National Apprenticeship Week in the UK: they chose Safran to “Build the Future”

“We work with the Safran UK business units to provide high-quality support services in indirect (non-production) Purchasing, Finance and HR.

Business has always interested me; I used to sell sweets at school and use the profit to run an online store! I didn’t understand Purchasing at first but I saw the links between the role and what I already knew. Purchasing is very much a crucial part of business and it has turned out to be a fantastic opportunity and the best place to begin my career.

On a daily basis, I process purchase requests from the business units, I respond to queries, I support the team wherever I can – it’s all a team effort. I’m currently planning a project to optimise our daily activities and identify areas which could benefit from technology and process improvements.

By far, my favourite part of the apprenticeship is the team that I am grateful to work with. They are all role models who I have learnt from and looked up to as I develop my Purchasing knowledge. Safran is a global organization and there are plenty of opportunities for professional development, as well as many employer benefits.”

“At Safran Seats UK we build and design First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy aircraft seating for some of the world’s leading airlines.

I successfully completed an Industrial Cadet Bronze Award at Airbus in North Wales, supported by the Engineering Development Trust (EDT), Coleg Cambria and Wrexham University. I was able to spend 3 days meeting with Airbus employees, apprentices, under graduates and degree apprentices who were following different routes into an engineering career. I was inspired to work in the aerospace industry as a design engineer and wanted to find an apprenticeship career opportunity after completing my GCSEs. Getting my engineering apprenticeship with Safran Seats was a dream come true!

I believe by undertaking an apprenticeship it allows you to gain valuable work experience and a career whilst working towards nationally recognised engineering qualifications over 4 years.

I enjoy wearing my Safran uniform with pride when I attend apprenticeship college in Cwmbran. Safran provides all the equipment I need such as work wear, safety shoes, a laptop and access to the works’ canteen, all of which contributes to a great working environment.”

“At the Burnley Site, the main departments are Aircraft Fitting, Sheetmetal and Composites. Each of these produce a range of components to go on the different Nacelles (engine casings), such as the A330ceo (Trent 700 engine) & A330neo (Trent 7000 engine), HTF, A380 to name a few.

In my opinion, an apprenticeship is the best way to get into the industry and business. I chose to do an apprenticeship in aeronautical engineering as I was keen to be in a hands-on manufacturing environment where I can physically produce the components. I felt that there would be many opportunities in this sector in the future.

I am currently working in the Composites area, supporting the ramp up of the Pearl 700 Nacelle. For this, I have been involved in the recording of data and developing ideas for different ways to improve the process.

I am enjoying the opportunities to move throughout the business, to learn and help produce the range of components. As I move onto a new section, I am able to recognise the parts that I have previously produced, which helps me build a picture of what I am making in each section and how it assembles together to create the nacelle. “

“From as young as I can remember, I have always been interested in engineering. In my school life, I chose to do a course at an engineering college, which I really enjoyed. It allowed me to carry out projects and learn more about the lifecycle of products from design to manufacture.

I am currently working on the supplier approval in my materials placement. This is the first project that I am leading at Safran and it allows me to learn technical information and gain confidence with Safran procedures.

An apprenticeship is a great way to learn about the industry and yourself. It has allowed me to work in a team and manage individual projects whilst becoming aware of how a product goes from a design to reality. It is a great step up from college or school as you continue learning, whilst earning.”

“At the Burnley Site, the current main departments are Aircraft Fitting, Sheetmetal and Composites. Each of these produce a range of components to go on the different Nacelles (engine casings), such as the Trent 700 neo/ceo, HTF, A330, A380 to name a few. I chose an apprenticeship in this sector, because I enjoy hands on work and producing components that are used in the real world! I am shortly going to be doing a boost test for an assembly line to see if we can ramp up the production rate, to see if we can build more units per month  to support customer demand. I like learning new jobs and taking on new challenges and the working environment is great.

After my apprenticeship, I am hoping to stay on the shopfloor for maybe 2-3 years to gain more experience, then I would like to go into a Design Engineering role.”

“I chose an apprenticeship in Human Resources because I would like to have a career in this field. I believe an apprenticeship is one of the best ways to start your career in a new industry. You are transformed into a knowledgeable individual at the end of your studies with a great deal of experience in real life circumstances.

My day usually consists of running reports that we need to enable to running of the Human Resources function and the wider business. I am currently working on introducing a new recruitment system to the leadership network at Safran Helicopter Engines UK. I am spending time in different departments on site to learn more about how they operate and how the teams collaborate.

The thing I enjoy the most about my apprenticeship is the sense of community. All employees have been so welcoming to me since I started here and it has really helped me to settle in. I have had the chance to spend time with the teams on site to get a better understanding of how the company runs, and I have been on many training courses to develop my skills such as IT.

Once I have completed my apprenticeship, I would like to remain work a Human Resources Administrator. I have been in the company for seven months, and I could not enjoy it more.”

“Safran MRO in Gloucester handles the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of single aisle airliners’ landing gear as well as multiple military applications.

I chose an apprenticeship in this sector as I felt like I was more suited to a practical, hands-on learning over a classroom environment. Being in a work environment at a young age has built my confidence significantly, as you are treated as an adult and given responsibilities. I have always wanted to get into engineering from a young age and felt like this was a great opportunity to do just that, gaining qualifications and vital experience, all while earning money and enjoying myself.

So far in my time in my 2nd year I have been involved in multiple projects, currently, I am involved in a tooling project involving a new type of landing gear.As apprentices we work closely with each other to ensure things are s done efficiently and correctly. There are always great opportunities to get involved in projects around the company as there is always something new or a focus on continuous improvement.

After I have completed my apprenticeship, I’d like to take the inspection route, and work my way up to a Non-Destructive Testing technician. Or I’d like to work my way up into the Engineering Department. Either way, I would like to work my way up, using my knowledge and the great experience gained throughout my apprenticeship.

My advice for anyone hoping to get into industry is to take a look at the apprenticeship route. It provides so many opportunities, experience, qualifications, and introduces you to a live work environment."