industry best practice to deliver complete support contracts to a broad range of government and industrial customers.
Babcock Defence Services is a professional support services and training company for the defence and civil sectors. Babcock are a leading provider of support services to the Royal Navy, British Army and the Royal Air Force, delivering engineering, integrated support and multi-activity contracts and training military personnel for the MOD.
At Bovington, Babcock Defence Services provides soldiers of the Field Army with armoured fighting vehicle training in partnership with The Armour Centre. Babcock delivers driving, communications and gunnery training and are responsible for maintaining all types of AFV, including Challenger 2 main battle tanks, Warrior, CVR(T) and self-propelled guns. Babcock also manage and operate the firing ranges at the AFV Gunnery School at Lulworth and a full range motor transport, logistic support services and supply functions.
Babcock Defence Services has achieved and maintained a high quality of training output, consistently achieving pass rates of more than 98%. Their pass rates and the testimonials received demonstrate an enviable record of delivering well-trained and highly motivated soldiers to the Field Army.
Babcock Defence Services also delivers elementary and multi-engine lead-in flying training to the three Armed Services, using Babcock-owned and maintained Firefly training aircraft.
The company maintains the C-130 Hercules transport fleet at RAF Lyneham as well as managing the exhibition equipment and facsimile models for RAF recruitment. At RAF Valley and RAF Leeming, the company maintains the RAF's Hawk aircraft, achieving excellent availability rates. In support of pilot training, Babcock Defence Services maintains a wide range of simulators, including full motion aircraft simulators, full mission air traffic control simulators and desk based screen simulation at multiple sites across the UK.
As a leading provider of training to the MOD, Babcock Defence Services has also successfully completed the Key Skills contract with the RAF. Working with our partners, the company developed and delivered the required training and support through a programme of on-site workshops, with a tailored task package to enable candidates to complete work based portfolios for assessment. Over the 17 months of the contract a total of 2,980 key skills completions was achieved – an unprecedented 100% success rate. This collective success was endorsed when the contract was nominated for a National Training Award.
Babcock Defence Services has a philosophy of fully integrating with their customers. The Key Skills contract was an excellent example where Babcock Defence Services were trusted to deliver a well managed, professional and cost effective training solution.
Babcock in RSME
Babcock Defence Services is a shareholder of the Holdfast Training Services Consortium and will be responsible for:
Training Management and Support:
- Training Delivery
- Course Scheduling
- Training Design and Support
ICT Infrastructure:
- Interfaces with MOD networks and systems, e.g. TAFMIS
- Holdfast Business Systems – IFS
- Training and Help Desk
- Installation
- Training and Maintenance Support
Establishment Support:
- Administration – Help Desk, Reception
- Stores, grass cutting, road sweeping
- Maintenance of specialist training sites
- Motor transport
- Specialist stores support to training, e.g. boats
The Customer's View (Bovington)
Some things, like vehicle maintenance, are done better than before private sector involvement. Others, like range management, are done just as well. The bottom line is that we have achieved the aim of delivering a whole recce regiment back to the Field Army and saved the taxpayer about £2 million.
(Armour Centre Commander, Bovington)
