Apprentice engineers
At Gatwick we're dedicated to shaping the future of world travel and delivering the highest possible standards.
Our engineers work round the clock, 365 days a year and are essential to the smooth running of the airport. This means having a well trained, motivated team of technicians to ensure the equipment at our airport is safe, reliable and works when it should!
Our apprenticeship scheme
We run a four year programme which offers you the chance to earn while you train and get a nationally recognised qualification at the end of the course.
But don't take our word for it - meet Liberty, Max, George and Antony. They're engineering apprentices at different stages on our scheme. Read what they have to say about being an engineering apprentice at Gatwick.
Liberty
Going down the apprenticeship route always appealed to me. The Gatwick scheme offers a lot of practical learning and everything is very hands-on. I lived in Germany for six months after I finished school, and I did think about applying to technical universities over there, but the Gatwick scheme really caught my eye. I filled out the online application form and, well, the rest is history I guess!
Max
I started my apprenticeship at Gatwick at 16 and I’m now in my third year – its scary to think how quickly my time here is going! Being an apprentice at Gatwick has allowed me to work alongside highly skilled engineers (many ex-apprentices) who devote a lot of their own time to allow me to develop into the best engineer that I can be.
George
Hi, I’m George and I'm a second-year engineering maintenance apprentice at Gatwick Airport.
This apprenticeship has already taught me so much and put me into an adaptive environment which allows me to learn on the job while also getting the theory under my belt from going to college regularly. No two days are the same.
Antony
This apprenticeship is better than any other I know about; some people get funny with apprentices, and don’t give them a chance. But here - under supervision, obviously - everyone is more than happy for you to get stuck in.
Most people here were apprentices, so they know exactly what you’re doing and what you’re going through - and nothing is a stupid question.
Who we are looking for
Are you the type of person who can:
- Attend college regularly, work hard and ensure your assessments are completed to the highest standards?
- Work as part of a team?
- Take personal responsibility for working safely and follow the company's health and safety policies at all times?
- Be flexible and helpful?
- Maintain high professional standards at all times?
If you answered yes, here's what you will be doing:
First year: Training full time at East Surrey College in BTEC General Engineering.
Second year: On-site training at the airport, spending three months at a time in different engineering departments. Continuing with BTEC General Engineering.
Third year: Ongoing training within engineering departments at the airport. Starting NVQ Level 3 in Engineering Maintenance and one day a week at college to study HNC in Engineering.
Fourth year: Ongoing placements within engineering departments at the airport. One day a week at college to complete HNC in Engineering and competing NVQ.
Watch our apprentices in action
Gatwick's engineers of the future.
Meet our apprentices as they talk about their Gatwick experiences
Gatwick apprentices go outward bound
It's not all just about hard work. Team building is a key part of success.
Want to apply?
Here's our criteria for applying to be an apprentice. You'll need to:
- Have a minimum of four GCSEs at Level 4/5 in English, Maths and a Science subject
- Be interested in mechanical or electrical engineering
- Be aged between 16 and 57
- Embrace the desire to learn in a challenging, fast moving airport environment
- Show good communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team.
Applications for our 2020 scheme have now closed. Revisit us later this year to find out more about what's on offer in 2021.
