Aeronautical Engineering Apprentice – Mechanical
Location: RAF Valley, Wales
Sector/Business unit: Aviation
My apprenticeship, why I chose it, and why I chose Babcock:
I am currently undertaking a two-year Aeronautical Engineering apprenticeship at RAF Valley. The programme combines practical, hands-on experience with technical learning, helping me develop the skills and knowledge needed for a career in the industry.
After finishing my GCSEs, I wasn’t completely sure what career path I wanted to follow, so I stayed on and joined Sixth Form. I knew I wanted to do something hands-on, which is why I chose Maths, Physics, Biology and Mechanical Engineering. Through my Mechanical Engineering studies, I learned about the Aeronautical Engineering course at my local college.
After my first year in Sixth Form, I enrolled on the two-year Aeronautical Engineering course before joining Babcock as an apprentice. One of the main reasons I chose Babcock was the support and engagement shown by the apprenticeship team while I was at college. Team members regularly visited us to talk about the apprenticeship, answer our questions and give us a real insight into the programme, including the opportunities for career progression, personal development and enrichment activities. Hearing about these opportunities helped confirm that Babcock was the right choice for me.
My favourite part of the programme:
The opportunity to work across different sections and see how each area contributes to servicing, repairing and preparing aircraft for return to service has been one of the best parts of the programme.
My current favourite placement is on the T2 Flight Line. On the Flight Line, I am responsible for carrying out see-offs and see-ins on the jets. These tasks involve a large amount of responsibility, as I am the last person to inspect the aircraft before it goes flying. I really enjoy this part of the job because I get to play a role in a process that I think is really interesting and rewarding.
My work-life balance:
One of the biggest benefits of the apprenticeship is being able to earn while I learn. Alongside developing my skills and gaining valuable experience, it has given me greater financial independence. This has enabled me to fund my first solo holiday, start saving for the future and enjoy opportunities outside of work while continuing to grow professionally.
My development:
Babcock provides a wide range of support to help me develop both professionally and personally throughout my apprenticeship.
One of the ways this is achieved is through apprentice enrichment activities, which give us experiences beyond our day-to-day roles. For example, we regularly support school visits at RAF Valley, where schools from across North Wales come to learn about aviation. By sharing interesting facts about the jets and showing visitors around, I have been able to build my confidence and communication skills.
We also have regular reviews to discuss how we are settling into our placements and ensure we are progressing throughout the programme.
Every month, we take part in an Apprentice Development Day, which includes company and site updates, practical sessions and visits to other departments. These sessions help us broaden our understanding of the business and learn more about the wider organisation.
Another valuable part of the programme is Tech Topics, where apprentices research a subject of their choice and present it to the rest of the apprentice group. This helps us develop our research, presentation and public speaking skills, while also giving us the opportunity to learn from one another.
