BAE Systems has opened a new Leadership Academy in Barrow-in-Furness, a port town in Cumbria, England, to upskill the Royal Navy’s submarine workforce with advanced leadership training. Launched on Tuesday, the facility will support over 200 learners at any time and deliver more than 4,000 training placements annually.
Located at Harding Rise, the 1,500-square-meter building features 15 classrooms, six coaching pods and two team development zones. The academy will focus on skill development across BAE’s management and leadership practices, with customized coaching and hands-on training to prepare future leaders in a “modern learning environment.”
The Leadership Academy adds to BAE Systems’ growing training infrastructure in Barrow, which includes the Submarines Academy for Skills and Knowledge, a facility that supports apprentices and graduates, and the Portland Walk Campus, which will be redeveloped into an experiential learning center.
“In an increasingly complex and dynamic global environment, the role of effective leadership has never been more critical,” said Steve Timms, managing director of BAE Systems’ submarine business. “Investing in our leaders is investing in our future. Our new Leadership Academy will pay dividends both now and for generations to come.”
This site launch comes months after BAE Systems opened a major training center for applied shipbuilding in Glasgow.

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