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.
