Apprentice - Aircraft Maintenance Cardiff

Duration:  3 Years

Salary: £12,000 in year one, increasing in years two and three

Location: Cardiff Airport, Wales

Application Closing Date: 9 December 2024

Start Date:  September 2025

About the Programme

British Airways Engineering Wales are searching for passionate, self-motivated and ambitious future apprentices who relish the opportunity to embark on a first-class engineering journey within the aviation industry. At British Airways Engineering Wales, we are fortunate to have all three Welsh British Airways subsidiaries operating alongside each other at one highly impressive, purpose-built site. This provides a unique and incredibly exciting opportunity for apprentices to experience and see first-hand engineering across all of the British Airways fleet, including aircraft maintenance, interiors and aircraft avionics.

We are excited to announce that we have opportunities for new BAMC and BAAE apprentices on our Aircraft Maintenance Apprenticeship and Engineering Maintenance Electrical Apprenticeship in 2025!

BAMC is a purpose-built Heavy Maintenance facility, known as a 'centre of innovation excellence' within the industry. The team exclusively undertake heavy maintenance (C and D checks) and cabin modifications of British Airways wide-bodied, long-haul Boeing aircraft. The hangar is a three-bay operation with the addition of two ’Nose In Facilities.’ BAMC is an EASA PART 145 approved Maintenance Repair Organisation.

BAAE is a component overhaul site with a hugely diverse product range, including  everything from flight critical instruments to trash compactors. The avionic component maintenance facility employs a highly skilled workforce who maintain a broad range of electrical, electronic and mechanical components with quality and safety at the centre of everything we do.

Qualifications Gained

The apprenticeships, both based at Coleg y Cymoedd, Nantgarw Campus, will be full time on an enhanced engineering programme in year one.  You will study a technical certificate as well as an NVQ practical qualification.  The enhanced engineering programme has been developed to equip you with the skills, knowledge and understanding you need to enter into a career in the Engineering industry. 

On successful completion of year one, you will then work on site at British Airways Engineering Wales (BAEW) within BA Maintenance Cardiff or BA Avionic Engineering in year two, with one day released to college per week.  During this year you will work towards the second year of your technical certificate and in the workplace, you will follow an industry relevant NVQ practical qualification. Year three will see you work full time on location at British Airways Engineering Wales whilst continuing with the second year of the NVQ practical qualification.  Placements will be rotated around all three businesses, with the majority of your time spent within your allocated business. By the end of the programme, you will be ready to apply for an exciting role within British Airways Engineering Wales and work alongside our world class engineers. 

About You

We are looking for a strong team player who shows self-motivation and initiative. You will have achieved or be predicted to achieve:

• 5 GCSES A*-C including a B grade in Maths, C or above in English Language and Science. Alternatively, we will accept Level 2 qualification in Engineering (which includes the study of Mathematics and Science at Distinction level).

We also need you to be:

• Over the age of 16 and living in Wales
• Have the right to live and work in the UK
• If over 18, ability to work the current shift pattern which comprises 4 x 12-hour days (6.20am – 6.30pm) followed by 4 rest days 
• If under 18, ability to work a standard day shift (8.30am – 4.35pm)

What's in it for you?

Looking to join one of our apprenticeship schemes? You won't be disappointed.

We have many benefits for apprentices at British Airways and here are a handful to showcase the diversity of our apprentice community:

• Increase in salary after you have completed the first year of your apprenticeship, if completed in line with your development objectives
• British Airways Engineering Wales uniform from year one to show you are part of the British Airways family from day one
• Part of the British Airways apprentice network and community, with the opportunity to engage with apprentices from all schemes in the business and learn from former apprentices
• Involvement in our ambitious sustainability vision, volunteering an active role to champion specific community groups including LGBTQ+, Flying Proud, and ethnic minority network ‘Be ME’
• Involvement in Community Investment programmes, taking part in fundraising challenges for partnership charities, supporting causes close to your heart
• Volunteering in schools and colleges sharing personal experiences to inspire, motivate and coach students and support their potential to gain employment in the industry we love
• Access to heavily discounted flights to globe trot, and a leave entitlement to turn your bucket list into reality 

Further Information & Next Steps

We are delighted you are considering applying! Here’s some more information you may need about the application process:

• Please be aware that BAEW are advertising 2 separate apprenticeships; the Aircraft Maintenance Apprenticeship and Engineering Maintenance Electrical Apprenticeship
• All sections of your application need to be complete, including all online tests, by the deadline given
• Due to high volumes of applications, you may only apply for one apprenticeship programme. We would recommend for you to read about each apprenticeship scheme before applying as only your first application will be considered
• If you are successful with the initial application, you will be invited to complete a short video interview within a given timeframe
• Across all stages of the application process, if you fail to submit by the deadline, your application will be automatically withdrawn.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on our event page on the careers website to see any events you can join to find out more information and top tips, as well as which upcoming events we will be attending.

At British Airways we all have a part to play in creating an inclusive place to work. Diverse representation among our people is really important to us and we recognise that all our colleagues are uniquely different and bring their own originality, creativity and identity to work.

Inclusion and diversity is a key driver of innovation and we’re committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they can be themselves. We’re looking for people from all backgrounds and cultures to join us and be a part of our journey to become a Better BA as we continue to connect Britain with the world and the world with Britain.

Timelines for this recruitment process

• Initial applications open between 4 November 2024 – 9 December 2024 but may close earlier if volumes are high
• If your initial application is successful, you will be invited to complete a video interview in January 2025.
• If your video interview is successful, you will be invited to an online testing session in January/February 2025.
• If you are successful in your online testing, you will be invited to an Assessment Centre which will take place at BA Engineering Wales in February/March 2025.