Aerospace apprenticeships

[MinnieMountain]

Does anyone have experience of a child doing an apprenticeship in the aerospace industry? Or for BEA Systems?

DS wants to do something along those lines. He’s only in year 6, but it seems worth getting an idea of requirements etc now.

I did this! (And am still there now many many years on!)

So right now, competition is fierce. We get thousands and thousands of applicants so grades won't be the key determining criteria. We get most of them on the same top grades. What separates them is the extra curricular stuff, being involved in outside engineering activities, volunteering in those areas where possible etc. Think Lego clubs, stem support clubs, building go karts and racing them. Most of the kids start at them and as they get older run some sessions. It's about demonstrating a massive passion for engineering by actions.

Some leadership stuff always goes well too. Captain of a sports club, class spokesperson etc etc.

https://www.baesystems.com/en/careers/careers-in-the-uk/apprenticeships*

Bae Systems is a huge employer where I live and there are usually loads of applicants for apprenticeships. They take on apprenticeship for everything from engineering to fininace
They are a really good company to work for. I have a several family members who work at three different sites.
Have a look through the link I've sent you.

If he doesn't get in at first go he can try again. My son's friend got in on third attempt when he was 19 and he is doing well.

OH and I both did one years ago for United Technologies - it’s where we met! We both did A-Level computing but they were more interested in overall intelligence and how driven you came across in the interview. They later told us they wanted apprentices who could have got into university but actively chose to do an apprenticeship, rather than kids who wouldn’t have been able to get in and had apprenticeships as their second choice, IYSWIM.

He’d need to think (when the time comes) whether he’d want to branch out into electrical or mechanical engineering and work from there in terms of skills. But I don’t think it’s anything you need to do much planning for if I’m honest outside of extra-curricular bits he wants to do anyway.

FWIW it’s a great move as it opens a lot of doors, especially if you can get into one of the big companies. I didn’t stay in the industry but it did a lot for me and I don’t regret it at all. OH left aerospace but stayed in IT and does really well for himself.

Hi, lots of experience with BAES apprenticeships. But I honestly can't add anything over and above @ZeroFucksGivenToday's fabulous and detailed comment! It honestly is the extra activities and experiences which make individuals stand out within a field of candidates with similar grades. A bit of knowledge/ awareness on the products always stands out too!

Keep an eye on the early careers section of the website and social media pages as they often hold compeitions and (if you're close to one of the bigger sites, Preston way if he specifically wants aerospace) for one off events aimed at promoting STEM in youngsters. I think they did a 2/3 day summer school event this summer aimed at year 9s.

There's also lots of different disciplines so worth your DS having a bit of a think around that soon - e.g. does he want to do manufacturing/ electrical hands on type of engineering, or the computer design and test side of engineering, or business?

Good luck! I love seeing the apprentices and graduates come through, and always feel a buzz when one I have line managed over the past ten years go off to win amazing awards, promotions and roles across the world.

I forgot to add in my post, there's more to Bae systems apprenticeships than engineering.
They have around 50 different specialisms from cyber security to procurement a d loads of other stuff that your ds may not have thought about.

@ohidoliketobe makes a great point about work experience too. I used to run those types of days for kids and loved it.
if you're midlands based I can recommend one or two companies to keep an eye on who may offer things like this. :)

That’s really helpful. Thank you everyone.

DS loved speaking to the BAE people at Farnborough air show this year.

He’s definitely university material, but we think that as he has a passion it would be better to start doing it as early as he can.

@ZeroFucksGivenToday we’re in Peterborough, so yes please.

As the apprenticeships are very hard to come by, don’t jettison a degree. Bristol uni aerospace engineering is still a great route into the industry. It’s 4 years for the MEng and has a broad base covering other engineering disciplines. It’s best to look at both options but they are competitive.

@MinnieMountain
https://www.baesystems.com/en/event/apprenticeship-open-evenings
The apprenticeship information evenings are open for the next intake. They're virtual for Air business.

my daughter in year 6 got the top scores in sats in her school. she just failed her a levels. all of them 😩

Sorry to hear that @hangingonfordearlife1 , but how is that relevant to aerospace apprenticeships?

Lots of good advice! DS applied for apprenticeships in a different area and be warned it can be a pretty gruelling process with CV, cover letters,telephone interviews, personality tests, technical ability tests, situation tests, group task interviews and face to face interviews. All sorts of different approaches by different companies.

My advice would be to not pin your hopes on one particular company, DS applied to 20 or more, started applying in October and got an offer in April. It takes a lot of work at a pretty critical time in Yr13, ds missed mocks and had to take time off school for some interviews.

He will need to spend time writing a CV, and writing cover letters that are aimed at that specific company and think about the questions he might be asked at interview and how he'd answer them (STAR method recommended). The more interviews ds did the more confident he got and more prepared for what might be asked. Examples of team work were always important.

DS had top grades at GCSE and A-levels but still didn't get interviewed for every position he applied to. He also had a CV full of relevant courses he'd done, clubs he'd joined, volunteering work he'd done, websites he'd made, competitions, things he'd designed/created, a relevant EPQ and an impressive NEA. They don't want to know about things you did 6 years ago though so it's not something you have to worry about for a while yet.

DS also applied for university, this is vital! It's really nice to have that in place to know you have a back up as an apprenticeship is far from guaranteed. The process is really interesting though and fantastic learning experience even if you end up going to uni - you realise just how competitive you need to be when you come out the other end and can't just rely on your 2:1 to get you a job.

i replied to your comment about him definitely being university material- he is in year 6. you can't possibly know

DH is an aerospace engineer at BAE systems and has been there for 20 years. He enjoys his job and regards BAE as an excellent employer. He often says that he regrets not joining the company straight from school on their apprenticeship scheme, rather than wasting (his words) 3 years at university. Most of the apprentices DH has worked with have done really well in their careers.