Modern Engineering Apprenticeships

• Bringing Space down to Earth
  When you make an international call on your mobile phone, watch a news report from a distant country or a documentary charting climate change from space, you can be sure that Astrium is involved. As the number one space business in Europe and number three globally, we’re at the forefront of exploring and utilising the world beyond our own for the benefit of everyone on Earth. We cover all space applications which naturally fall into the following five areas:
  
  

  Space Transportation

  We provide Europe with competitive access to space, designing and developing complex systems and the launch vehicles which put them into orbit. As prime contractor for the Ariane 5 launchers, we also coordinate the work of more than 50 different companies across Europe.

   

  Security & Defence

  We help ensure global security by providing secure communications and timely surveillance data at both the highest strategic level and to forces deployed on the ground. We enable governments and military personnel to access vital information that can protect people from hostile threats.

   

  Environmental Monitoring

  We play a major role in Earth observation, improving our awareness of climatic changes and the impact these can have on the world around us. We not only developed the highly sophisticated Envisat satellite for this purpose, but we’re also prime contractor for the CryoSat polar monitoring spacecraft.

   

  Telecommunications

  We lead the way in satellite systems and communications services throughout Europe. Our expertise enables everything from TV broadcasts, mobile communications and transport systems to the internet and weather forecasts.

   

  Space Exploration

  Through the European Space Agency we are Europe’s main contributor to the International Space Station. We also designed and developed Mars Express and Venus Express – the first European interplanetary probes to be sent to investigate our nearest neighbouring planets and we are now leading missions to measure gravity waves, map the universe and explore the surface of Mars and Mercury.

  So, prepare for a journey that began for us more than 40 years ago. We won’t put you into space, but we’ll certainly put you in touch with it.

   

• Our Apprenticeship Scheme
  This is the ideal way to gain valuable qualifications while beginning your career with us. You’ll join a structured training and development scheme that starts with an academic year of full-time college study. In years two and three, you’ll spend time working at our Portsmouth or Stevenage sites gaining real work experience. In addition to tailored in-house general training you will also attend college in three separate ‘block releases’ which total 14 weeks each year.
  
  

  Through six placements you’ll cover six disciplines from design, manufacturing and AIT (Assembly, Integration and Test) to engineering, quality assurance and cost engineering. All of which will prepare you to become one of our team leaders and team managers of the future – so expect to learn some key skills as an integral part of the scheme.

   

  When you reach the end of the three year scheme, you’ll have an HNC qualification covering both Mechanical and Electrical elements, as well as your Modern Apprenticeship which includes your NVQ III in Engineering. Also, you’ll be offered an appropriate role within our business – one that matches as closely as possible your aspirations for the future.

   

  The benefits you’ll enjoy throughout the scheme include:

   

  • 25 days’ annual leave
  • Company pension
  • Flexible working
  • Interest free season ticket loan for travel to work

   

  Thank you for your interest in Astriums Apprenticeship Scheme, we are now closed for applications for 2012.

   

• Training & Development
  Much as you would expect, your training and development with Astrium will be thorough, comprehensive and a valuable introduction to what we do and how we do it. It will also ensure you build on your strengths, as you acquire new skills and gain increasing engineering experience.
  
  

  The emphasis throughout will be on enhancing your abilities in a range of key areas, such as:

   

  • Assuming responsibility
  • Influencing others
  • Respecting colleagues, company and customers
  • Communicating effectively at all levels
  • Building basic workplace skills

   

  You will learn all of this not just through day-to-day experiences and mentoring, but also through a number of in-house training courses. There’s also a special, week-long team-building event, as well as visits to other Astrium sites.

   

  What we hope you’ll discover is confidence in yourself, enabling you to play a valued role in our business and leave work each day with a sense of professional pride in your achievements.