What Gatwick’s apprenticeship scheme entails
Gatwick’s engineering apprenticeship scheme lasts four years and you leave with a nationally recognised qualification.
Apprentices spend their first year at a local college full-time, learning the underpinning knowledge required before coming on-site to rotate around Gatwick’s nine different engineering sections.
These include the shuttle, electronics, baggage controls, heating and ventilation, street lighting and pumps and airfield lighting departments.
The benefits of working as a Gatwick apprentice
During the scheme, apprentices work towards an NVQ and a BTEC national certificate in either mechanical, electrical or electronics engineering, followed by an HNC in one of these disciplines. Those that really prove themselves may also get the chance to go on and complete a full degree.
The starting salary for a Gatwick engineering apprentice is £16,660 and this goes up every year while on the scheme, plus shift pay in years three and four. Apprentices also receive 24 days annual leave on top of public holidays.
Opportunities post-apprenticeship
Apprentices are normally offered a full-time role as a technician once they have completed the four-year programme, as long as there have not been any significant issues within this period.
Once in this role, they have the opportunity to work towards becoming a team leader or business manager, looking after a section of engineering. Or, if they choose not to manage staff, they can become tech engineers, maintenance planners or lead engineers.
What Gatwick looks for in potential apprentices
To apply for a job as an engineering apprentice you must have a minimum of four GCSEs at C or above in English, maths, science and a technical subject.
You need to be between 16 and 57 years old and must have full-colour vision.
Gatwick looks for applicants with top exam results, but if you want to stand out even more then get yourself some experience. If you’ve undertaken some work experience around engineering, or have a technical hobby of some kind, make sure you shout about it on your application!
Interested in the Gatwick engineering apprenticeship scheme?
Then head to the Gatwick website for further information.