A DEFENCE company is set to create 500 jobs as it launches a new recruitment drive.

MBDA will host a number of careers event throughout the year to give job seekers an opportunity to explore a variety of roles at the firm, which has sites in Bolton, Stevenage and Bristol.

And the recruitment comes on the back of new multi-million contracts for the global missile manufacturer.

They recently landed a £550m MOD contract for the production of the next generation of air-ground weapons, strengthening the town’s position as a key player in the defence of the nation.

They also penned a deal in February to help equip Greek Air Force fighters - kitting them out with state-of-the-art cruise, anti-ship and air-to-air missiles.

MBDA is the only integrated defence company to provide missiles and missile systems for each branch of the armed forces - with a net worth reaching into the billions.

The firm’s current recruitment campaign seeks to recruit more than 500 new people in the UK in 2021, including apprentices, graduates and experienced hires.

A virtual recruitment event on Thursday, March 4, will provide jobseekers with the opportunity to chat with MBDA employees online. The roles available span the breadth of MBDA’s departments. These include engineering, manufacturing, commercial, customer support, project management and procurement.

There will also be the opportunity for school and university leavers to find out about MBDA’s careers, with apprenticeship and graduate schemes covering both the engineering and business sectors.

Chris Allam, MBDA UK managing director, said: “In the circumstances we all found ourselves in over the last year, we are very pleased the strong business position we are in allows us to continue to recruit. Our work didn’t stop and neither did our people.

“They are at the heart of sustaining our business, especially as we adapted in response to the global pandemic. At MBDA, everyone has a role to play in delivering the capability that our armed forces need to defend our county and secure our freedoms.”

To find out more and register, visit www.mbdacareers.co.uk/careers-events