Cardiff company developing the next generation of highflyers
British Airways Maintenance Cardiff’s HR Co-ordinator/Apprenticeship Programme Lead Nerys Jones with apprentices Ryan Martinson, Gatis Druvaskalns, Kiran Alias, Christian Davies, James Grim and Andrew Howell.
British Airways Maintenance Cardiff (BAMC) is giving its apprentices a flying start in the aviation industry.
Having tweaked its work-based learning over the past few years, the company’s apprenticeship programme is creating a pipeline of talent that is benefitting the sector as a whole.
Now the company has been shortlisted for the Large Employer of the Year Award at next month’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, the annual celebration of outstanding achievement in training and apprenticeships.
Thirty-four finalists in a dozen categories are in the running for the prestigious awards which will be presented at a high-profile ceremony at the new International Convention Centre Wales, Newport on October 24.
The awards showcase the successes of the best learners, employers, tutors and assessors in Wales who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Welsh Government’s Traineeship and Apprenticeship programmes.
Jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru has Openreach, the UK’s digital network business, as its premier sponsor this year. The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.
Since introducing the apprenticeship programme 10 years ago, BAMC has worked with its training provider, Coleg y Cymoedd, to replace the areas of training not relevant to the sector with industry-specific modules that deliver a world class apprenticeship experience.
The company strongly believes that the Aeronautical Engineering BTEC Level 3 and NVQ extended diploma is the best route for young people interested in a career in aircraft maintenance that will result in them graduating as fully qualified, highly competent mechanics.
“Our programme not only provides our apprentices with the technical skills they need, but also gives them life experiences,” said Nerys Jones, HR Co-ordinator/Apprenticeship Programme Lead.
“For example, our apprentices have experienced both cultural and technology differences between engineering organisations across the world via exchange visits to Chengdu and various European countries.
“Our aim is to offer them an apprenticeship that will be their passport to any other maintenance organisation. Often we find our former apprentices come back to us and we benefit from the experience they have had at other companies.”
BAMC’s solid relationship with Coleg y Cymoedd has resulted in 86 apprentices graduating over the past five years.
“BAMC has invested significantly to develop a world class apprenticeship experience,” said Stephen Manning, Work-based Learning NVQ Assessor at Coleg y Cymoedd.
“By working closely, we have been able to adapt the apprenticeship framework to focus on teaching the apprentices the skills that are really valued within the industry and that will hold them in good stead for the future.”
Minister for the Economy and Transport, Ken Skates, congratulated BAMC and all the other shortlisted finalists.
“Our Welsh Government’s Apprenticeship and Traineeship programmes are helping increasing numbers of people to gain the skills and experience that we know businesses across all sectors of the economy in Wales really need,” he said.
“The Apprenticeship Awards Cymru provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate and showcase the achievements of everyone involved in those programmes from our star apprentices and employers, to learning providers and trainees.”
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