Is Rolls-Royce the Best Employer in Poland in 2025?
Rolls-Royce is a respected name in engineering, but in Poland, its reputation is shaped less by jet engines and more by the growing importance of its investment into Poland. On December 4, 2025, the company officially opened its Global Capability Centre (GCC) inside Krakow’s Unity Tower, a move Rolls-Royce’s Chief Financial Officer, Helen McCabe, described as marking a new chapter for Rolls-Royce in Poland. The centre has already hired 120 specialists and will continue recruiting in finance, procurement, HR, data analytics and project management, establishing Krakow as the company’s European business services base.
While Rolls-Royce has long offered stable, process-oriented roles, the GCC adds higher-value, strategic functions and signals long-term commitment to Poland’s highly educated workforce.
But prestige alone is not enough. In a market full of strong competitors, the question needs to be asked: is Rolls-Royce Poland’s best employer in 2025?
Rolls-Royce’s Growing Footprint in Poland, Backed by Hard Assets
Rolls-Royce’s presence in Poland is broader than many candidates realise. Beyond its business services base in Krakow, the company also maintains important industrial operations. Since 2017, through Aero Gearbox International, its joint venture with Safran, Rolls-Royce has operated a production plant in Ropczyce, manufacturing accessory drive trains (ADTs) for its new-generation civil aviation engines.
The company also plays a role in major national projects. Rolls-Royce’s MTU Power Systems division supplies the propulsion and on-board power systems for the Polish Navy, including the new Miecznik frigates. In aviation, the company maintains a long-standing presence in Poland: its engines have powered LOT’s long-haul aircraft in the past, and it continues to support Polish Air Force platforms, including legacy C-130 Hercules engines.
Its MTU Power Systems division already provides emergency diesel generators to Poland’s critical infrastructure. A significant delivery to the Warsaw area, a new data centre was completed in 2024, and Rolls-Royce has indicated that it is considering localising component production in Poland to meet rising global demand. This could include diesel-engine components and complete drive systems.
What Students and Graduates Think About Rolls-Royce
Employer rankings and student surveys indicate Rolls-Royce is respected but far from the top. Universum student surveys in Poland (which poll thousands of college students) consistently place global tech and finance brands ahead. For example, Universum’s Polish student rankings show Google and Microsoft ranked #1 and #2 overall, with Rolls-Royce appearing much lower.
In recent Universum’s Most Attractive Employers surveys, Rolls-Royce was #10 overall, not far behind Google, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, PwC, or Volvo, and only modestly ahead of other engineering firms, like Volkswagen. Meanwhile, in the engineering student category, Rolls-Royce ranked #13 in 2020, whereas peers like ABB and Volvo Group were behind (ABB at #18), and top tech names dominated the top 10. By comparison, in the same survey, Google, Microsoft, and major banks lead.
This suggests that, among new graduates and white-collar talent, Rolls-Royce is known but not widely seen as a “dream employer” compared to global tech or consulting firms.
2024 Universum results for Poland show a pattern that is clear: Rolls-Royce ranks as a solid mid-tier choice among engineering and business students, but isn’t the most attractive employer.
Rolls-Royce Employee Reviews: Salaries, Benefits and Workplace Culture
Employee reviews paint a mixed but generally positive picture. On Indeed.com, Rolls-Royce holds an aggregated 4.0/5 rating based on more than 1,600 reviews. Comments frequently mention “good salary,” “stable job,” “flexible time,” and strong benefits, factors that align well with what Polish workers typically look for.
Yet cultural criticism persists. A well-known 2015 Glassdoor review from a Krakow procurement manager referenced “gossip culture” and “nepotism.” While dated and anecdotal, it reflects recurring concerns about bureaucracy and internal politics across the wider company. Without a recent, comprehensive Polish employee survey, these impressions remain part of the brand’s perception footprint from the past.
Rolls-Royce is financially strong heading into 2025, with £1.7 billion operating profit in H1 2025, a 50% year-on-year rise, and full-year forecasts in the £3.1–3.2 billion range. However, whilst financial performance helps employer stability, it doesn’t fix culture or career development concerns.
The Brutal Fight for Polish Talent in Poland 2025
Rolls-Royce competes in a crowded field. Amongst the shared services in Krakow alone, giants like Shell, State Street, ABB, HSBC, and Dyson have long-established, high-ranking employer reputations in Poland. Broader categories bring even stronger competitors: Google, Microsoft, PwC, and Volvo dominate top spots in most rankings.
Forbes and Statista’s “Best Employers in Poland 2025” lists typically favour companies with exceptionally high employee satisfaction scores. Rolls-Royce, while respected, does not appear among the most dominant leaders in those rankings.
Industry analysts echo this. Everest Group’s 2024 GBS assessment notes Rolls-Royce’s presence but does not position it as a leading innovator or one of the largest strategic hubs in Poland. For most white-collar candidates, the brand is strong but not top-tier.
A Strong Employer, But Not Poland’s Best
Based on the available data, Rolls-Royce is not “the best employer in Poland,” especially from the perspective of young professionals. There is no doubt that it is a solid and established player, benefiting from job stability and competitive pay. However, most surveys and rankings suggest other companies outrank it in desirability and satisfaction. Employees recognize positive aspects like flexible work and good benefits, yet note issues like bureaucratic culture.
Meanwhile, students often favor high-profile tech and consulting firms, where they see cutting-edge projects and career development. In the future, Rolls-Royce’s reputation could improve if it continues expanding local operations and addresses employee feedback.
For now, however, it remains one of many large employers in Poland rather than the top choice among white-collar talent.
Author: Richardson Chinonyerem
