Craft Plant Apprenticeship - Tool Room

Start date: September 2027 Duration: 36 months Location: Broughton

What You Will Be Doing

As a Craft Tool Room 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 multi skilled Tool Makers within the Tool Room area, supporting the manufacture of wing skins, panels and stringers for various Airbus aircraft, working within all the Broughton production areas. 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:

• Maintenance of the production jigs / tools, and using a variety of machines within the machine shop:
• Carrying out routine Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) and reactive breakdown repairs on all Industrial Maintenance assets within the Airbus Broughton plant, completing this to a high competent level and working in a safe and efficient manner.
• Demonstrate effective troubleshooting on all aspects of plant jigs and tools.
• Repair & maintain the build jigs and the associated tooling through the use of hand skills, engineering tools and laser trackers (non-contact measurement).
• Carrying out recertifications to the jigs and tools in order to ensure they meet the design criteria.
• We also have a machine shop consisting of various machines (both CNC and conventional) that supports the day to day running of the plant and also carrying out non contact (digital) measurements using laser trackers and a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM).

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

• NVQ Level 3 Extended Diploma in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering (Machining Bias units)
• City & Guilds 2850 Level 3 Machining

Upon successful completion of your 36-month apprenticeship, you'll become a Multi skilled Tool maker working within the Tooling Operations 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.

Application Boost

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 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.

Benefits

• 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!