Advanced Technical Apprentice

The Sky is not the limit; your journey starts here, join us and help make things fly every day!

A Truly Global Business

Every day, around the world, we help aircrafts fly further, faster and greener. We’re the world’s leading tier one aerospace supplier of systems and components. With over 15,000 employees across 41 manufacturing sites in 13 countries serving over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers with sales of £2.8bn.

Together as “one GKN” we’re moving our business and industry forward developing technologies that rapidly decarbonise aircraft, and innovating to help build a new generation of planes that produce zero emissions. We’re putting sustainability at the heart of what we do; driving our objective to becoming a net zero greenhouse gas emissions business before 2050!

Making a Difference

It’s great to know you’re making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play you’ll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers.

Sitting across our three business lines; Civil, Defence and Engines at our East Cowes manufacturing plants you’ll do just that. Established in 1901, one of our older production sites with a workforce of cira 800 employees. Our East Cowes plants, Isle of Wight are where we design, manufacture, test and repair high performance structures and systems. We have two facilities on the Island; Falcon Yard, Ferry Road and Osborne Site, Saunders Way. Both locations employ the company’s distinct competencies in major assemblies and composite structures for the global aerospace market. Our customer base includes Airbus, Astronics, BAE Systems, Boeing, Bombardier Aerospace, Cessna, Cobham, Honeywell, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce and Triumph

Job Summary

As an Advanced Technical Apprentice, reporting into the Apprenticeships & NVQ Programmes Manager, you’ll join our 4 year programme which will provide you with development and training across a wide range of skills and processes. You will be involved in delivering opportunities, solutions and benefits to the GKN operations site, based on data driven analysis and the ability to understand complex situations. You will need to be both adaptable and flexible.

On competition of your apprenticeship, you are likely to move into one of the following career disciplines;

Manufacturing Engineering (ME)

This Covers a Number Of Sub-disciplines Including

• Product and Planning – Developing manufacturing process solutions and problem solving technical issues
• Materials and Processes – Understanding a range of different materials, their properties and processes
• Quality Engineering – Ensuring both internal and external requirements are met
• Industrial Engineering –Introducing new plant, equipment, technology and automation
• Tooling – Developing and designing tooling solutions and measurement and analysis of close tolerance components and tools
• Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) – Creating Numerical Controlled (NC) programs for a range of machines

Design Engineering – This involves the design of component parts and assemblies for various aircraft structures (Composite and Metallic). Design is via our CAD package CATIA, creating 3D models / assemblies and 2D drawings or model based definition (MBD).

Structural Analysis – This provides an opportunity to develop a knowledge of the stress analysis calculations, computer modelling techniques, and testing used to demonstrate the strength and durability of aircraft components and assemblies.

Quality Systems – This involves the understanding and implementation of the regulatory requirements placed on the company by the airworthiness authorities. Maintaining the approval to manufacture aerospace products is done by monitoring, measuring and reporting in all departments activities, identifying opportunities for improvement that can then be implemented.

Programme Summary

Level 3 – Engineering Technician

Year 1 – CECAMM – Competence Qualification Level 2 (Competence) & Level 3 (Technical)

Years 2 & 3 – GKN; Rotating around Operational departments – Level 3 (Technical) & Level 4 (HNC)*

Year 4 – GKN; Final Placement – Level 4 (HNC)*

• Subject to performance at Level 3 and business requirements

Level 4 – Engineering Technician

Year 1 – CECAMM – Competence Qualification Level 2 (Competence) & Level 4 (HNC)

Years 2 & 3 – GKN; Rotating around Operational departments – Level 4 (Competence) & Level 5 (HND)*

Year 4 – GKN; Final Placement – Level 5 (HND)*

• Subject to performance at Level 4 and business requirements

How You’ll Contribute

To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and enthusiasm with you every day. In return we ask for you to observe the following points:

• Whether working or in training, to be diligent and punctual at all times.
• To attend courses, keep records and undertake any tests determined by the company in order to measure & achieve your training objectives and quality gates.
• To successfully complete all activities documented in the Apprenticeship Training Agreement.
• To behave in a responsible manner and in accordance with the requirements of Health & Safety legislation relating to the individual’s responsibilities.
• To become an ambassador of the Company’s name and image.

Job Qualifications

Level 3 – Engineering Technician

You must have at least Four GCSE’s, or equivalent:

• Maths: Grade 9 – 5
• English: Grade 9 – 4
• Science: Grade 9 – 4
• Plus two more Grade: 9 – 4

Level 4 – Engineering Manufacturing Technician

You must have at least Four GCSE’s, or equivalent:

• Maths: Grade 9 – 5
• English: Grade 9 – 4

In addition to the above you must also have A Levels:

• Maths: Grade A* – C
• Plus one more grade A* – C

OR

• Level 3 Engineering Qualification (Diploma or Extended Diploma, including a further mathematics unit).

What We’ll Offer

Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:

• Industry Leading Pension Scheme – A defined contribution scheme where GKN will pay 1.5 times the member contributions (up to a maximum company contribution of 12%).
• As a member of the Pension Scheme, Death in Service cover (Life Assurance) of 8x salary
• Group Income Protection (as part of the Pension Scheme)
• 190 hours holiday + bank holidays
• Shopping Discounts
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to a Bereavement helpline
• Dedicated Wellbeing Champions, qualified in Mental Health First Aid
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment

As well as a competitive package we’ll offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! We’ll support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. That’s the beauty of being part of a global business, once you’re on board you never know where you career journey may take you!

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’ last year. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

Support us Making GKN the trusted and most sustainable partner in the sky for our customers.

Ready to take your first flight…click on the link below to apply.