Graduate Careers in Aerospace

Aerospace is one of the UK’s most highly-advanced and successful industries, with a turnover of £17 bn a year and employing, directly and indirectly, over a quarter of a million people. There has never been a better time to embark on a graduate career in aerospace. The industry faces more and more competitive challenges in world markets in terms of products, services and in every way in which it conducts its business, so it is under constant pressure to get even better at everything it does. If you come from a mechanical engineering, materials, physics or mathematical background then a graduate career in aerospace could be for you. The aerospace industry is constantly looking out for enthusiastic and talented graduates to take the industry forward. Read on to discover the prospects that a graduate career in aerospace can offer you.

Rhiannon As you would expect, work in this industry is highly-skilled and well paid. Currently about 15% of staff in the industry work in research and development and this – together with other higher added-value services - will continue to increase as a proportion of the sector’s work. Already, the average wage rates are 17% higher than the average for UK manufacturing generally and nearly 25% higher than the average national working wage.

It is essential for the future of the industry that the industry continues to extend and deepen its skills base, with an even higher proportion of graduates (currently 32% of aerospace employees, growing to 50% by 2012), and eventually with all employees at NVQ level 3 and above. To achieve this, the industry has committed itself to skills development and training at all levels, throughout the industry and its multi-company supply base.

A range of career choices

‘Household name’ aerospace companies such as BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Smiths and Westland have well-established recruitment and training schemes for graduates. However, opportunities for graduates exist in the 3,000 companies of all sizes in the industry. Vocational educational achievement at degree level is of course also of very great importance.

It is generally recognised that access to a wider range of knowledge, faster career progression and earlier managerial experience will often be more readily available in smaller organisations. In aerospace, smaller does not imply in any way less skilful – many of the most technically advanced products and services are supplied by some of the smallest companies.

The keen globe-trotter will note too that, as you would expect in a global business, most of the larger companies, and many of the smaller ones, have either direct subsidiary companies outside the UK, or are heavily engaged in joint ventures, partnerships and other linkages that provide work opportunities elsewhere in the world.

So you have the choice – big company, small company, employment in the UK or the chance to work almost anywhere in the world.

Bringing in the skills

Across the industry, mechanical engineers, materials scientists, physicists, mathematicians and information technologists are sought. There are also opportunities for those interested in other aspects of running a modern business such as manufacturing engineering and management, supply chain management, programme and project management, finance, human resources management, logistics and marketing.

Some (usually the larger) aerospace companies offer industrial placements, to be undertaken whilst you are studying for your degree. These generally last six to twelve months, although shorter vacation placements are also often available.

The concept of ‘lifelong learning’ is widely endorsed in the industry with the greater use of e-learning and other more flexible training approaches, making it easier to provide access to training for everyone in the workplace.

The sector works closely with the aerospace industry’s academic and vocational educational and training providers, so that everyone can all be more effective in supporting the industry’s needs both in the short and long term.

Aerospace is an industry committed to the long-term. The lifetime of an aircraft can be 40 years or more, meaning that some people could spend their entire working lives on one single - albeit physically very large and technically very sophisticated - product. In today’s ‘throw-away’ consumer product marketplace, this degree of continuity is extremely unusual.

Starting from school – right to the top

Aerospace is also unusual in being an industry that spans manufacturing through knowledge-intensive services to ‘blue skies’ research, so practical skills are as crucial and as relevant to us as is a more analytical approach.

In keeping with its long-term view, UK aerospace has maintained its traditional commitment to ‘growing its own’ by offering vocational training under the Modern Apprenticeship Schemes. These are linked to National Vocational Qualifications, and in many companies are supplemented with the opportunity to obtain other further qualifications such as City and Guilds and BTEC National Certificates and Diplomas, usually through day-release courses run by the local colleges and universities. Many companies now also offer adult apprenticeships, for those looking for a career change later on in their lives.

If you are a practical person who is attracted to a work environment that is truly 'hands-on', the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme is a great way to start a career. Indeed, people who started as apprentices can be found at the highest level in many aerospace companies. Career progression is also actively supported by aerospace employers by providing sponsorship on degree programmes, and by encouraging people towards achieving professional qualifications such as Chartered Engineer.

Even though it is possible to climb the ladder within the industry, for graduates, it is easier and quicker to fast-track into more senior positions. A graduate career in aerospace can become a job for life if you remain dedicated and enthusiastic.

Graduate Careers in Aerospace

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