Why study an apprenticeship?

Why study an apprenticeship? The biggest draw for many is the fact you earn while you learn, but you also experience what full-time employment is like and receive a qualification at the same time!

But don't just take our word for it. Alex and Conor, who are both apprentices at Airbus Group, share their experiences first hand with us.

When did you start your apprenticeship?

We began in September 2014 and we are now progressing through the second year of our apprenticeship, currently situated at the Airbus Broughton Site.

What are your daily activities?
Alex: My current placement within the business is in A350 Lineside Quality. My daily activities in this department include carrying out technical investigations in order to discover the root cause of a certain issue or non-conformance. The idea is to gather as much information as possible by analysing engineering documentation and conducting physical inspections on the defected areas.

Although this can sometimes be challenging, the rewarding feeling when an issue has been resolved makes it worthwhile. As part of my BEng Degree I am currently managing a work based project in which I am looking at possible redesigns of tooling with an aim to reduce the number of defects per wingset. I am also responsible for analysing inspection data; areas with a high concentration of defects can then be targeted for improvement. The type of tasks you can expect in Quality Lineside is varied, especially due to the unique characteristics/ material properties of the A350 Wing.

Conor: The department I am currently situated in is Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). My daily activities include assisting engineers to analyse the internal properties of the aircraft components when defects are found or created. This is where we would scan the areas of damage with a sensitive probe which is able to detect microscopic cracks, on or below the surface, and reveals them on a diagnostic reader. Advances in composite technology now allow us to carry out this type of work on carbon fibre components such as on the A350XWB, and ultrasonic inspections can now detect various forms of defect such as delamination, impact damage, surface notches, and thermal over-exposure.

What is the best thing about your apprenticeship?
Alex: Working with industry experts in a field that I am passionate about and knowing that I will be constantly challenged throughout my apprenticeship. The engagement activities, such as Outward Bound, was a personal highlight of mine last year as we got to meet and work with apprentices from Germany and France. Being in an office that overlooks the runway is good too!

Conor: It’s great knowing that I am gaining the qualifications I would’ve achieved at university without the worries of debts, whilst also earning a comfortable salary within a well-established business and working alongside world-class engineers. Our recent visit to the Filton site was also an eye-opener as it showed us the scale that Airbus operates on, and gave us an insight into projects currently being developed for future aviation technology!

How has your apprenticeship prepared you for your future career?
Our apprenticeship has given us the qualifications we need to take on the diverse and demanding job roles that are available here at Airbus, and the experience we have gained along the way from industry experts is invaluable!

The practical skills and hands-on experience we have learnt is something that we wouldn’t have been able to gain in university alone and the experience in the field is second to none when compared with sitting in a lecture theatre. We believe that this will allow us to make successful careers for ourselves in Airbus and the aerospace industry.

What would be your advice to anyone thinking about an apprenticeship?
Apply! There aren’t many opportunities where you get paid to study; usually it’s the other way around. In terms of advice, we recommend doing as much engineering related work experience as possible as this will give you an idea to whether or not you enjoy working in a factory environment; not to mention strengthening your application.

It is one thing saying that you are passionate about aerospace engineering, but showing it is a different thing altogether. Try to get involved in any clubs that are STEM related in school, or if you are in college, set one up yourself and manage it for the lower school. Teamwork is a big deal at Airbus; try to get involved in as many team activities as possible, and finally research the Airbus website to see if you possess or could demonstrate the Airbus Key Values.

Meet some amazing apprentices and enter our apprenticeship competition to win an iPad Air.

Thinking about apprenticeships?

Apprenticeships offer the chance to earn while you learn and get a qualification at the same time. You’ll also gain valuable work experience, which can help when you come to apply for jobs in the future.

There are over 100,000 employers offering apprenticeships in the UK, and so far this academic year we’ve received over more than 8,500 apprenticeship applications through UCAS Progress - and this figure is increasing every year!

So what does it mean to be an apprentice? Get the inside view from Lucy Ackland from Renishaw, as she shares her journey from GCSEs to award winning engineer.

Lucy Ackland from Renishaw

“When I was 13 I decided I wanted to be an engineer because I enjoyed maths and science, and I liked building and fixing things. I was determined to get good GCSE grades and my school had already pinned their hopes on me continuing on to 6th form, then studying at University.

On the run up to my GCSEs, I started to get itchy feet. I knew what I wanted to do and I just wanted to get started. I looked around at local colleges and sixth form centres to find courses that were more engineering focused than anything my school was offering. I came across an advert in the local newspaper for apprenticeships at Renishaw. Not knowing much about apprenticeships, I started to do some research and it all made sense; learning whilst on the job, gaining real qualifications, earning money and all college fees paid. I sent in my application and successfully made it through the test and interview phases. I completed my GCSEs, achieved the grades I was predicted and started at Renishaw in the summer of 2004.

I have loved every stage of my career since then. I succeeded in every job placement around the company and passed all of my college courses. I continued my studies and in 2012 I achieved a first class honours degree in mechanical and manufacturing engineering.

For the last year I have been leading a team developing the next generation of metal 3D printer. This technology is fantastic and the industry is growing; it’s fast paced, exciting and competitive and I am really, really proud to say that I have been a part of it.

Another big part of my passion is providing experiences and information to young people in the area, to allow them to make some choices about their careers and their futures. I became a STEM ambassador, a Young Engineers volunteer, running after school engineering clubs and giving talks about my experiences. I have continued to participate in these kinds of activities throughout my career. In early 2014 I was asked to be a director and trustee of the charity Young Engineers, and in summer 2014 I was nominated for the Institute of Engineering & Technology’s Young Women Engineer of the year awards. At an awards ceremony in London in December I was announced as the winner of the Women’s Engineering Society prize for all of my work in 3D printing and also my continued support of STEM engagement with young people.”

Has Lucy inspired you to consider an apprenticeship? Check out our website for all the facts you need to get started, then search for apprenticeship opportunities using our search tool.

You can also speak to our advisers on the UCAS Progress Facebook and Twitter pages if you have any questions about how to apply. 

Apprenticeship experiences

This week is National Apprenticeship Week which celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the economy. There are over 100,000 employers who offer apprenticeships and so far, we’ve received over 8,500 applications through UCAS Progress. This figure is increasing every year!

To get a better understanding of the journey you go through on an apprenticeship, we asked Amanda Dorsett from Resource Productions and Sadie Hawkins from IBM to share their experiences.

Amanda Dorsett from Resource Productions 

“I started my journey as an 18 year old girl who had just completed her A levels but didn’t know what she wanted to do. At the time, I had two part-time jobs and had been studying IT and media. I found out about apprenticeships through school and looked further into them. I applied for tonnes of apprenticeships in IT as I thought this was the career path I wanted to take."  Read on...




Sadie Hawkins from IBM 

“Hello! My name's Sadie Hawkins and I'm an IBMer*.

A 21 year old apprentice on a mission – a mission to promote apprenticeships (and alternative career paths) and prove that apprentices really can 'get in and go far'!

With thanks to work experience back in 2010, I gained fantastic insight into IBM’s clients, culture, innovation and technology. From there, I was hooked!" Read on...



Are you thinking about an apprenticeship? Check out our website for all the facts you need to get started. You can search for apprenticeship opportunities using our search tool.

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, we’ll be sharing lots of facts and information on the UCAS Progress Facebook and Twitter pages, so keep your eyes peeled!