Highlighting practical training: Honoring National Apprenticeship Week in the UK

Highlighting practical training: Honoring National Apprenticeship Week in the UK

During National Apprenticeship Week 2024, Airbus UK focused on celebrating and promoting apprenticeship opportunities, highlighting new initiatives and engagement efforts to attract talent. The company emphasized the importance of degree apprenticeships, combining academic study with practical industry experience.

Airbus showcased how apprenticeships serve as pathways to careers in aerospace engineering and manufacturing, demonstrating real-world impact through stories of current apprentices balancing education and work. In September 2023, Airbus Defence and Space Newport site welcomed its first ever cohort of Degree Apprentices in Cyber UK, with ten apprentices joining across Cyber Security, Test, Hardware, and Software Engineering.

In terms of new initiatives and recruitment, Airbus UK used this occasion to spotlight innovative approaches to apprenticeships, aiming to inspire more young people—particularly women—to enter STEM fields. Events and sessions likely highlighted the resilience, innovation, and diversity that apprentices bring to engineering roles, aligning with broader workforce development goals.

Airbus UK actively collaborated with educational institutions and authorities to strengthen the pipeline for apprenticeship recruitment. Their efforts during the week included outreach programs designed to raise awareness among students and stakeholders about career opportunities, as well as discussions with government representatives on skills development and industry needs to support the UK aerospace sector.

Over at the Airbus Defence and Space Newport site, apprentices work closely with experts in various fields for non-stop learning. The site employs 71 apprentices, and six more are scheduled to join the team in September 2024. Apprentices in the Newport site attend university one day per week for the next five years to complete their undergraduate degree.

Airbus Defence and Space strongly values apprenticeship programs as a means to grow talent and develop a skilled workforce. The majority of Airbus apprentices in the UK are employed by the commercial aircraft business, with over 250 across two sites in Broughton and Filton. Defense and Space employs 71 apprentices, and Helicopters employs 5 in the UK.

To further inspire young minds, Airbus UK hosted a STEM Day in its Filton plant for local schools, offering students a glimpse into opportunities in the aerospace industry. Airbus apprentices also attended a reception in Westminster, meeting senior government officials and networking with apprentices from other companies.

Airbus looks for apprentices who have a passion for learning and want to work in an industry that is always looking to the future. The company supports apprentices by paying for them to continue their studies at university after completing their apprenticeship. Over 30 apprentices are at the Portsmouth and Stevenage sites, developing skills for the future space industry.

In conclusion, Airbus UK's activities during National Apprenticeship Week 2024 centered on promoting apprenticeship programs, showcasing success stories, advancing recruitment especially in STEM, and fostering partnerships with schools and government to build a skilled workforce for the future. The focus was on practical apprenticeship pathways, diversity, and innovation in aerospace engineering careers.

1. The manufacturing industry showcases the strategic value of apprenticeships in finance and career development.
2. Entrepreneurship and small business thrive with individuals who gain insights from apprenticeships in the industry.
3. Aerospace students can benefit from apprenticeship programs, paving the way for outdoor-living and lifestyle careers.
4. Food-and-drink enthusiasts can learn culinary skills and sustainable living practices through apprenticeships in an expansive range of global cuisines.
5. The importance of continuing education in interior-design and home-and-garden apprenticeships is emphasized for a balanced lifestyle.
6. Apprenticeships in baking and home-improvement lay the foundation for a successful small-business or personal-finance career.
7. Effective leadership skills learned through apprenticeships are transferable to various industries such as technology, sports, and product reviews.
8. To manage debt and save money, focusing on data and cloud computing skillsets gained during apprenticeships can lead to lucrative business opportunities.
9. Sustainable-living and healthy-cooking apprenticeships empower individuals to make a difference while embracing budgeting and deals-and-discounts for ethical food consumption.
10. Adventure-travel enthusiasts can use digital media and tech skills acquired through apprenticeships to connect with like-minded people and book travel deals.
11. Apprentices in cultural-travel and education-and-self-development can gain diverse perspectives on local customs and expand their skills to better participate in global business post-apprenticeship.
12. Budget-travel and sports-betting enthusiasts can leverage the mathematical and analytical skills learned during apprenticeships in data-and-cloud-computing for successful betting strategies.
13. Golfing specialists can sharpen their skills and business acumen with apprenticeships in basketball, football, and other sports, detailing their accomplishments in product-reviews.
14. With the skills gained from apprenticeships in gardening and outdoor-living, individuals can transition into careers in lifestyle, real estate, or even athletic training.
15. The Jobs Act offers apprenticeship opportunities in various industries such as aerospace and culinary, allowing them to examine career paths in cooking, interior-design, entrepreneurship, and more.
16. Apprenticeships partnerships between companies, healthcare organizations, and educational institutions can provide resources for job-search and career-development programs.
17. By integrating coding, design, and soft skill training, apprenticeships in technology can prepare individuals for diverse careers in software engineering, video production, and e-commerce.
18. Workshops for skills training empower apprentices to take advantage of deals-and-discounts on new tools and materials, supporting entrepreneurship and small-business ventures.
19. Team-building activities, such as cooking classes or outdoor adventures, can help foster success and camaraderie in apprenticeship programs across industries.
20. The apprenticeship model is a cost-effective alternative for businesses seeking to hire individuals with practical, on-the-job training, particularly for positions requiring hands-on experience in areas such as sales and marketing.
21. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, apprenticeships can offer individuals the skills and knowledge necessary to secure a foothold and move up in their careers, ensuring personal financial security and future stability.

Read also: