Apprentice - Aircraft Workshop

British Airways plc; London Borough of Hillingdon; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 19,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted flights

Generous annual leave

Apprentice network

Community volunteering

Job summary

British Airways is offering a 3.5‑year Workshop Engineer Apprenticeship at London Heathrow. You’ll train alongside experienced engineers, rotate through ramp and hangar workshops, and complete on‑the‑job training while studying for the Composite Technician apprenticeship.

In year one you’ll split time between Farnborough College of Technology and the Fleet Support Facility at Heathrow, achieving an EAL Level 2 Diploma and building practical skills for aviation maintenance.

Qualifications

• Maths and English GCSEs required with strong science background.
• Strong communication and safety awareness for engineering environments.
• Predicted grades acceptable if achieved before start.

Responsibilities

• Rotate through ramp and hangar workshops to learn composite repairs.
• Combine on‑the‑job training with college study toward Composite Technician apprenticeship.
• Develop practical engineering skills and progress toward end point assessment.
• Attend regular progress reviews with line manager and learning provider.

Skills

Mathematics

Communication

Safety awareness

Education

GCSE Maths, English and Science (grade 9–4)

Job description

Duration: 3.5 Years

Salary: £17,339, increasing in year two and three

Location: London Heathrow

Application Closing Date: 19 November 2026

Start Date: Autumn 2027

The programme

You’ll gain your experience working alongside some of the best engineers in the business. They’ll help you to develop your engineering skills, whilst repairing aircraft components in both ramp and hangar environments. You’ll rotate through different workshops, learning different skillsets, so you understand the nature of highly sophisticated aircraft components. As well as training on the job, you’ll be studying for the qualifications you need to become one of our future Workshop Engineers.

The initial induction to the business for this Apprenticeship will take place at our London Heathrow Base. For the remainder of the first year, this Apprenticeship will then split between Farnborough College of Technology, where you will study 3 days per week towards a Composite Technician apprenticeship and 2 days on the job training in the Fleet Support Facility workshop at Heathrow, with weekends off. During year one, you will achieve an EAL level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and study towards your knowledge skills and behaviours. You will undertake placements at British Airways Heathrow base to learn practical skills which under pin the formal learning.

In your second year, you will still follow a Monday to Friday pattern, attending college 1 day per week to further cover the knowledge skills and behaviours criteria, with 4 days on the job training at Heathrow.

In your final year you will transition to 4 on/4 off day shift pattern and complete your work-based portfolio of evidence in preparation for the end point assessment which will complete your apprenticeship.

We will also supplement and support your learning with additional aviation related training in Air Legislation, Human Factors and Aircraft Composite repairs, as well as holding regular 1:1 meeting with your line manager and progress reviews with your learning provider.

About You

We are looking for a minimum of a grade 5 (B) in Maths. English and Science GCSE at grade 9 – 4 (A* - C) desirable. We accept predicted grades, but they must be achieved before starting the apprenticeship.

A strong communicator with an awareness for safety, a self-starter and the ability to adapt to change. Above all, a genuine passion for engineering.

Your application will not be considered if you have achieved prior qualifications in the following:

• HNC/HND or Degree in Engineering.
• BTEC Level 3 in Engineering.

What's in it for you?

Looking to join our apprenticeship scheme? You won't be disappointed. Recently being ranked 18th in Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer Awards, we can't wait to welcome you into the British Airways family.

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

• Part of our 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 bold sustainability vision, volunteering an active role to champion specific community groups including LGBTQ+ 'Flying Proud' and ethnic minority network 'BeMe'
• 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, empower and mentor students and support their potential to gain employment in the industry we love
• Access to heavily discounted flights to globe trot (with the opportunity to fly in style in our business class seats), and a generous annual leave entitlement to turn your bucket list into reality

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.