Craft Apprenticeship - Air Tool Maintenance

Airbus; Broughton in Furness; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £19,185 starting

35 hours per week

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension

Success share

Job summary

Airbus Operations Limited invites applications for a Craft Air Tool Maintenance Apprentice based in Broughton. This 36‑month program combines hands-on shop floor training with formal qualifications, offering a clear career path in air tool maintenance for our wing-manufacturing teams.

You will study at Coleg Cambria in Year 1 and then advance with our multi-skilled team in Years 2 and 3, gaining NVQ and BTEC qualifications while contributing to live projects on aircraft tooling.

Qualifications

• Achieve a minimum of five GCSEs including Maths (B/6) and English (C/4) and Science (CC/44 or Physics C/4).
• Plus 2 other GCSEs at grade C/4 or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Engage in hands-on training, learn maintenance of air tools in live production environments.
• Complete college day release working toward Level 3 NVQ Extended Diploma (Engineering Maintenance) and Level 3 BTEC/City & Guilds.
• Support air tool maintenance operators during Year 2 and 3, including routine PPMA and repairs, and potential pathway development.

Education

GCSEs required (Maths, English, Science)

Job description

Start date: September 2027

Location: Broughton

Duration: 36 months

Benefits

Salary: A competitive starting salary of £19,185

35 hours per week (on either a standard working day or a double-day shift pattern, providing flexibility.) // Half day Fridays*! // 25 days holiday plus bank holidays // Pension // Success share // Plus many more flexible benefits!

About us

Ready to build the wings that lift the world? Join Airbus as a Craft Air Tool Maintenance Apprentice in Airbus Broughton and play a vital role in manufacturing wings for our A320, A330, and A350 aircraft families. This 36-month program offers valuable hands‑on training, recognised qualifications, and a clear path to a rewarding career in aviation."

At Airbus, we believe a diverse workforce drives innovation. We're committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to thrive. Airbus is a global pioneer in the aerospace industry, leading the way in designing, manufacturing, and delivering aerospace products across Commercial Aircraft, Helicopters, Defence, and Space sectors. As the global center of excellence for wing manufacturing, our Broughton site delivers over 500 wing sets annually. Our apprenticeship programs are carefully designed to give you valuable practical training alongside your academic studies, setting you up for success and helping your career truly fly.

With over 17,5000 employees worldwide and as the largest aeronautics and space company in Europe, Airbus is at the forefront of the aviation industry. During your apprenticeship you will work alongside our experienced engineers and quality team to support you to complete the work safely and efficiently

What you will be doing

As a Craft Air Tool Maintenance (ATM) Apprentice, you'll immerse yourself in hands‑on technical experience in the workplace while completing your academic studies. This program is designed to equip you with valuable qualifications and competencies to work directly on live aircraft. You'll also benefit from our Gen A support network and learning HUB, providing additional support, events, and opportunities for all early career participants.

This 36-month apprenticeship is structured to maximise your learning and impact:

Year One: You will spend the first 12 months of your apprenticeship based at Coleg Cambria, Deeside, working towards obtaining:

• NVQ Level 2 diploma in Performing Engineering Operations;
• Advanced Manufacturing Engineering BTEC or ;City and Guild in Aircraft engineering
• Level 2 Essential Skills;

This will allow you to develop the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to enable you to make an immediate contribution when you enter the workforce in the second year.

Year 2 and 3: Your Learning Takes Flight at Broughton! Building on your foundational knowledge, you'll join our expert team of multi‑skilled Air Tool Maintenance Operators, supporting the production and testing of air tools,, and apply your skills directly to live projects. The tasks will be complex, offering different challenges and require you to use different skills in order to complete them successfully. This will include

• Carrying out routine Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) and reactive breakdown repairs on all advanced drilling equipment within the Airbus Broughton plant.
• Machine specific training may be given along with the potential for development onto either an electrical or mechanical pathway if the candidate is suitable.
• Through your training you will have the ability to demonstrate effective troubleshooting on all advanced drilling equipment, whilst day to day fault diagnosing within a highly competent team.
• You will maintain technical specialist equipment, such as programmable logic controllers (PLC) and computerized systems.

Additionally you will also attend college on day release, working towards gaining:

• Level 3 NVQ Extended Diploma (Engineering Maintenance);
• BTEC Level 3 Award

Upon successful completion of your 36-month apprenticeship, you'll become a skilled ATM Operator working within the Air Tool Maintenance team supporting our world‑class Airbus aircraft. You'll receive a Modern Apprenticeship Certificate, setting you up for a fantastic career!

Requirements

In order to be eligible to this apprenticeship you must

• Achieve a minimum of five GCSEs which must include:
• Grade B or 6 in Maths (GCSE certificate only)
• Grade C or 4 in English Language (GCSE certificate only)
• Grade CC or 44 in Double Award Science OR Grade C/4 in Single award in Physics.
• Plus 2 other GCSEs at grade C or 4 (other qualifications that are equivalent or higher may be considered as an alternative to the additional 2 GCSE’s)

BOOST YOUR APPLICATION

We want to get to know you! Not just your grades or school background so, tell us on your cover letter:

• Why Airbus?
  What is it about Airbus that makes you excited to start a career with us? Is it our aircraft, innovation, global impact, or something else? Let us know what interests you about our work and why we stand out to you.
• Why a hands‑on apprenticeship?
  Why do you want to learn by doing? We’d love to hear what draws you to practical, skills‑based learning.
• Show your hands‑on experience.
  In your CV or cover letter, include any hands‑on activities or hobbies where you've used practical skills. These could be things like:
  • DIY projects
  • Building and fixing things
  • Doing make‑up or beauty work
  • Tinkering and Tech Projects
  • Building models
  • Baking or cooking
  • Others

Important Information

GRADES: Any offer will be conditional upon us receiving evidence of your required grades by August 31, 2027, in addition to completing all pre‑employment checks and online forms.

SECURITY CLEARANCE: You will be subject to a BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) check. You may also need to gain UK SC‑level Security Clearance or Export Control, depending on the role.

RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK: Candidates must have current legal authorisation to work in the United Kingdom. For more information, please check the Government Website.

Our apprenticeship roles do not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas & Immigration to enable sponsorship of migrant workers.

AI Guidance: We know you might be thinking about using AI to help you in your application - before you do, please read our guidelines on the use of AI for recruitment at Airbus http://airbus.com/en/careers/use-of-ai.

Contact

Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments to allow you to access and participate fully in the recruitment process. If you wish to discuss this further please contact via email [e-mail]. Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence.

#UK_APP

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company

Airbus Operations Limited

Employment Type

Apprenticeship

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Experience Level

Entry Level

Job Family

By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus. Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to [e-mail].

At Airbus, we support you to work, connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible, we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.

Advert end date: 15 November 2026