'I love earning, learning and being part of a team'

The number of young people across the South West choosing to follow the apprenticeship route is increasing, according to figures from the Department for Education (DfE). As National Apprenticeships Week nears its end, those learning on the job say it is a great opportunity.

Behind the security gates of Airbus's Filton site near Bristol, a new generation of engineers is already playing a hands-on role in the future of UK aerospace.

The site employs around 3,000 people, and Airbus says a growing proportion of that workforce is at the very start of their careers.

For many, the appeal lies in learning on the job while contributing to real aircraft programmes, while Airbus boasts that around 70% of its UK senior management began their careers as apprentices.

Jacob Pagett is one of some 400 apprentices and early-career engineers working across the company's laboratories and design teams.

He examines components on a microscopic level to examine for tiny defects or changes that could affect how parts of an aircraft perform in flight.

"The attention to detail, and how everyone works together, you really feel like you're part of a team," he said.

"It's about finding things you wouldn't see with the naked eye, but that could make a big difference when an aircraft is in the air."

Emily McCaffrey, also an engineering apprentice, added: "You learn so much more when you're here working.

"I've not got my degree yet, but to have so much responsibility here is exciting."

Pagett and McCaffrey are two of a growing number of young people choosing to take up apprenticeships nationally.

According to figures from the DfE, 40,000 young people across the South West were studying through apprenticeships in the last academic year, with agriculture, horticulture and animal care among the most popular subjects.

Nationally, apprenticeship starts were up by 4% to 353,500 compared to 339,580 reported for the previous year.

Josh Reynolds-Hailing, 23, from Burnham-on-Sea, is on a year-long multi-channel marketing level 3 apprenticeship through Weston College.

He said after trying other courses in IT and media, he wanted more skills for the workplace and was offered the marketing apprenticeship.

"I knew I could learn a lot, so I thought 'let's just go for it', and although the first month was scary, I really enjoyed it after that because the team was really friendly and really supported me."

He added that he hopes learning personal development skills, as well as getting real work experience, will help provide evidence to future employers.

"My advice to anyone would be to go for it and do an apprenticeship. You're getting a qualification, learning new stuff, and you're getting paid for it.

"I wasn't sure at first, but I've absolutely loved it."

The apprentices are not the only ones to benefit, according to Simon Galpin, head of aerodynamics and the Airbus Filton site.

"They're the backbone of how we develop our products," he said, with apprentices embedded directly into their engineering teams from the outset.

The company describes its early-careers pipeline as vital to maintaining skills in the UK aerospace sector, at a time when manufacturers are competing globally for engineering talent.

Airbus said continued investment in apprenticeships is essential if the site and the wider UK industry are to remain competitive.

On Friday, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard visited Babcock in Bristol to mark the week.

According to the government, Babcock is creating 1,600 apprentice and graduate roles.

Mr Pollard said the week is "the perfect moment to celebrate the talent coming through and the employers investing in them".

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