Launch Your Career: The Ultimate Guide to Airbus Apprenticeships

Forget the daily grind. How about a career that defies gravity? If you want a job where your hard work literally takes flight, an Airbus apprenticeship is your boarding pass.

We’re not talking about just tightening bolts. Airbus is at the cutting edge of aerospace, designing the planes of tomorrow. From the commercial giants you see at the airport to the satellites orbiting our planet, apprentices here are working on the technology that connects the world.

With the industry racing towards sustainable aviation, there has never been a more exciting time to jump on board. Here is everything you need to know about landing a role with one of the biggest names in the sky.

What Schemes Are Available?

Airbus offers a flight path for everyone, whether you are leaving school after GCSEs or finishing your A-Levels.

Craft Apprenticeships (Level 3)

This is the hands-on route. If you learn better by doing than by reading a textbook, this is for you. You will become a skilled technician, working on the actual aircraft components.

You might find yourself in Aerostructures, building the massive wings that lift an A350. Or perhaps Systems Engineering appeals more, where you test the complex hydraulics and electronics. There are also roles in Machining, using high-precision tools to create parts accurate to a fraction of a millimetre.

The major hubs for these roles are Broughton in North Wales (the wing factory) and Filton near Bristol (the engineering brain). The vibe is practical, precise, and incredibly satisfying. You get to see a wing you worked on attached to a plane that will fly millions of passengers.

Higher and Degree Apprenticeships (Level 4–6)

Want the degree without the debt? These schemes let you study for a university qualification while working on real aerospace projects.

Roles here are diverse. You could be in Engineering, designing the fuel systems or aerodynamics for the next generation of aircraft. Digital & Cyber Security is huge now, protecting the company’s data and flight systems from hackers. There are also business-focused roles in Project Management and Supply Chain, ensuring the right parts get to the right place at the right time.

The vibe here is a hybrid. You split your time between professional work and academic study. You might be designing a new bracket in the morning and attending a lecture in the afternoon. You finish with a degree and three to four years of industrial experience. That is something a standard university graduate simply can’t match.

Entry Requirements

You need a mix of grades and grit.

For Craft Apprenticeships, you typically need 5 GCSEs at Grade 4/C or above. Crucially, this must include Maths, English Language, and Science.

For Degree Apprenticeships, the bar is higher. You usually need A-Levels—often including Maths and Physics or Chemistry for engineering roles—or a BTEC Engineering qualification. They look for around 112–128 UCAS points depending on the scheme.

The “Right Stuff”

Grades are just the entry ticket. Airbus is obsessed with innovation and integrity. They want problem solvers who can work in a team. You need to be reliable because people’s safety depends on it. Above all, they want curiosity. They want to know why you are fascinated by how things fly.

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Show Me The Money (and Benefits)

Airbus looks after its crew. The financial package is one of the best in the industry.

Salaries are highly competitive. While exactly starting figures vary by role, the average Airbus apprentice salary is significantly above the national apprentice minimum. Established apprentices often earn around the £24,000 mark, and degree apprentices start on solid salaries that rise annually as they tick off qualifications.

The big perk for degree apprentices is the tuition fees. Airbus pays for your degree. That saves you potentially £27,000 or more in student debt. You get the degree for free and get paid to get it.

On top of the cash, you get 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays. There is a strong pension scheme and often a “Success Share” bonus if the company hits its targets. Many sites also offer an early finish on Fridays, giving you a longer weekend to recharge.

The Future of Flight: Why Join Now?

The aviation industry is undergoing its biggest revolution since the jet engine. It’s called ZEROe.

Airbus has a bold ambition. They want to develop the world’s first zero-emission commercial aircraft by 2035. They are betting big on hydrogen.

As an apprentice, you could be working on the technologies that make this possible. We are talking about hydrogen fuel cells that produce only water as exhaust. We are talking about new aerodynamic designs like the “blended wing body” that look more like a spaceship than a plane.

You aren’t just maintaining the status quo. You are helping to decarbonize the planet and invent the future of flight. That is a career purpose that is hard to beat.

Life After the Apprenticeship

Does the journey end when you get your certificate? Definitely not.

Airbus invests heavily in training you. They want you to stay. The vast majority of apprentices are offered permanent roles. Once you are in, the sky really is the limit. You can move between sites, switch disciplines, or even work abroad at Airbus sites in France, Germany, or Spain.

Many of the company’s senior leaders started as apprentices. You are not just training for a job; you are entering a global industry with endless opportunities for progression.

Tips and Tricks for Landing the Role

Demand is high. Here is how to navigate the recruitment turbulence.

1. Know Your Values

Airbus is big on values. They look for Respect, Integrity, Creativity, and Customer Focus. Don’t just memorize these words. Think of examples where you have demonstrated them. If you play sports or do charity work, use that to show teamwork and reliability.

2. The Online Tests

You will likely face online “gamified” assessments or psychometric tests like Situational Judgement Tests. The best advice here is to practice. There are plenty of free practice sites for logical and numerical reasoning. Speed and accuracy matter, but don’t rush so much that you make silly mistakes.

3. The Assessment Centre

If you get invited to an assessment centre (often in Broughton or Filton), you’ve done the hard part. You will face group exercises. The golden rule is simple. Don’t dominate. Airbus engineers need to collaborate, not dictate. If you see someone being quiet, ask for their opinion. Show you can listen and build on other people’s ideas. That is what actual engineering is about.

4. Know the Product

You don’t need to be an expert, but knowing the difference between an A320 and an A350 helps. Read up on their recent projects like the ZEROe hydrogen planes or their space missions. It shows genuine passion and proves you’ve done your homework.

5. The Interview

Use the STAR technique for competency questions.

• Situation: What was happening?
• Task: What needed doing?
• Action: What did you do?
• Result: What was the outcome?

Ready for Take-off?

An Airbus apprenticeship is a premium ticket to a high-flying career. It’s tough to get in, but the rewards—financial, professional, and personal—are astronomical.

Applications usually open in the autumn/winter for the following September start. Keep an eye on their careers page and get your application in early. Good luck!