Craft Plant Apprenticeship - Machining

Airbus; Hawarden; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 hours per week

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension

Success share

Job summary

Airbus Operations Limited offers a 36-month Craft Machining Apprentice program based at the Broughton site in North Wales. You will begin with early training at Coleg Cambria, progressing to machining work on wing skins, panels and stringers for Airbus aircraft.

A structured pathway leads to a Modern Apprenticeship Certificate and skilled roles. The program includes day release for college, security checks, and UK right-to-work requirements.

Qualifications

• Minimum five GCSEs including Maths, English and Science (or equivalent).
• Attach CV with predicted/achieved grades and a cover letter explaining motivation.
• Legal right to work in the UK and compliance with pre-employment checks.

Responsibilities

• Learn and contribute in a hands-on machining environment at Coleg Cambria and Airbus Broughton.
• Work on live aircraft components, progressing to skilled machining roles after training.

Skills

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Hands-on

Learning mindset

Education

GCSEs including Maths

GCSE English Language

GCSE Science or Physics

2 additional GCSEs

Job description

Job Description

Start date: September 2027

Location: Broughton

Duration: 36 months

Closing date for applications: 15th December 2026

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)
• 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 Machining 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 Machining 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, Bersham Road, Wrexham, working towards obtaining:

• NVQ L2 diploma in Performing engineering operations
• City & Guild 2850 Level 2 In Machining
• 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 will be based at Airbus Broughton (North Wales) and you'll join our expert team of Machinists within the machine shop area, supporting the manufacture of wing skins, panels and stringers for various Airbus aircraft. The tasks will be varied, and will require you to apply your skills directly to live projects, allowing you to work on the job whilst gaining the relevant skills, knowledge and experience. This will include:

• Carrying out a variety of different techniques including following bespoke set up sheet instructions to complete a machining process as well as the use of stringer machining and long bed milling machining practices within the Airbus Broughton plant, completing this to a high competent level and in a safe efficient manner.
• Through your training you will have the ability to demonstrate effective loading and locating of billets, and unloading of finished components within the Airbus Broughton plant, completing this to a high competent level and in a safe efficient manner.

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

• Level 3 Extended Diploma in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering (Machining Bias Units)
• City & Guild 2850 Level 3 Machining

Upon successful completion of your 36-month apprenticeship, you'll become a skilled Machinist working within the Large component manufacture (LCM) 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 C or 4 in Maths (GCSE certificate only - no equivalency accepted)
• Grade C or 4 in English Language (GCSE certificate only - no equivalency accepted)
• 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, preferably in a practical or technical subject (e.g., Design & Technology, Engineering, etc)
• Attach your CV (stating your predicted or achieved grades) and cover letter stating your motivation for the role and industry.

To be a successful candidate you need to have a passion for learning, enjoy hands‑on, teamwork and problem‑solving activities.

Important Information

• GRADES: Any offer will be conditional upon us receiving evidence of your required grades 24h after receiving your certificates on results day, 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.

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Company: Airbus Operations Limited

Employment Type: Apprenticeship

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.