Defence giant BAE Systems is to recruit 265 apprentices across the UK this year, it has been announced.

The engineering and business apprentices will include 136 posts at the company's submarine building business in Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria - the highest intake at the yard for five years.

The remaining 129 roles will be located at the company's military aircraft business in Lancashire; its maritime businesses in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and Glasgow; and at its electronics business in Rochester, Kent.

The apprentices at Barrow-in-Furness will train as steelworkers, pipe fabricators, electricians and submarine designers.

They will help build seven nuclear-powered Astute Class submarines and prepare the early design phase for Successor - the replacement submarine to the Vanguard Class - which was given approval by the Government last year.

Successor is currently scheduled to enter service in 2028.

A BAE Systems spokesman said the numbers of apprentices required at Barrow-in-Furness, which is the UK's only submarine building yard, were necessary to maintain skills unique to the maritime sector.

Nigel Whitehead, BAE Systems group managing director, said: "Our apprenticeship programme creates a pipeline of exceptionally talented young engineers who are critical to the long-term future of BAE Systems. In tough economic times it is even more important that businesses plan for the long term and continue to invest in skills and developing talent in the workplace."

The apprenticeships were announced at the beginning of National Apprenticeship Week, which runs from February 6 to February 10.

BAE Systems has around 1,000 apprentices training in its three-year apprenticeship programme.